Memphis Magazine January 2025

The National Civil Rights Museum

"The National Civil Rights Museum is a place of significance for the world, honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy and serving as a catalyst for positive social change. We’re committed to authenticity in all we do, a value shared by our financial partner, Duncan Williams Asset Management. They care not only about our financial health but also about our purpose and place in the world. Working with partners who truly believe in Memphis and support our staff’s futures is essential to our mission.”

friendships bring new joys!

Some seniors think the days of making new friends are behind them, but our communities offer plenty of opportunities to form genuine connections with likeminded individuals — who share a love for the King of Rock n’ Roll!

Did you know a full social life is associated with improved longevity? It’s true! Seniors who socialize nearly every day experience up to an 87% longer delay in time to death compared to those who never socialize.

Call today to learn more about life with us.

StoryPoint Collierville 901-403-8602

691 S. Byhalia Road Collierville, TN 38017

StoryPoint Cordova 901-329-8015 1600 Appling Road Cordova, TN 38106

StoryPoint Germantown 901-617-7938

6300 Briarcrest Ave. Memphis, TN 38120

StoryPoint.com

StoryPoint

FEATURES

28 I Do Memphis weddings in pictures.

44 When Art Gets Loud

On view at the Dixon, an exhibition by

The Memphis and Shelby County Room preserves the

and culture of our region. ~ by michael

Reba Russell

The celebrated singer, songwriter, and producer reflects on her fiercely independent career. ~ by alex greene

68 SIPS

The Art of the Cocktail

Sarah James gets creative in Crosstown’s hideaway bar. ~ by bruce vanwyngarden

70 DINING OUT

Mahogany River Terrace is offering fine dining in the former club and restaurant on Mud Island. ~ by michael donahue

72 CITY DINING

The city’s most extensive dining listings. 80 LAST STAND

Missing Elvis

Ninety years after his arrival, the King remains a presence. ~ by frank murtaugh

Spread love, not germs by having your rugs disinfected.

Here at Taghavi’s, we would like to do our part to help stop the spread of the novel COVID-19 virus. Recent studies have shown that the virus can be brought into your home, by your shoes and can live on surfaces like your rugs and floors anywhere from two to nine days. In order to help curb the spread, we at Taghavi’s, recommend that you stop wearing your outdoor shoes into your homes and to have your rugs cleaned and disinfected. Quality rug cleaning can only be accomplished by in-store professional rug cleaners. Call us for disinfecting and cleaning of your rugs.

CEO AND EDITOR-IN-CHIEF anna traverse

EXECUTIVE EDITOR michael finger

MANAGING EDITOR frank murtaugh

SENIOR EDITORS jon w. sparks, abigail morici, bruce vanwyngarden

STAFF WRITERS alex greene, chris mccoy

EDITORIAL INTERN samantha cooke

CONTRIBUTORS jesse davis, michael donahue, tom jones, vance lauderdale

4 CREATIVE DIRECTOR brian groppe

ADVERTISING ART DIRECTOR christopher myers

GRAPHIC DESIGNER neil williams

PHOTOGRAPHERS willy bearden, laura carbone, michael donahue, michael finger, alex greene, jamie harmon, morgan lyttle, samantha marie, carrie pinkley, anna traverse, bruce vanwyngarden, andre g. young

4 SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE shaune mcghee

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES kelli dewitt, chip googe, patrick pacheco

4 published by contemporary media, inc. memphis, tennessee 901-521-9000

subscriptions: 901-575-9470

4 CONTROLLER lynn sparagowski

CHIEF REVENUE OFFICER jeffrey a. goldberg

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER margie neal

DIGITAL SERVICES DIRECTOR kristin pawlowski

WAREHOUSE MANAGER chet hastings

NEWSSTAND CONSULTANT joe luca

SPECIAL EVENTS DIRECTOR molly willmott

4 PUBLISHER EMERITUS kenneth neill

january 2025

New Year’s Resolutions, Memphis Edition

BY ANNA TRAVERSE

I’ve never quite understood the fuss over flipping our calendars to a new year; with the possible exception of a big round-number year, like 2000, when we all got to collectively freak out about how our computers might kill us, I mostly see the transition as a bookkeeping detail more than an occasion to become a different version of myself. If I habitually took all the “new year, new you!” marketing to heart, there would be so many versions of Anna Traverse stumbling around by now. No one needs that. e New Year’s resolution-industrial complex focuses all its considerable marketing power on our individual yearnings — for optimization, for fulfillment, for self-esteem, for toned thighs. What if, instead, we thought about communal resolutions — revolutions in our ways of working, creating, and growing together? Good habits are easier kept if they’re followed with friends and family. I’m proposing that we focus on the following ten civic resolutions this year. I suspect we’ll see better results, if we work together, than most folks do with their individual plans come February.

1. Vote. Always vote, if you’re eligible to, and don’t just vote in the big national elections (but certainly show up for those, too). Only 55 percent of registered voters in Shelby County cast ballots last November, and that figure is much, much lower in midterm years and local elections. Just as importantly as voting itself, be aware about what and whom you’re voting for. Without naming elected officials’ names, our community could have avoided some fairly intractable problems if we had done our homework.

2. Consume a healthy news diet. Stay informed about our community — beyond the bubble of your social-media feed. Someone consuming only TV news will have a very different view of the city than someone reading only print journalism, or only following big local accounts on their social-media platform of choice. As with any diet, variety and balance are key.

3. If you’re a Grizzly or a Tiger hoopster, keep playing the selfless, creative, just plain fun basketball we’ve seen so far this winter. If, more likely, you’re a fan, go to a game or ten. Memphis basketball is a joy to watch, but too many seats are empty in FedExForum. I’ve seen tickets advertised for as little as $2. Don’t sleep on the Hustle, either.

4. Eat well, locally. Instead of overhauling your caloric intake, focus on shifting where your calories come from — geographically. Shopping at a farmers’ market will help you support local entrepreneurs, protect the environment (by avoiding long-distance shipping to big stores), and bring home more nutritious, fresh-picked produce. And choosing to dine at locally owned restaurants and cafes keeps your dollars local, too.

5. Drink more coffee. Instead of trying to cut back on your caffeine intake this New Year’s, avoid the literal headaches and choose instead to spend your coffee budget with local roasters and coffeeshops. e most gorgeously flavored beans I’ve ever brewed are from Memphis roaster Cxffeeblack, which you can find over on National St. or most Saturdays at the Cooper-Young farmers’ market.

6. Drink more (local) beer and liquor (if you imbibe). I’m not a drinker of alcohol, but if I were, you can bet that my alcohol intake would be sourced from as many local and regional distillers and brewers as possible. It wasn’t so many years

ago that Memphis had only one or two breweries; now, a dozen or more places are mashing, lautering, boiling, chilling, and fermenting, not to mention the harder stuff being concocted at Old Dominick downtown.

7. Don’t just drink more water; protect our water. Keep demanding transparency from xAI and from local officials about how our local resources are being spent. Progress is all well and good, but only if it doesn’t come at the expense of our precious water and air. e construction of a greywater treatment facility to power Elon Musk’s supercomputer is good news, but if xAI intends to keep doubling the size of its output, we need more than promises. Further, if chipmakers Nvidia, Dell, and Super Micro are truly looking to expand into Memphis, we need to know what the environmental impacts will be, not just the financial investments.

8. Listen to and support local music. Memphis is a music town as much as it is anything, and that’s still very much true today — if you know where to listen. Not sure where to begin in finding current local artists? Tune into WYXR (91.7), where many of the DJs focus on local and regional tunes, or come to one of Music Export Memphis’ free live showcases.

9. Remember that the drivers of other vehicles are just as human as you are. Also, use a turn signal. Enough said.

10. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, work to develop in yourself and others a healthier sense of civic self-esteem. Memphis has a lot going for it, but I don’t always hear that reflected in Memphians’ views of our community. We shouldn’t ignore the negatives, and I don’t think many of us do. But we also shouldn’t ignore the positives. Memphis is not like the other places, and that’s worth celebrating.

Happy New Year, Memphis.

JANUARY

2025

“POMPEII: THE EXHIBITION” This exhibition tells the tale of a city hidden from view and forgotten for centuries. GRACELAND EXHIBITION CENTER, THROUGH APRIL 13

“STARRY, STARRY” Greely Myatt’s illuminated starscape serves as the Brooks’ temporary Winter Art Garden installation. MEMPHIS BROOKS MUSEUM OF ART, THROUGH JANUARY GOOD FORTUNE TOUR & LUNCH Join Elmwood Cemetery for a wintertime walk through this city’s most historic graveyard. ELMWOOD CEMETERY, JAN. 1, 10 A.M.

“ENERGY STATES” Scott A. Carter’s sculptures exist somewhere in the spaces between sculpture, architecture, design, and sound. DIXON GALLERY AND GARDENS, THROUGH JAN. 19

“PISSARRO TO PICASSO:

MASTERWORKS FROM THE KIRKLAND FAMILY COLLECTION” Enjoy 18 art treasures from the Kirkland family’s collection, many of which have not been displayed publicly in decades. DIXON GALLERY AND GARDENS, THROUGH JAN. 26

“A HIDDEN CULTURE” Master Metalsmith Preston Jackson’s exhibition of sculptures and paintings

“reveals history that has been buried, forgotten, or deemed unimportant by society.” METAL MUSEUM, THROUGH JAN. 26

“ALL ABOARD: THE RAILROAD IN AMERICAN ART, 1840 – 1955” This exhibition examines the oftensymbiotic relationship between painters in the United States and the passenger and freight trains

“A HIDDEN CULTURE”

COMPILED BY ABIGAIL MORICI

that populated cities, towns, and countrysides across the nation. DIXON GALLERY AND GARDENS, THROUGH JAN. 26

“ROLL DOWN LIKE WATER”

Photojournalist Andrea Morales presents 65 photographs spanning a decade of work. MEMPHIS BROOKS MUSEUM OF ART, THROUGH JAN. 31

ELVIS BIRTHDAY POPS CONCERT WITH TERRY MIKE JEFFREY The Memphis Symphony Orchestra and Terry Mike Jeffrey celebrate Elvis’ 90th birthday. GRACELAND SOUNDSTAGE, JAN. 8, 7 P.M. SIX MEN DRESSED LIKE JOSEPH STALIN Winner of NewWorks@ TheWorks, this abstract play follows two actors as they prepare for their most significant role yet: Joseph Stalin. THE CIRCUIT PLAYHOUSE, JAN. 10 – JAN. 26

MEET THE AUTHOR: MARIA

ZOCCOLA The Memphis poet and educator celebrates the release of her new collection of poetry, Helen of Troy, 1993 NOVEL, JAN. 14, 6 P.M. SAY IT LOUD: THE OVERLOOK QUARTET Their eclectic program of music by under-represented composers will engage the audience in deep listening, dialogue, and joyful music-making. GREEN ROOM AT CROSSTOWN ARTS, JAN. 16, 7:30 P.M. THE SPORKFUL PODCAST LIVE WITH DAN PASHMAN The country’s number-one food podcast will be making its Memphis debut live. BUCKMAN PERFORMING ARTS CENTER AT ST. MARY’S SCHOOL, JAN. 16, 7 P.M.

INHERIT THE WIND This explosive legal drama is inspired by a moment in Tennessee history when world attention focused on two twentieth-century legal giants battling over a state law that banned the teaching of Darwin’s Theory of Evolution. THEATRE MEMPHIS, JAN. 17 – FEB. 2

PARADE In 1913 Georgia, Leo Frank, a Jewish man from Brooklyn, is caught in a grueling trial after the tragic murder of his factory worker, Mary Phagan. PLAYHOUSE ON THE SQUARE, JAN. 17 – FEB. 16

AMERICAN MAESTRO WITH BERNSTEIN’S WEST SIDE STORY The Memphis Symphony Orchestra will also perform Bernstein’s Slava! and works by other composers. With Carl St. Clair, conductor. CANNON CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, JAN. 18, 7:30 P.M. | SCHEIDT FAMILY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, JAN. 19, 2:30 P.M.

GRIZZLIES’ ANNUAL MLK JR. DAY CELEBRATION GAME The Grizzlies will play the Minnesota Timberwolves. FEDEXFORUM, JAN. 20, 1:30 P.M.

CIRQUE KALABANTÉ A show by Yamoussa Bangoura inspired by daily life in Guinea, Afrique en Cirque shares the beauty, youth, and artistry of African culture. GERMANTOWN PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, JAN. 24, 8 P.M.

BLACK ODYSSEY This vibrant reimagining of the Odysseus saga is set in modernday Harlem, telling the epic tale of Ulysses Lincoln, a soldier facing the most daunting of voyages to reunite with his family. HATTILOO THEATRE, JAN. 24 – FEB. 16

”POMPEII: THE EXHIBITION“

ALISON COOK BEATTY DANCE

CIRQUE KALABANTÉ “ALL

CARMEN Bizet’s sizzling epic of love, jealousy, and obsession features some of the most loved music ever written. SCHEIDT FAMILY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, JAN. 24 – 25

MARSHALL CHARLOFF & THE PURPLE XPERIENCE Frontman Marshall Charloff and his dynamic four-piece band perform Prince’s greatest hits like “Purple Rain” and “Raspberry Beret” with all the passion and energy of a true Prince concert. BARTLETT PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, JAN. 25, 2 P.M., 7:30 P.M.

STEVE MARTIN & MARTIN SHORT: “THE DUKES OF FUNNYTOWN!” Steve Martin and Martin Short’s “The Dukes of Funnytown!” redefines the form in unexpected and profound ways, from two of the funniest, most influential, and acclaimed talents of the past century. ORPHEUM THEATRE, JAN. 25, 8 P.M.

GENEALOGY TIPS & TRICKS Join Memphis Public Libraries historians Bonnie Pinkston and Verjeana Hunt for a discussion on how visiting cemeteries can be useful for genealogy researchers. ELMWOOD CEMETERY, JAN. 25, 11 A.M.

HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS Don’t miss your chance to see what fans love about the Harlem Globetrotters. LANDERS CENTER, JAN. 26, 3 P.M.

“SMALL SPACES” Jennifer Watson’s art is bright and kaleidoscopic. DIXON GALLERY AND GARDENS, JAN. 26 – APR. 13

FILM SCREENING: BLUFF CITY CHINESE This documentary follows two storytellers of different generations on a mission to share the untold history of Chinese-American immigrants in Memphis. DIXON GALLERY AND GARDENS, JAN. 30, 5:30 P.M.

SKELETON CREW As the Great Recession looms over a Detroit auto-stamping plant, workers Shanita, Faye, and Dez confront tough choices. THE CIRCUIT PLAYHOUSE, JAN. 31 – FEB. 16

ALISON COOK BEATTY DANCE The everevolving ensemble of world-class dancers enmeshes classically based modern technique with elements of contemporary movement. BUCKMAN PERFORMING ARTS CENTER AT ST. MARY’S SCHOOL, JAN. 31, 7 P.M.

To suggest an event for future editions of Out and About, email ABIGAIL@MEMPHISMAGAZINE.COM.

Love a little die a little and break the law.

Trey Milligan did all three in the summer before his 14th birthday.

Sartoris Literary Group, the debut novel by Frank Murtaugh

eBook ($8.95).

The Green Beetle

An iconic restaurant on South Main stays in the family.

BY MICHAEL DONAHUE

Back in the 1950s, I remember my dad telling us the Green Beetle Café was the roughest bar in Memphis. My brother and I always liked the sign picturing a green beetle on the front of the building on South Main.

I asked Linda Huckaby about the iconic bar/restaurant. Huckaby, daughter of the late Green Beetle owner Frank Liberto and his wife, Mary, grew up at the business, and she’s currently working on a book about it.

“It had a really bad reputation,” she says. “I remember my dad throwing people out of the Beetle. ey rented a lot of rooms to river people. Some rough people would get off the riverboats and stay there.”

Huckaby’s son, Josh Huckaby, who now owns the Green Beetle, says, “I know it was established in 1939. My grandfather originally owned the whole block of South Main, from Vance down to Pontotoc.”

It’s moved around a bit. e Green Beetle used to stand across Vance from its current location, Linda says. Her father also opened a liquor store called “Frank’s Liquors” next to the restaurant.

She still remembers the delicious Green Beetle hamburgers her father made with hand-pattied beef or ground

chuck, mustard, pickle, and onions, then cooked on a flat grill.

She enjoyed “just watching what goes on downtown. My dad was raised Catholic Italian so he was very strict. When we would go downtown, we could walk to Pontotoc and Goldsmith’s and that was it.”

Frank Liberto “was ahead of his time,” Linda says. “He played music at Christmas with an old tape recorder before places had music in their buildings. He only had a fourth-grade education; I’d read to him almost every night. Dale Carnegie (How to Win Friends and Infl uence People) was his favorite. He could read, but he never read a book.”

Her mother took over after Linda’s father died in 1977. “My mom tried to run it by herself and that didn’t work, so she sold it,” says Linda. “It was pretty much a honky-tonk and whatever.”

Josh Huckaby, the current owner, was working as a food and beverage manager in Charlestown, West Virginia, and remembers when the late Bud Chittom called him and said, “‘Hey, I’ve got your

grandfather’s building available if you want it.’ He had bought the building years and years ago.”

Josh quit his job and moved back to Memphis. “Who has the opportunity to take over their grandfather’s famous restaurant?”

e Green Beetle had changed hands multiple times. “It was a late-night place, open until 6 in the morning, when I took over. It had gotten in trouble and lost its liquor license. I had to come in and clean it up.”

He remembers calling friends to see if their young-adult kids needed jobs as servers. “ ey said, ‘ ey’re not working there.’ It took time to rebrand. I put in a lot of time and energy. I didn’t want to be the bar where everybody’s ripping shots. I wanted to be known for food.”

e Green Beetle is now a welcoming place with tall French doors, which Josh added to the front. e walls, which are loaded with old newspaper and magazine articles about the Green Beetle, are still painted bright green. ey have an extensive menu, which includes oysters on Mondays and prime rib on ursdays. ey also serve “farm-raised Mississippi catfish.”

As far as their most popular food item, Josh says, “Hands down it’s the burger.”

He plans to put in a breakfast spot next door where Frank’s Liquors was located, featuring combos like brisket and biscuits. “We’re also going to get an indoor smoker and put it over there and smoke meats for all the restaurants.”

He plans to name that restaurant after his grandfather. “I think we’re going to call it ‘Big Frank’s.’”

So, why did Linda’s dad name his place the Green Beetle Café?

“ e story he always told me was that when he was young he had a paper route and used to go down where e Peabody is,” Linda says. “ ere was an old Greyhound station, nearby and it had a sign that said ‘Green Beetle.’ For some reason, he told himself one day he was going to open his own place and call it ‘ e Green Beetle.’ And he did.”

Years ago, I wrote about what happened to the original Green Beetle sign. I remember an artist bought it and had it in his apartment on South Main; I lost track of it after that.

Linda showed me a newspaper story she had saved. e sign sold a while back at auction for $16,000.

e Green Beetle is located at 325 South Main.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY MICHAEL DONAHUE; AUTHOR PHOTO BY SAMANTHA MARIE

Linda Huckaby and her son, Josh Huckaby

The author enjoys a cheeseburger, fries, and onion rings. right: Frank Liberto

The Hot Tamale Capital of the World invites you to enjoy an eclectic collection of events and entertaining stops.

» FEBRUARY « Mississippi River Marathon msrivermarathon.racesonline.com

» APRIL « Showcase on Wheels cabinonthebogue.com

» MAY «

Mississippi Wildlife Heritage Festival, including Frog Fest and Leland Craw sh Festival LelandChamber.com

Future Tour Golf Championship

» JUNE «

Delta Soul & Celebrity Golf Event facebook.com/DeltaSoulGolf

Lake Washington’s “Straight O The Lake” Music Festival

Snake Grabbin’ Rodeo facebook.com/MississippiSnakeGrabbers

» JULY « WWISCAA Food Festival wwiscaa.com

» AUGUST « MS Delta Duck Boat Races at Lake Washington

» SEPTEMBER « Delta Blues & Heritage Festival deltabluesms.org Gumbo Nationals greenvillespeedway.net

Sam Chatmon Blues Fest facebook.com/SamChatmonBlues

Stephone Hughes Old Time Gospel Fest

» OCTOBER « Delta Hot Tamale Fest facebook.com/ DeltaHotTamaleFestival

Highway 61 Blues Festival highway61blues.com

Monuments on Main Street Historic Greenville Cemetery Tour facebook.com/Monuments-on-Main-Street

YMCA Cotton Classic 10K/5K Run racesonline.com/ymca-cotton-classic

» NOVEMBER « Roll’n on the River Car Show facebook.com/redwinecarshow

» DECEMBER « Christmas on Deer Creek LelandChamber.com

The Embers / Club Embers

Our history expert solves local mysteries: who, what, when, where, why, and why not. Well, sometimes.

BY VANCE LAUDERDALE

—

MEMPHIS .

DEAR M.A.: Rotating clubs and restaurants were such a fad during the 1960s that Memphis opened three of them: The Top of the 100 Club on the 100 North Main Building, Club La Ronde on the Mid-City Building at Union and Cleveland, and — the one you remember — Club Embers on the 24th floor of White Station Tower. None of these were thrill rides; patrons had to enjoy a very leisurely meal if they hoped to experience the complete 90-minute revolution. Perhaps that’s why none of these places endure today.

Club Embers was actually an offshoot of the original Embers on Park Avenue, and I’ll try to make the story easier to follow by telling you about the two gentlemen involved with both places. Harry Glaser and Barney

Katzerman met at Humes High School. They were related in some way I don’t fully understand; local newspapers sometimes referred to them as stepbrothers, and even brothers. It doesn’t really matter to this tale; they remained business partners for life. After graduation, they teamed up and opened a soda fountain at the old East End Park, managed the Cotton Bowl Restaurant on East Parkway, and later joined the Gridiron chain of diners, with locations all over town. Glaser eventually became the manager of Gridiron #8, at 1143 Union Avenue, but he had bigger plans than a 12-seat diner. In 1955, he opened his own fine-dining establishment, calling it the Embers, at 3881 Park Avenue, in the Park Plaza Shopping Center.

From what I’ve read, Katzerman and several other gentlemen in the dining business here were part of the ownership group, but all the newspaper ads identified the new establishment as Harry

page:

Station

and the original Harry Glaser’s Embers on Park, complete with its distinctive Waterfall Room. opposite: The building was called the White Station Tower, but many Memphians remember it as the “UP Building” because of the Union Planters Bank inside. On the 24th flooor, Club Embers later became the Top of the Tower.

Glaser’s Embers, so I guess Harry gets most of the credit for the restaurant’s success. And yes, successful it was, quickly becoming the place to go for regular dinners, as well as birthday parties, rehearsal dinners, and other special events, including fashion shows for women, girls, “tots, and toddlers.” The interior was quite classy, with maroon velvet wall coverings, white classical columns, and gold-framed mirrors. The most striking feature was the unusual Waterfall Room, helpfully described by The Commercial Appeal as “real water cascading down a combination of various types of marble.”

But the main attraction was the food, and menus offer a rather astonishing selection that Memphians wouldn’t expect to find at other places in town. For example, they could choose from Fresh Broiled Lake Superior Whitefish, Frog Legs Sauté, Spanish Prawns Al’Indienne, Shish Kabob Istanbul, and Brochette Monte Carlo. All this was in addition to more traditional dishes such as chicken, steak, and roast beef, along with a variety of salads, sandwiches, and desserts.

“Specializing in taste memories,” said a Commercial Appeal review, “the Embers is the kind of restaurant where a salesman

DEAR VANCE: What became of Club Embers, the rotating restaurant atop White Station Tower?

M.A.,

this

Old postcards show Club Embers atop White

Tower (above),

takes his top client, a lover takes his best girl, and a husband takes his wife for an anniversary dinner. … It appeals equally to bridge groups and to doctors. It’s also a hangout for meat-packing firm salesman; they know better than anyone where they’ll find top-quality steaks and roasts.”

When Harry Glaser’s Embers first opened, it was 5,000 square feet and could serve 185 diners. After barely two years, a major remodeling expanded the restaurant to 8,500 square feet, with seating for 340 in four separate dining rooms. On one particular evening in 1957, following a Memphis State University football game, Glaser told reporters that more than 400 exuberant fans jammed into his establishment. “We never had a single complaint,” he said, “but that was the biggest Wednesday night in our history.”

Glaser and his partners certainly believed in the power of advertising. ey came up with a catchy slogan — “Where Fabulous Food Is the Show!” — and

during the late 1960s, newspaper ads would entice readers in this way: “ e Embers steak is a gourmet’s dream come true. Very, very tender, and succulent beyond description with a supreme flavor. e art of cooking reaches its peak of perfection!”

Perhaps you’re not in the mood for steak: “Feeling adventurous? Try the Embers’ Broiled Atlantic Flounder for an unusual taste experience. Gently pampered in creamery butter, cooked in white wine with chopped shallots and anchovy sauce. Served with a bottomless salad bowl, baked potato, and coffee by candlelight.”

Glaser had expanded his restaurant empire by 1960, opening a second Embers in Little Rock, and also managing the restaurant inside the Hotel Tennessee. But tragedy struck on July 31, 1961, when he died after a brief illness. He was only 41

“The Embers steak is a gourmet’s dream come true. Very, very tender, and succulent beyond description with a supreme flavor. The art of cooking reaches its peak of perfection!”

years old. Katzerman took over, and the restaurant continued to be ranked as one of Memphis’ top dining establishments.

In 1965, a landmark appeared in East Memphis — White Station Tower, at 24 stories the tallest building outside of downtown. Early renderings showed the building with a flat roof, but in 1966, Katzerman met with the structure’s owner, William “Buck” Clark, and opened a revolving restaurant on the top floor, where “dining rooms seem to blend with the stars.” Called Club Embers, with seating for 350, various promotions claimed it was “the largest revolving restaurant in the world.” I realize times — and prices

— have changed, but it’s still surprising to read a 1967 ad for Club Embers’ “ anksgiving Special,” and see that “the bounty of an old-fashioned anksgiving, complete, served to make a magnificent show for you and your guests” would cost only $3.45. At that price, customers enjoyed “Roast Tennessee Tom Turkey” with a salad, two vegetables, and dessert. Children dined for only $1.50. Perhaps calling this establishment Club Embers confused diners when they were making reservations — after all, the original Embers was still doing a booming business across town on Park Avenue — so after only two years, Katzerman changed the name to “Top of the Tower.” He didn’t enjoy it very long. When he died in 1972, new owners changed the name to the Pyrenees, and that’s how many readers seem to remember the place. It survived until 1979, when the building’s management decided that circular space could be put to better use. e novelty of rotating restaurants had worn off, and William “Buck” Clark

told reporters, “ ey sprang up around the country, especially after the Seattle Space Needle, and they were very big, but there were problems from a management point of view.” ose problems didn’t involve the mechanism that rotated the huge dining space, as one might expect (it actually rolled smoothly on regular car tires, powered by a small electric motor), but the logistics of moving food from the kitchen, which was on the floor below. Clark transformed the restaurant space into 36 executive offices. Over on Park, Harry Glaser’s Embers closed in 1975 and was demolished. e location became home to a Rite-Aid for several years, then various beauty-supply companies. You won’t find a Waterfall Room there.

Got a question for Vance?

EMAIL: askvance@memphismagazine.com

MAIL: Vance Lauderdale, Memphis Magazine, P.O. Box 1738, Memphis, TN 38101

ONLINE: memphismagazine.com/ask-vance Or visit him on Facebook from time to time.

Bluff City Bard

Memphis poet Maria Zoccola illuminates the mythic inherent in the everyday with her debut collection, Helen of Troy, 1993.

BY JESSE DAVIS

“if you didn’t limp your way home, dark house, door sealed tight, all the street with eyes sewn shut, i don’t want to hear it. i want you silent. i want you listening to me.”

— MARIA ZOCCOLA, “helen of troy feuds with the neighborhood”

Mfound Helen to be a bit too frustrating. “In the Iliad, Helen has no choices,” Zoccola says.

Indeed, Helen, the most beautiful woman in the world, is known more for her relationships with the men in her life. Her husband, King Menelaus, goes to war with Troy after Paris abducts Helen. In the Iliad, she is more MacGuffin than a character with agency. Or so Zoccola initially thought. e poet was reeling from a series of life’s big moments — she had just moved back to Memphis and bought a house — when a sudden epiphany illuminated Helen in a new light.

“I dove for my notebook and wrote seven Helen poems in a

cists might call this collection revisionist history, but Zoccola’s work is transformative, and she has a whipsmart, fearless voice to back up the structural fireworks.

aria Zoccola ignored her homework in the fifth grade and instead spent her time in study hall writing stories about dragons, she confesses over the phone. Her literary-themed youthful rebellion extended beyond the doors of the classroom. She snuck books into her brother’s sports games, and it’s a good thing she did, or readers might never have had the chance to become immersed in her debut poetry collection, Helen of Troy, 1993 (Scribner), due on Tuesday,

January 14, 2025.

ough her upcoming release is Zoccola’s first collection, writing and the arts have been major facets of her career for as long as she has had a career. Zoccola is a poet and educator from Memphis, with writing degrees from Emory University and Falmouth University. Her work has appeared in Ploughshares, e Kenyon Review, e Iowa Review, and elsewhere. She has worked as a freelance journalist for the Daily News in Memphis, and she ran a nonprofit program in Savannah, Georgia — the Deep Center’s Young Author Project, which facilitates creative writing workshops for young authors.

Or, as she succinctly puts it, “Whenever I can be around arts, reading, language — that feeds my soul in a way other things simply don’t.”

Once such example of soulful nourishment is ancient mythology. “I have been a Greek mythology nerd ever since I was

very little,” Zoccola says with a laugh. “Nobody ever watched or restricted what I read, even when they maybe should have.”

Suffice it to say that Zoccola was primed to be an immediate enthusiast when she read Homer’s Odyssey and Iliad while attending St. Mary’s Episcopal School. Homer’s 8th century BC epic poem resonated with the young Memphian. “I read the whole thing cover to cover,” she admits. She still takes her copy with her wherever she goes, even sacrificing precious suitcase space when she studied abroad in England. Yes, the same copy she read in ninth grade.

Homer’s poems have remained a source of comfort and creative inspiration for Zoccola. She was experimenting with “persona” poems — one in which the writer adopts the voice and perspective of another character — and wrote several in the voices of the women of the Iliad. Except she didn’t work with Helen. She

row,” Zoccola remembers. “ e voice that emerged was not this Bronze Age Greek woman but was instead this modern voice, this woman who sounded really familiar to me.”

In viewing Helen through a contemporary lens, as the most beautiful young woman in Sparta, Tennessee, circa 1993, Zoccola felt a new connection with the character. “She was just as much a product of her circumstances and trapped by the narrative as any of the other women around her,” the author says. at simple act of reframing led to others, such as viewing Helen’s abduction as an elopement. In framing the event as an affair, Zoccola restores Helen’s agency — while allowing her the dignity of making a bad decision and then choosing how to live with it. Some classi-

In “helen of troy folds laundry in a dim room,” the heroine wonders if the reader has ever “started growing away from yourself,” like a sun-beaten shuck of corn “bending toward the harvester, leaning forward in relief.” e imagery is incredibly evocative of Helen’s exhaustion, and in tying Helen’s weariness to a scene of harvest, Zoccola deftly juggles an emotional, personal reading of the moment while evoking a fertility symbol — and simultaneously conjuring a Bronze Age-era association of woman-mother-harvest. e collection is rife with similar multilayered examples of the author’s dexterity. In “another thing about the affair,” repeated mentions of dead fish seem to reference William Faulkner’s As I Lay Dying, while doing the more important work of illustrating the mundane reality of marriage.

ough ostensibly a 1990s retelling of Homer’s Iliad, Zoccola’s Helen of Troy, 1993, is its own delightfully strange, multilayered, and explosive creation. ere are slight shades of Maria Dahvana Headley’s excellent 2020 translation of Beowulf, but the comparisons are skin-deep at most, the effect of two brilliant poets irreverently hijacking ancient verse in order to breathe new vitality into them.

Zoccola’s poetry collection crackles with undeniable energy, as though Helen is alive inside, rattling the bars of her cell and probing for weak spots. e clock is ticking, and Helen will explode into the world soon enough.

“It means the world to me to have this book come out in Memphis. I’m a Memphian; my family’s been here for generations,” Zoccola says. “To have this book, which is set in small-town Tennessee, come out in Tennessee is incredible.

“Everyone is invited to the book release party at Novel,” she laughs. “ ere will be cake.”

Maria Zoccola’s debut poetry collection, Helen of Troy, 1993 , releases January 14th at 6 p.m. with a celebration at Novel bookstore.

Maria Zoccola

Memphabetical

Martha Kelly takes readers on an alphabetical tour of the city with her new picture book, M is for Memphis.

BY JESSE DAVIS

Last month, Martha Kelly released her latest picture book, M is for Memphis, with a packed book signing at Burke’s Book Store. She wrote and illustrated the alphabetical tour through the Bluff City’s sites as a follow-up to her first picture book, P is for Possum: Love Letters from the Old Forest. my grandfather’s farm,” she remembers. “My dog loved it. We went to the farm four or five days a week.”

M is for Memphis came about after Burke’s co–owner Cheryl Messler suggested that P is for Possum , published in 2020, deserved an urban companion. Kelly’s fi rst book is a collection of rich watercolors capturing her walks through the Old Forest in Overton Park and documenting the landscape of the MidSouth. Where P is for Possum serves as an ode to nature, Kelly’s newest release forced her to hone her skills by turning her attention to the cityscape around her.

e artist’s work was a process. Kelly says she began thinking of the alphabet of the city about two years ago, and in that time, she also worked sketching — and, eventually, painting — its different scenes.

“I’ve been in the Memphis Urban Sketchers since it started,” Kelly tells me during a brief respite from her busy December. Not only did she release a new book, but she also had art on display at the Winter Arts Holiday Market, and her exhibition “Faulkner’s Trees” is on view through January 2025 at Rowan Oak, William Faulkner’s home museum in Oxford, Mississippi.

She is quick to shout out local artist Elizabeth Alley, who began the Memphis chapter of the Urban Sketchers, saying that her practice with that group helped refi ne her skills in architectural drawing, a necessity for her newest book.

“It was fun to do something a little more urban, a little more broadly [about] the city than the escapism of the forest,” Kelly says. It was a departure for her, she admits; trees are usually the start and finish of her artistic process.

“I spent the first couple of early years of my career painting on

“It felt a little like a jigsaw puzzle,” she says, remembering laying out the alphabet of her book, realizing some letters might be more challenging than she initially expected, puzzling out how to include hidden gems alongside community favorites. Most of all, Kelly continued to push herself out of her comfort zone — from the leaf-littered forest trails and onto the cement of city sidewalks.

“I have a slightly apologetic author’s note at the beginning, saying that I left out things that I love because I just have so many pages and so many words to work with,” Kelly admits with a laugh. No matter how exhaustive, no list can catalogue all of Memphis’ wonders and curiosities.

“Clearly I cheated on x — I used Stax,” Kelly says. “There were certain letters I knew would be a problem, and there were some letters where there were 15 things I could’ve done and I had to whittle it down to about four.”

The artist clearly spent no

small amount of mental and emotional energy working out the complexities of her “jigsaw puzzle” of a project. It speaks to her commitment to her craft and to the assignment itself. How exactly does one illustrate Memphis using only 26 letters as a framing device? “Q in Memphis is not a problem,” Kelly laughs, though she somehow managed not to include this book reviewer’s favorite barbecue spot. “I chose a list of barbecue places and everybody in the world is going to have an opinion about what I left off of that page. That’s one of the national sports, in Memphis anyway — talking barbecue and what places make it and what places don’t.”

ough Memphians may disagree (often and vocally) about their favorite places, there’s room for everyone at the table. ere’s just not room for everything on the page.

e Southern sun shines off the glass storefront of A. Schwab on Beale Street and the stained-glass windows in the historic Clayborn Temple. Deep-green shadows pool beneath magnolias at Elmwood Cemetery, seeming to suggest quiet contemplation. Kelly’s artwork is dazzling, and she has trained her eye to look beyond the first thing she notices. In her hands, Memphis is seen lovingly and honestly.

And what beautiful pages they are — Kelly’s paintbrush seems to capture Memphis on those rare and perfect spring days.

Kelly’s brief asides might be the best element of M is for Memphis. She makes sure to point out Rufus omas’ boots, and she notes that Crosstown Concourse is dog-friendly. It’s these whimsical personal flourishes that make M is for Memphis an authentic portrait of a city. e book does not set out to tell some imagined definitive “true story” of Memphis; rather it reads like a series of postcards sent to a close friend. It’s Kelly’s attempt to show the reader Memphis as she sees it, to show what she loves about this multifaceted city by the mighty Mississippi. Or, as the artist herself puts it: “It’s my sketchbook journey through the city.”

Martha Kelly is photographed surrounded by her art at her booksigning for M is for Memphis at Burke’s Book Store in December 2024.

The Advantage of Age

Memphis

has an undervalued asset in its young people. We must focus on better education for the under-18 population.

BY TOM JONES

Afundamental principle of business is that competitive advantage is found in differentiation. But the trick is in finding that difference and deciding how to invest in it. e same goes for cities, and just like a business, they can overlook an asset that should be obvious. In Memphis, this regularly undervalued asset is the increase in the schoolage population.

Memphis is home to more than 150,000 children under the age of 18 — the equivalent of the total populations of Collierville, Germantown, and Bartlett combined. It’s an anomaly for Memphis that’s crying out to be seen as a competitive advantage.

In Memphis, 25 percent of the population is under 18. In Atlanta, it’s 17.2 percent; in St. Louis, 18.5 percent; in Austin,18.7 percent; and in Nashville 20 percent. It’s a difference that comes into stark relief when Memphis is compared to Nashville. Tennessee’s largest city has 60,149 more people than Memphis, and yet, Memphis has 12,564 more children. Our young people are a huge asset waiting to become a competitive advantage. We’ve all heard axioms like “what makes our community special are its people” and “children are our future; teach them well, and let them lead the way.” However, while repeating these truisms, we are not always thinking of the students sitting today in the public classrooms of Memphis schools. ey are often cast as challenges at best and problems at worst, rather than being seen as the opportunities they represent and the talent they can become in attracting jobs and economic growth for Memphis.

For those quick to make judgments about Memphis, the fact is the increase in the number of children here is part of a Mississippi Delta phenomenon: families

are larger in this region. For example, when Shelby County’s under-18 population is added to that of Memphis, the under-18 population goes up, not down.

Here’s the thing: 25- to 34-yearolds with college degrees — the gold standard for today’s economy — are concentrating in about 15 cities. Memphis is not one of them, but while others fight for these workers, Memphis has the potential to strike gold by making the most of the kids in our classrooms.

It’s one of those times when research and common sense converge. Understanding that one in four people in Memphis is younger than 18, we must prioritize their potential to drive a better and expanded economy.

The kind of robust, inclusive economy that Memphis wants begins in its classrooms today. Better-educated workers attract better jobs and higher salaries that can keep our graduates here.

Memphis-Shelby County Schools should be seen as being in the talent business, or the human capital business, if you prefer.

Portland economist Joe Cortright’s advice: Do a better job of educating and become a more attractive place for the well-educated who are on the move or thinking about moving. ere’s no argument that Memphis has made major strides. A transformed riverfront is capped off by Tom Lee Park; the new Memphis Art Museum is

due to open downtown in late 2025; there are greenlines and blue lines that are the envy of other cities; neighborhood parks and community centers are being reborn through the Accelerate Memphis program. In addition, Mayor Paul Young’s program to eliminate blight once and for all is producing encouraging results. Two long-derelict buildings downtown – 100 North Main and the Sterick Building — are coming back to life, a nationally prominent tennis center has opened at Audubon Park adjacent to its new golf course, Overton Park continues to pursue its plans for that beloved public space, and much, much more. It’s proof of what Memphis can accomplish when it aims high and acts boldly. Unfortunately, when the subject turns to improving our schools and enhancing student performance, people’s eyes glaze over, although it’s hard to think of a single objective that can do more to transform the economy. e good news is that high school graduation rates are improving, but the ultimate test is whether students can also be accepted to college and into the graduation line receiving degrees. For decades, among the 50 largest cities, Memphis has ranked toward the bottom in its percentage of college-educated workers. at’s a drag on the economy. As Cortright’s research has concluded, 60 percent of a city’s economic success comes from its percentage of college-educated workers. Here, tax incentives often

reflect the belief that Memphis workers can’t compete for jobs in a knowledge-based, technology-focused economy. After all, tax breaks waive millions of dollars in taxes for education, an indication of the failure to see schools as a crucial economic development strategy.

David Ciscel, economics professor emeritus at the University of Memphis, has said we are selling ourselves short. “While workforce development is fine, and education/training is even better, the workforce development model has the issue backwards. e labor force gets better when the jobs get better. We tend to develop new jobs that do not demand technical training or university/college educations. Traditionally, we tend to believe that high wages drive businesses to relocate, but could it be our fate that Memphis salaries are just too low to inspire innovation and development in the local economy?”

Clearly, something needs to change. A recent “click survey” by a job search firm indicated that over a two-year period, Memphis ranked third in the share of recent college graduates who were looking for a job outside our metro area.

So, it’s a vicious cycle.

e kind of robust, inclusive economy that Memphis wants begins in its classrooms today. Better-educated workers attract better jobs and higher salaries that can keep our graduates here.

Here’s the proverbial bottom line: Traditional economic development priorities that fail to treat young talent in our classrooms as our ultimate disruptive strategy are a missed opportunity for our region to move beyond the low-wage, low-skill jobs economy once and for all.

Allyour care inoneplace.

WehaveanepidemicinMemphisandtheMid-South -amentalhealthcrisisandsubstanceuseepidemic. Itimpactsfamilies,communitiesandultimatelyallof us.Individualsexperiencingamentalhealthcrisis don'tdeservetobesweptundertherug.They deservebetter-andMemphisandShelbyCounty deservebetter.Allianceisaskingforyourhelp-to buildastate-of-the-artWellnessCampusdedicated tocrisisinterventionandcareforchildrenandadults. Willyougivetodaytohelpthethousandswhoneed mentalhealthservices?

AllianceHealthcareServicesisthelargest nonprofitcomprehensivebehavioralhealth providerinWestTennesseeandShelby County.Offeringoutpatient,in-patient,homebased,andcommunity-basedprograms, includingacontinuumofcrisisservicesto adults,childrenandfamilies.

Theseservicesincludeoutpatienttherapy, medicationmanagement,carecoordination, intensivein-hometreatment,peersupport services,jobplacement,independentliving homes,supervisedgroupandresidential homes,detoxandsubstanceabusetreatment.

AsShelbyCounty'ssafetynetprovider,noone isturnedawayregardlessofanindividual's abilitytopay.

WHATWEDO

“ Well, last year I kicked gambling … the odds are 3 to 1 the New Year will be a good one.”

OUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH T HE NEW

THREE HABITS TO KICK, AND THREE HABITS TO NURTURE IN THE NEW YEAR

BY CHRIS MCCOY

There are no shortcuts to good health.

You’re in it for the long haul, so cultivating one good habit for a lifetime is worth a hundred miracle cures. Here are six suggestions on the best ways for you to change your ways.

OUT WITH THE OLD

KICK THE SODA HABIT

Whether you call them sodas, cokes, or pop, one thing’s for sure: ese beverages are bad for you. e biggest problem is the sugar. e CDC reports that 63 percent of young Americans and 49 percent of adults drink at least one sugar-sweetened beverage per day, adding an average of 145 calories to their daily intake. Drinking sodas and energy drinks is associated with obesity, and an increased risk of Type 2 diabetes, kidney disease, heart disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, tooth decay, cavities, and gout. What about diet sodas? Even with their calorie-free sugar substitutes, they still have many of the same adverse effects.

Cutting sodas out of your diet is easier than you think. If you need a caffeine boost, try coffee or tea. Even if you add some sugar, it will almost certainly be less than you were getting with your average 12-ounce can of soda.

AVOID ULTRA-PROCESSED FOODS

Sodas and energy drinks are part of a category nutritionists call ultra-processed foods. ese are highly artificial, manufactured products like candy, breakfast cereals, and frozen microwavable meals like Hot Pockets. What they have in common are things such as casein (a protein extracted from milk), hydrogenated oils, high-fructose corn syrup, and protein isolates, as well as high levels of salt, fat, and sugars. All of those additives add to your cancer risk. ere is evidence that these products are easier to digest, meaning you absorb more calories quicker. is can make it harder to control your weight.

Nutritionists make a distinction between ultra-processed foods and fresh foods that are prepped for convenience, such as a container of fresh blueberries or mixed nuts, or healthfully preserved foods, such as frozen vegetables and canned tomatoes. Read the label, and avoid products with long lists of additives.

PUT DOWN YOUR PHONE

We all love our smartphones. They help us connect with each other. ey’re windows to the world. ey help us remember dates and details. We can’t go to a ball game or a concert without snapping a picture and sharing it with friends and strangers on the internet.

But these days, it’s easy to feel that you have too much of a good thing. Smartphone addiction is real, and in many cases, that’s because your apps are working as designed. You might have already guessed that from your weekly average screen time reports. Social media apps are designed to keep you engaged as long as possible. ey don’t care if that engagement makes you mad, or sad, or happy. A friend-

ship-ending, highly public fight sparked by a Facebook post is actually a win as far as Facebook is concerned. Other apps are designed to deliver a steady drip feed of dopamine, a chemical your brain associates with rewards, like a slot machine.

If you think your smartphone use is out of control, try deleting or putting time-blockers on the most problematic apps. Maybe you only need to access X on your laptop instead of on your phone. Or maybe you don’t need to access it at all. iPhones have features that can help you decrease your dependency, such as Focus settings which limit your notifications. On Android systems, the Digital Wellness settings can also be helpful. If that doesn’t work, consider getting a “dumb phone” — that is, an old-fashioned flip phone that will send and receive calls, and T9 text messages.

IN WITH THE NEW EXERCISE WITH FRIENDS

Sure, everyone wants to get fit for the new year. But how many gym memberships do you have to abandon before you think, maybe that’s not for me? Working out can seem like a chore, which is why so many people don’t stick with an exercise regime. One way to motivate yourself to get moving is to find a tribe. Make exercising a social activity. Maybe you could join a group like the 901 Run Club, who welcome all levels of runners from beginners to marathon enthusiasts. The U.S. Masters Swimming, a national organization, meets at the Ric Nuber YMCA on Quince Rd. on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings and evenings. Memphis Rox is the largest nonprofit climbing gym in the world, and offers classes for all levels of climbing acumen. If you’re looking for group bike rides, the Memphis Hightailers organize events all year round, including the 63-mile Red, White, and Blue ride on July 5th.

If you’re more the sporting type, there are numerous clubs and leagues for adults. 901 Pickleball doesn’t require a membership, and organizes both lessons and tournaments. The Memphis Sports and Events Center and the Memphis Jewish Community Center both sponsor adult basketball leagues, and if you haven’t played on the courts at the new Tom Lee Park yet, you’re missing out.

GRAB A MOCKTAIL

Many people like to start off the year with Dry January. The theory is that your body needs time to replenish and recuperate after the excesses of the holiday season, and there’s every reason to believe that theory is correct. You can use this time to get acquainted with the mocktail. The latest trend among bartenders are tasty drinks without alcohol. Just because you’re not drinking tonight doesn’t mean you

can’t have something fun to drink. at way you can break the ice without falling off the wagon. If you like beer and wine, the good news is that de-alcoholizing technology has come a long way in recent years, thanks to improved fi ltration techniques. A de-alcoholized wine has all of the flavors produced by fermentation, but with the alcohol fi ltered out. Memphis’ Wiseacre Brewery produces Hop Zip, a sparkling water alternative with the craft beer flavor of wild hops.

Even if you’re not swearing off the sauce for January, you can still indulge with these mocktails. Medical guidelines consider one alcoholic drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men moderate, and reasonably safe drinking. Consider replacing your second round with an NA option, and stay under the limit.

PRIORITIZE SLEEP

Let’s face it, no one in America gets enough rest. Sleep is as important to your brain as food or water. It helps you to consolidate your daily experiences into new memories. It allows the body to remove the toxins that build up as waste products in your brain. According to the National Institute of Health, children and teens need 8-9 hours of sleep per day, while adults need 7-8 hours. Sleep deprivation is extremely common, and just trying to catch up with the sleep you missed during the week on the weekends usually doesn’t work as well as you hope it will.

e key is to build healthy sleeping habits. Getting plenty of exercise will help you sleep at night. Try to go to bed at the same time every night. Make your bedroom a sleep sanctuary. Don’t have a TV in your bedroom, and leave the smartphone on the bedside table. If you find yourself tossing and turning, get up and do something else for a few minutes, like read a book. But don’t look at your smartphone. Light from the smartphone screen can trick your body into believing it is still daylight, making it harder to go to sleep.

By following these six fairly simple steps, this time, the new year just might usher in a slightly optimized you (not a new you — you’re great!). It’s worth a try, isn’t it?

Memphis School of Excellence (MSE) aims to provide a safe and collaborative environment that cultivates the academic and social development of its students through the emphasis of STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering & Math.

Students are equipped with the tools needed to succeed in the classroom, the workplace, and in life.

•TUITION-FREE

•FOUR TVAAS LEVEL-5 SCHOOLS:

Mendenhall Campus (K-8)

State STEM Designated Winchester Campus (9-12)

Cordova Elementary Campus (K-5) 2022-2023 Reward School

Only Charter Elementary School in CORDOVA

Cordova Secondary Campus (6-12)

Only Charter Mid-High School in CORDOVA

• Highly Qualified & Dedicated Teachers

• 1:1 Chromebook Access

• Drama, Theater & Student Council

• Safe, Small & Caring Environment

• College Bound Education

• Variety of Athletic Programs

• Career Education Classes

• Coding, 3D Printing

MEMPHIS WEDDINGS IN PICTURES

Years ago, when I got married, we went with a traditional wedding — a simple ceremony, attended by a small gathering of family and friends, in a small church in Germantown. Both of us were still in graduate school, so we couldn’t afford anything lavish — no fancy gowns or tuxedos. My bride wore a lovely ivory ensemble, while photographs exist showing me squeezed into a three-piece suit — of brown corduroy, no less , complete with striped bow tie.

Oh, did I mention this was the 1970s?

Times have changed, as have fashion styles and wedding venues. Churches are still popular sites, of course, but Memphians have chosen parks, grand homes, public spaces, beaches, and elsewhere as the best places to say “I do” and to celebrate afterwards. On these pages, we present some notable recent weddings. Best of luck to the bride and groom as they begin their new lives together. — Michael Finger

LOFLIN YARD

NOVEMBER 10, 2024

PHOTOGRAPH BY JAMIE HARMON

MARY OGLESBY AND GEOFF SMITH

THE DIXON GALLERY AND GARDENS / AMURICA PHOTO BOOTH

DECEMBER 7, 2024

PHOTOGRAPHS BY JAMIE HARMON

LISA BERTAGNA AND LOGAN HANNA

MAY 13, 2022

NEL DAVIS AND VICTORIA ROURKE

WOODRUFF-FONTAINE HOUSE

PHOTOGRAPH BY JAMIE HARMON

CENTRAL STATION

OCTOBER 26, 2024

PHOTOGRAPH BY CARRIE PINKLEY

EZRA WHEELER AND SARAH CAMP-WHEELER

Taylopr Square

Haze Photography

APRIL 4, 2024

MARCELLA SIMIEN AND DUSTIN REYNOLDS NEGRIL, JAMAICA

PHOTOGRAPH BY ANDRE G. YOUNG

409 SOUTH MAIN EVENTS

Corporate events and meetings. Up to 330 guests, 220 seated. 901-300-7942; events@409southmain.com. 409 S. Main St. 409southmain.com

ANNESDALE MANSION

Corporate events. Up to 17,000 available sq. ft., 250-300 guests. Val Bledsoe: 901-490-9460; val@ annesdalemansion.com. 1325 Lamar Ave. annesdalemansion.com

THE ATRIUM AT OVERTON SQUARE

Corporate events and meetings. Space for 175 seated guests, up to 250 standing. In-house catering and bar services available. 901-213-4514; events@memphiseventgroup.com. 2105 Madison Ave. theatriummemphis.com

THE AVENUE DOWNTOWN

Corporate events. Room for up to 150 guests. 901-488-8730; info@avenuedowntown.com. 10 N. Second St. avenuedowntown.com

BING ON BROAD

Corporate events and meetings. Room for up to 100 guests. 901-407-2214; info@bingonbroad.com. 2531 Broad Ave. bingonbroad.com

CADRE BUILDING

Corporate, formal, and nonprofit events. 36,000 sq. ft., Space for 350 seated guests, 1,000 standing. 901-779-1501; betsy.mckay@cadrebuilding.com. 149 Monroe Ave. cadrebuilding.com

THE COLUMNS

Corporate events. Up to 20,000 sq. ft., 200-800 guests. 901552-4732; catie@resourceentertainment.com. 40 S. Main St. resourceentertainment.com

ESPLANADE

Corporate events and conferences. 14,000 available sq. ft., 10-700 guests. 901-753-3333; info@esplanadememphis. com. 901 Cordova Station Ave. esplanadememphis.com

FEDEX EVENT CENTER

Corporate events. From 272-7,700 sq. ft., 20-800 guests. 901-222-7280; events@shelbyfarmspark.org. 6903 Great View Dr. N. shelbyfarmspark.org

Live Musicians

www.sweetharmonymusic.com

Soloists | Duos | Trios | Quartets

violin - viola - cello - bass - piano - harp - guitar flute - saxophone - trumpet - vocals

(901) 605-0891 | mario@sweetharmonymusic.com

FOGELMAN

EXECUTIVE CONFERENCE CENTER & HOTEL

Corporate events and conferences. 35,000 available sq. ft., 15-1,500 guests. 901-678-5410; conferences@ memphis.edu. 330 Innovation Dr. (Conference Center); 3700 Central Ave (Hotel). memphis.edu/conferences

THE GREAT HALL & CONFERENCE CENTER

Corporate events and conferences. Up to 8,675 sq. ft. available. 60-800 guests. 901-757-7373; ianslinger@ germantown-tn.gov. 1900 S. Germantown Rd. thegreathallevents.com

THE KENT

Meetings, events, and conferences. Up to 27,000 sq. ft. available. 934 standing guests, 600 seated, plus outdoor patio area. 901-569-6611; toni@thekentmemphis. com. 61 Keel Ave. thekentmemphis.com

LA PLACE BALL OM

Corporate and special events. Up to 5,500 sq. ft. available. 10-650 guests. Catering available. Tarmeckla Douglas: 901-340-0144; tarmeckladouglas@yahoo.com. 4798 Summer Ave. laplaceballroom.com

THE MEETING CENTER OF COLLIERVILLE

Meetings and conferences. Variety of room options. Seating for up to 15 guests. 901-861-6304; info@tmccollierville.com. 340 Poplar View Ln. E. #1 tmccollierville.com

MINGLEWOOD HALL

Corporate events and fundraisers. Up to 13,000 sq. ft. available. Up to 1,600 guests. 901-312-6058, ext. 1107; info@minglewoodhall.com. 1555 Madison Ave. minglewoodhall.com

NEW DAISY

Corporate and special events, fundraisers, and trade shows. Full theater setup for 500-1,100 guests. 901-525-8981; info@newdaisy.com. 330 Beale St. newdaisy.com

NO. 2 VANCE

Corporate events and meetings. Indoor and outdoor space for up to 75 seated guests, 100 total. 901-237-2786; no2vance@gmail.com. 325 Wagner St. no2vance.com

PREMIERE PALACE BALL OM

Corporate events. 2,500 sq. ft. ballroom for up to 400 guests. 901-527-5660; info@premierepalace.com. 629 Monroe Ave. premierepalace.com

P PCELLAR

Corporate events. Versatile warehouse space for up to 100 guests. 901-654-6737; hello@propcellar.com. 2585 Summer Ave. propcellar.com

REIGN EVENT VENUE

Meetings and large corporate events. Indoor and outdoor spaces for up to 250 guests. 901-748-5148; info@ reigneventsmemphis.com. 3243 Players Club Circle.

MBA OM

Small corporate events. Tables and private rooms available on a limited basis. 901-523-0020; edgarmendez71@gmail.com. 303 S. Main St. memphisrumba.com

STOP 345

Corporate events and meetings. 6,000 total sq. ft. for up to 750 guests. 901-725-5625; info@stop345.com. 345 Madison Ave. stop345.com

TOWER CENTER

Conferences, meetings, and events. Up to 10,000 available sq. ft., 6-600 guests. 901-767-8776. 5100 Poplar Ave. #3300. towercentermemphis.com

WOODLAND HILLS EVENT CENTER

Corporate events. Multiple room options, with 50-1,000 guests. 901-754-2000. 10000 Woodland Hills Dr., Cordova. woodlandhillseventcenter.com

WOOD FF-FONTAINE HOUSE

Weddings and special and corporate events. Variety of room options for 30-200 guests. 901-526-1469; j.cooper@woodruff-fontaine.org. 680 Adams Ave. woodruff-fontaine.org

WHEN ART GETS LOUD

ON VIEW AT THE DIXON THROUGH JANUARY 19TH, AN EXHIBITION BY

SCOTT A. CARTER MAKES NOISE.

BY ABIGAIL MORICI

Scott A. Carter has worked in the field of art installation for years. He’s worn the nitrile gloves to handle priceless works when he worked as a preparator at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. He’s hung framed photographs on the walls of Christian Brothers University’s Beverly + Sam Ross Gallery, which he runs in his capacity as assistant professor of art. He’s placed pieces in tempered-glass display cases at local museums as an occasional art handler. It’s a delicate practice, art installation — a practice that Carter was ready to disrupt.

PREVIOUS PAGES: Perfect in an empty room (2024), Summer in abandon (Abandon) (2024).

ABOVE, L-R: Passing Time 1 (2023), Energy States (2023), Passing Time II (2023).

His artistic troublemaking started with the display cases. As a sculptor, Carter says, “I was interested in using the surface to add jacks and cut holes, and treat them as a material, not so much like it’s going to preserve something.”

So, without much of a plan, he took a display case, laser-cut a hole, inverted a corner, added guitar cables, electronic components with exposed wiring, a silk plant, and topped it with a beer bottle. Now, it works as an amplifier of sorts. “You can plug [your instrument] in, and there’s three different modes you can switch between, and it’ll distort,” Carter says. “I ended up adding a contact mic too.” Even without an instrument plugged in, the piece will make a loud buzzing sound, disrupting the typically quiet gallery space.

This piece, titled Energy

States and made in 2023, would become the first of many semi-functional sculptures by Carter. For the first time, when he goes in to create a piece, he doesn’t have a plan; he just lets inspiration take over. “It’s a mashup of all the things that I like, furniture-ish design, electronics, engineering,” he says. “For years, I tried to combine my musical interests, interest in electronics with art, but they were always separate things.”

Many of these pieces now make up the “Energy States” exhibition, on display at The Dixon Gallery and Gardens through January 19th. “I think with this show,” Carter says, “I finally got it to the point where I feel like, oh, everything together, I’m happy. Which is weird.”

Carter, originally from Hopkinsville, Kentucky, has always been a creative type, but he wasn’t always serious about his art or his music. He may have taken an art class here or there while in high school, but it was really his parents who encouraged his talents.

“When I graduated high school, they said, ‘You have to go to art school because you’re going to fail out of college.’ They knew I liked to party too much. My parents are both teachers; I think they’d both seen enough students to know [what kind of student I was].”

So in 2003, he went to Atlanta College of Art, now part of Savannah College of Art and Design. That’s where he slowly got more serious about art and started playing the drums. “So kind of a similar timeline

[for developing my music and art],” Carter says. At this time, he also met his wife, Johana Moscoso, a fellow artist and current residency coordinator at Crosstown Arts.

“But I would say I was more heavily focused on art than music for a long time,” Carter says, “From 2010 or so, after grad school [for sculpture at School of the Art Institute of Chicago], 2011, I got back into music, but I spent all my time doing that and not making art. And I thought, ‘Man, this isn’t sustainable. I can’t build electronics and make music for a whole year and then do one piece.’ I would always be a little depressed.”

At the time, he says, he was making “grad school serious sculptures” out of drywall with references to art history. “I got really tired of making that stuff” until one day in

2012 he made a drumset out of drywall. It didn’t incorporate everything — electronics, design, engineering, like Energy States would. But, from that point, Carter says, “I kept trying to get it all to work together, so I wasn’t compromising one or the other. And so now, 12 years later, I finally, finally got to a point where I’m like, ‘Wow, this is good for me.’”

With “ Energy States,”

Carter intended to reference mid-century modern and art deco radio cabinets in terms of design and construction “because back then they were building these towers with speakers built in and a record player on top.” And the pieces in his Dixon exhibition do resemble these styles with clean lines and the simple use of materials. A motif of grids appears

throughout the works, a nod to music recorded on a timebased grid and his work using CNC routers, laser cutters, and 3D-rendering, the technological aspects in his sculptural practice. Visually, for some pieces, the precision of the grids contrast with the curling of wires, tubing, and cables that loop from point to point, revealing the exposed circuitry of the sound components.

There was a time, though, before he embraced this exposed wiring. “One day, I thought ‘Why am I not showing all the electronics?’” he says. “I was already making little synthesizers with plexiglass cases where you could see all this stuff. And I realized, ‘That looks really cool.’ But I never thought that it could be an art object.”

He also felt that way about some of his staple pieces in his

The works display the exposed circuitry of their sound components, which can include 3D-printed parts, tubing, microphones, amplifiers, cables — and sometimes beer bottles.

exhibit — his speakers made of stacked beer bottles. “The first one I did [Passing Time], I thought it was really kind of stupid, but my wife saw it and said, ‘Oh, I really like this; you should keep making these.’”

The others would be Passing Time (II), Microcosm, and Memento Mori. The artist and his friends consumed all the bottles of beer, which are used throughout, during the process of making these pieces.

Carter, it turns out, had been thinking about Eugene Von Bruenchenhein, whose art was once on display at the Kohler Arts Center where he worked as a preparator. Von Bruenchenhein made towers and thrones from painted chicken bones.

“They became these religious-looking relics and monuments to some material that he consumed,” Carter says. “So in a similar way I was doing that with these pieces, and I ended up incorporating the bottles into everything. At some point I started stacking and kind of playing with them, then stripping them down to

their components, just the glass, and sort of putting this care into cleaning them and treating them, and they became more like markers of time.”

For Momento Mori, which translates from Latin to “remember you will die,” Carter presents a speaker made of stacked, partially filled bottles of sand. “An obvious reference to an hourglass,” Carter says. “I’m just thinking about time and getting older.”

Aluminum casts of Carter’s fingers, made from beer cans, point from the 3D-printed hardware on Momento Mori , as if implicating the viewer in impending mortality as well. The artist also includes a cast of his nose in Path to mindfulness (the power of breath). This piece is more of a reflection on social anxiety, rather than an anxiety about passing time. With a simple flick of a switch, an air compressor pushes air through bottles and tubes to a condenser mic to reference, the artist says, “nervous breathing.”

The intention of Carter and the Dixon was to have all these

ABOVE: Burden (the refrain) (2024).

RIGHT: Tonight with a constant buzz (2024).

pieces plugged in, to allow the viewer to be able to turn them on and off “with some degree of caution,” but since “Energy States” opened in November, “Do Not Touch” signs have been put in place due to some careless behavior from visitors. Perhaps, in a more intimate environment, Carter says, the pieces could remain on, though he worries the noise might bother gallery staff in a typically quiet setting. “It can be very loud,” he says. “Very loud.”

them,” he says, “and plugging them in a way that I haven’t gotten from other work I’ve made.”

For Carter, the pieces in “Energy States” remind him of toys. “That’s exactly what all instruments are to me,” he says. “They’re like grown-up toys.”

From the artist building the pieces with his 3D printer and connecting them (“like K’Nex,” he says) to the interactions potential viewers can have by flipping switches or reacting to built-in sensors, Carter’s work allows the opportunity for play in unexpected places.

“I do get joy from looking at

But in just their visual aspect the pieces are playful, with the Dixon’s wall text inviting the viewer up close to engage with all the elements layered under plexiglass and in display cases from all sides. Even their hardware requires close inspection, as Carter has 3D-printed and faceted most of it himself.

Though this exhibit will close this month, Carter plans to continue in this style of work and to experiment with the sound systems in new environments. “I was surprised and honored when the Dixon asked me to show here,” he says. “And one day, maybe, I’ll get them in an environment, where they can all exist and play really loud.”

“Scott A. Carter: Energy States” is on display at The Dixon Gallery and Gardens through January 19th.

LEFT: Merged/Split (2024). ABOVE: Halcyon (2024).

“If We Don’t Tell Their Story, Who Will?”

THE MEMPHIS AND SHELBY COUNTY ROOM PRESERVES THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF OUR REGION.

BY MICHAEL FINGER

In 1948, Willie Mays signed his first professional baseball contract, agreeing to a monthly salary of $250 to play as a center fielder for the Birmingham Black Barons, a team owned by the operator of a Memphis funeral parlor.

On a small folded sheet of plain notepaper, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt sent a personal message, apparently by messenger, to Tennessee Senator Kenneth McKellar, writing in pencil, “Dear Kenneth, I do hope you’ll go along with my Utilities Bill, and get the rest to help,” signing it simply “FDR.”

A fragile document dated September 5, 1790, acknowledged payment of one dollar a day to one “William Mizell” for his services as an “interpreter from the Fort at the Chickasaw Bluffs.”

And a beautifully hued card invited guests to a “Night of the Carnival” Mardi Gras party, held in Memphis on February 14, 1888, when our city celebrated this event on the same scale as New Orleans and Mobile, Alabama.

school yearbooks, and so much more. It is, in short, a treasure trove for anyone from the seasoned professional researching local or regional history, to people of all ages and backgrounds who are simply curious about the life and times of those who have passed before us.

right: The Memphis and Shelby County Room collections include this rare photograph of the legendary Willie Mays, taken in 1948 when he first began playing professional baseball with the Birmingham Black Barons. The library also has his original contract showing he was paid a monthly salary of $250.

These four pieces of paper, which could have been so easily discarded over the years, represent a tiny sample of the more than one million — yes, one million — fragile, irreplaceable, and priceless items that have been carefully preserved, collected, and archived by the staff of the Memphis and Shelby County Room. Housed on the fourth floor of the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library on Poplar, the collection includes thousands of rare books, journals, manuscripts, letters, official reports and documents of all kinds, photographs, diaries, newspapers, magazines, audio recordings, record albums, home movies,

“We consider it our job to preserve the history and culture of this city and the people who live here,” says G. Wayne Dowdy, senior manager of the Memphis and Shelby County Room since 2010. “ at includes our relationship with the rest of the world. What’s more, we also regard everyone who has ever walked the earth as a historical figure. And if we don’t tell their story, who will?”

“We absolutely stress that,” says Gina Cordell, curator of the Memphis and Shelby County Room since 2012, who began working at the library in 2000. “I preach that we have materials from many notable Memphians. We have the papers of Maxine Smith, Benjamin Hooks, Boss Crump. But those slice-of-life collections are just as important in their own way. Many times, they are what people care the most about.”

above: Discovered in the basement of an empty building, old photo albums donated to the Memphis and Shelby County Room contain rare photos of East End Park.

far left: President

Franklin D. Roosevelt sent this handwritten note to Tennessee Senator Kenneth McKellar.

left: Famed aviator

Charles Lindbergh tinkers with the engine of his Spirit of St. Louis

ager of the Memphis and Shelby County Room since 2010.

top right: The Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library and Information Center opened in 2001.

right: Danny Thomas (with cap), founder of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, accepts an award from city officials.

The present-day Memphis and Shelby County Room had humble beginnings. is community went more than 70 years before city leaders opened the first public library in 1893. e Cossitt Library, housed in a beautiful red sandstone castle on the river bluffs, quickly acquired an impressive collection of books and professional journals. But, as libraries often do, it soon became a repository for all sorts of other objects. Long before the Memphis Pink Palace Museum opened, Cossitt became the city’s only museum, complete with such things as taxidermied animals. “It really was like a cabinet of curiosities,” says Cordell.

Meanwhile, just a few blocks away, at ird and Madison, a family donation allowed for the creation of the Goodwyn Institute. Here, Memphians could attend lectures in a large auditorium and peruse the materials in that organization’s library. en, when the city of Memphis acquired grocery-store magnate Clarence Saunders’ “Pink Palace” mansion on Central, other objects from the past found a home there. But these groups weren’t linked, and nobody had a system for deciding what went where, when families wanted to donate items from their personal collections.

director’s office. “ e collection really began to grow in 1928, when the library hired Mary Davant,” says Dowdy. “Mary was a native Memphian, had gone to library school, and was hired as our first reference librarian. Over time she was put in charge of all Memphis reference material, expanding it greatly.”

e Memphis and Shelby County Room wasn’t officially established until 1971. e city had opened the main branch on Peabody in 1955, and when they expanded that building, they set aside a dedicated room in the history department, beginning with the materials Davant had been gathering over the years. After she retired, Danny Yanchisin became manager, and “he really began to actively collect,” says Dowdy. “He didn’t just grow the collection, but put in place procedures that helped us keep up with what we had. He created donor files, for example, to help us keep accurate records of who had donated what.”

“Everybody has made a contribution to society of some kind. So we want to talk with people and preserve their stories. If you want to know about a prominent person, there are a hundred different ways you can find out about them. But for many other people, their stories are lost.” — Wayne Dowdy

When Cossitt first opened, official reports from city government and the school board were housed in the

Dr. Jim Johnson took over the Memphis and Shelby County Room in 1982, serving until his retirement in 2010, when Dowdy, who had joined the library staff in 1994, was named senior manager. He and Cordell, with support from Verjeana Hunt, the library system’s public services supervisor, worked with librarians who held a special interest in local history — among them, Patricia LaPointe and Barbara Flanary — to develop the rapidly expanding history collections.

Even in the new space, the main reading room was small, and the collections quickly outgrew the limited storage space. e photograph collection was stored on different floors, so a request for two photographs might mean a trip by the librarian to two completely different areas of the building. In 2000, when developers demolished the old J.B. Hunter department store at 3030 Poplar and began construction of an ultra-modern,

four-story library, they provided space on the top floor dedicated to the Memphis and Shelby County Room. at area today includes a spacious reading room, with sturdy wooden work tables taken from the original Cossitt Library, rows of filing cabinets for microfilmed newspapers, storage rooms with shelves for the various collections, work spaces where the staff can collect, organize, and preserve documents, and office areas for the hardworking staff. anks to a generous grant from the Plough Foundation, there’s even a soundproof recording studio, where the library staff, under the direction of Scott Lillard, can record interviews for its “901 Voices” collection of audio interviews with people from all walks of life.

“Everybody has made a contribution to society of some kind,” says Dowdy. “So we want to talk with people and preserve their stories. If you want to know about a prominent person, there are a hundred different ways you can find out about them. But for many other people, their stories are lost.”

At present, the “901 Voices” project has recorded more than 200 interviews, with college students, school teachers, community activists, newspaper reporters, and the president of the Chinese Historical Society. Some 70 of those have also been transcribed, and the plan is to provide written transcripts of every interview, as time allows.

“MEMPHIS

T( is was where the library found the note from President Roosevelt mentioned earlier, along with other letters FDR sent to McKellar, often addressing him cordially as “Mack.”)

“We don’t cherry-pick or choose what to save,” says Dowdy. “ at’s Archives 101. We may discard or recycle duplicate materials to save space, but otherwise it goes in our collections.”

“The weirdest request we ever had involved a very prominent Memphian whose husband was an interior designer. He had designed for her a very lavish bathroom. He passed away, and she was getting up in years, so she offered to donate her bathroom to us — only if we put it on display in the middle of the Memphis and Shelby County Room.” — Gina Cordell

IS ENGAGING WITH THE WORLD.”

he manuscript and photo collections are the largest of all the Memphis and Shelby County Room’s holdings. “ e fi rst real historical collection came to us in the late 1950s — the papers of U.S. Senator Kenneth McKellar [1869-1957], who donated them to us in his will,” says Dowdy. Collected into more than a thousand boxes, “It was our first and it remains our largest collection.”

A good example of that, he says, is Phoebe Omlie, the Memphis aviatrix who gained national fame in the 1920s and ’30s. “The bulk of her collection is about her career as a flyer,” says Dowdy. “But towards the end of her life, she became very politically minded, writing lots of letters to editors, so a big portion of her collection focuses on that as well. Katherine Hinds Smythe is another example. Her family owns Memorial Park, but a lot of her collection focuses on the Crystal Shrine Grotto and the artist [Dionicio Rodriquez] who created that.”

Library visitors may sometimes be surprised to find so many items in the collections that seemingly have little relation to Memphis.

“Memphis is engaging with the world in a variety of ways,” says Dowdy. “So people may donate things about their experiences or interests outside of Memphis. Saul Brown, for example, was a well-known press photographer here, and he would go to Europe regularly and

above: Gina Cordell is the curator of the Memphis and Shelby County Room. above left: Photo murals capture important moments in Memphis history.

left: Holdings include the “Phoebe Omlie Collection,” with rare photos and papers related to the famous aviatrix and stunt flyer, shown here dangling from a biplane in the early 1920s.

above: Thousands of historical photographs can be accessed online, but sometimes old-fashioned ways work well. A card catalog inside the Memphis and Shelby County Room holds cards representing almost every photo in the collection, with a thumbnail of the original image attached to each card.

take pictures there. But we didn’t take those out of the collection here, saying, ‘Well, this has nothing to do with Memphis.’ It is a Memphian’s view of Europe.” e Memphis and Shelby County Room has shelves lined end-to-end with books — novels, poetry, textbooks, just about anything printed on paper. “Some of the fiction isn’t set in Memphis, or the textbooks have nothing to do with Memphis. But they were written by Memphians, so in order to be as complete as possible, we collect materials that involved Memphians.”

The library doesn’t actively pursue collections; they don’t have the staff or funding to purchase materials. Whenever possible, though, they encourage the donation of items. “We hold ‘digitization days,’” says Dowdy. “We ask people to bring in materials, but often they want those back. So we will scan them, return their originals, and give them a digital scan. We then put the scans online.”

keep and take care of,” he says, “but digitizing them at some point is the best way to preserve them.”

e Memphis and Shelby County Room photo collection contains some 25,000 print images. Over the years, most of these have been painstakingly pasted onto sturdy cardboard backing, for easier handling and photocopying. At least 10,000 of these images are available online, on the Dig Memphis site (see below), where they can be downloaded at no charge. Others, however, remain in file cabinets, and years ago, somebody devised an old-fashioned, yet effective, way to find the exact image they needed.

“ at was a Barbara Flanary project,” says Dowdy, referring to an earlier curator. “Her husband took all the photos for the contact print index.” A card catalog contains a card representing every photo in the collection. e cards are arranged alphabetically by subject, and then by dates. And on each card is a thumbnail of the photograph, with a number. Flip through the cards, study the thumbnail, turn in the card number, and a librarian will bring out the actual photograph.

Some historical treasures turn up by accident. When Roy Good Appliance Store moved into a building on Lamar, employees found four photo albums gathering dust in the basement. ey donated them to the library, but it took several months before anybody could take the time to look through them. What they discovered were more than 900 high-quality, never-before-seen snapshots of East End Park, the amusement complex that stood where Overton Square is today, as well as other landmarks around town. Library employee Laura Cunningham scrutinized the photos, cleaned and archived them, and organized the “Joe Bennett Collection” — named for the East End Park bandleader who took the original photos.

“Memphis is engaging with the world in a variety of ways. So people may donate things about their experiences or interests outside of Memphis.” — Wayne Dowdy

Cordell says, “Not a day goes by that I don’t find something on my desk that somebody has donated to our collection, and to that I say, yes, yes, yes!” ere have been a few times, however, when she had to say no.

Dowdy and his staff have collected home movies in this way. One of their treasures is an 8mm home movie, apparently filmed in 1929, showing the Sterick Building under construction, which opened the following year. “ is guy was just walking or driving around and fi lmed what he saw,” says Dowdy. “ ere are images of Overton Park with snow on the ground, and other images clearly taken in the spring. ere’s footage of friends canoeing down the Wolf River.”

At some point, this gentleman — his name unknown — donated his films to the Memphis Chamber of Commerce, and years later, the Memphis and Shelby County Room digitized the film. “So now we have a good digital copy of it,” says Dowdy. “We are not equipped to be a film archive, because that requires expertise we don’t have, and additional storage we don’t have. Old films need to be climate-controlled — in fact, they need to be kept very cold.”

e library does have a few original home movies that have been donated. “ ese are actual films that we

“ e weirdest request we ever had — and I won’t say her name — involved a very prominent Memphian whose husband was an interior designer. He had designed for her a very lavish bathroom. He passed away, and she was getting up in years, so she offered to donate her bathroom to us — only if we put it on display in the middle of the Memphis and Shelby County Room.”

“WE WANT EVERYTHING ACCESSIBLE.”

With websites like ancestry.com and newspapers.com, the need for access to the original newspapers has declined. e Memphis and Shelby County Room has stacks of old bound volumes of e Commercial Appeal and the Memphis Press-Scimitar, but the newsprint is so yellow and brittle that they are impossible to use. ey also have several dozen file cabinets containing microfilm reels for those newspapers, as well as hundreds of others published in the United States over the years.

left: Blues legend Furry Lewis carries his guitar outside the Memphis Public Library when it was located at Peabody and McLean. This image (photographer unknown) is a 35mm color slide, part of a collection donated to the Memphis and Shelby County Room.

above: The “Memphis Streetscapes” collection contains thousands of vintage photographs, such as this 1943 view of Main and Madison.

right: An unusual item in the collections is an album of hand-colored illustrations from a French fashion magazine published in the early 1900s. This finding aid offers a guide to the images.

1920s French Fashion Collection

Obviously, though, the best solution was to join the digital revolution, and Dig Memphis — “ e Digital Archives of Memphis Public Libraries” — has become the go-to source for almost 40 collections. According to Cordell, the most popular is “Memphis Streetscapes” with hundreds of photos of local streets, roads, and alleys that were taken as far back as the 1800s. Local photographers — Willy Bearden, Saul Brown, Roy Cajero among them — have also donated their life’s work to Dig Memphis.

Many collections are so vast that users would be overwhelmed if it were not for the library’s finding aids. Compiled by the Memphis and Shelby County Room staff members, these are far more than indexes. Instead, they are extremely detailed descriptions of every single item in that particular collection.

Some collections are rather specialized. The “Hallelujah! Collection” is composed of images, manuscripts, and other materials related to Hallelujah!, considered the fi rst “Hollywood” movie filmed in Memphis, in 1929. Longtime Commercial Appeal dining critic Fredric Koeppel donated his collection of restaurant menus to the library, forming the basis for the current “Restaurant and Menu Collection.” When a donor contributed more than 1,500 Memphis postcards, spanning decades, to the library, they formed the “Postcards from Memphis Collection.”

Perhaps the most unusual of these separate collections is the “1920s French Fashion Collection.” is contains more than a hundred original, hand-colored illustrations that originally appeared in Tres Parisien!, described in the library’s fi nding aid as “an art deco French fashion journal featuring haute couture fashion plates and articles on fashion collections, designers, and patterns.”

Many collections are so vast — the “E.H. Crump Collection” fills 227 boxes — that users would be overwhelmed if it were not for the library’s fi nding aids. Compiled by the Memphis and Shelby County Room staff members, these are far more than indexes. Instead, they are extremely detailed descriptions of every single item in that particular collection.

“We want to make everything accessible,” says Dowdy. “We want our materials to be easy to use, instead of just dumping a bunch of stuff on a table and saying, ‘Have at it.’ We need to be as precise as we can, because often the questions we get are very precise.”

Materials are donated to the library in various ways. “Sometimes we get stuff in nasty plastic bags, boxes, rubber bins, you name it,” he continues. “So the first step is to process and protect the items, using archival means and methods. But the next step is the finding aid, which serves as the go-between with the researcher or customer and the materials themselves.”

Besides being a comprehensive description of the items in a collection, the fi nding aid “captures the knowledge that the processor has gathered, because

Processed by Laura Cunningham

no one will know that particular collection better than that individual. So the finding aid is there to capture their thoughts, their ideas, and the knowledge they’ve learned from the materials.”

“I

THINK THAT’S PRETTY COOL.”

One of the things that is unique about the Memphis and Shelby County Room,” says Dowdy, “is that people come to work here and then become experts on various aspects of local history.” Curator Gina Cordell, for example, earned a master’s degree in sociology from the University of Memphis, but has since become a prominent historian, the co-author of Historic Photos of Memphis. Dowdy holds a master’s degree in history from the University of Arkansas, and has published nine books on specific historical topics, such as Scouting in Memphis, Mayor Crump Don’t Like It, and Lost Restaurants of Memphis. He is currently working on a book on Memphis wrestling.

Brett Prather’s work as a library assistant has provoked a rather special interest: true crime. Recently the Memphis and Shelby County Room began working with the Memphis Police Department to digitize thousands of official homicide reports stretching back to 1917. ese are usually one-page typed or hand-written reports, which over the years have been stored in three-ring binders.

Prather is not only converting the paper reports to digital versions, but linking the reports to newspaper accounts of each crime, and any other related materials

she can find. “Brett brings a depth of knowledge that we didn’t really have before,” says Dowdy, “and also doing research to find the outcome of each homicide investigation.”

Dowdy believes the police department wanted to build a working relationship with his team, which also includes Marilyn Umfress, Kyle Liotta, Cindy Wolff, Bonnie Pinkston, Laura Talley, and SeCoya McNeil. “ ey knew we could find old newspaper articles,” he says, “along with other materials that would help them in their cold cases.”

e results were better than expected. “We actually helped solve at least three cases with them,” he says. “I think that’s pretty cool.”

And it’s probably a special level of service that Memphians never expected from the staff of the Memphis and Shelby County Room.

above: In addition to her other responsibilities, librarian Brett Prather is working with the Memphis Police Department to digitize many of their official records, some dating back to 1917. below: Memphian Kay Starr performs at the Fairgrounds Casino in 1939.

PRATHER PHOTOGRAPH BY MICHAEL FINGER; STARR COURTESY MEMPHIS AND SHELBY COUNTY ROOM

What are the options for senior living? How can you be sure the standards remain high? What if your parents have different needs? What if those needs change?

At Belmont Village, we understand each situation is unique. Our experienced advisors will listen to your family’s story, then help you consider the questions you need for the answers they deserve. So you can confidently navigate the options from active adult to memory care and know what to look for in terms of management, food, care, and accommodations for couples with differing needs.

Our advisors are here to help. Just ask.

REBA RUSSELL

The celebrated singer, songwriter, and producer reflects on her fiercely independent career.

BY ALEX GREENE

“I’m always a little bit on the fringe”

To understand the story of Reba Russell, one must begin with Memphis itself, but not because the celebrated singersongwriter is from here. Rather, it was what she discovered when she arrived here that shaped her into the powerhouse performer she is today. In her youth, neither she nor anyone else had a clue that she would become a musician and producer, much less one of the most authentic and respected women in the field today.

“As a kid, music was not even on my radar,” she confides as we sit in the living room of the semi-rural home in Oakland, Tennessee, that she shares with her husband, Wayne. An acoustic guitar, never neglected long enough to gather dust, sits at the ready beside us. “I mean, I loved music,” she hastens to add. “But I have no family with ties to it, no roots to it at all. So when I moved here in ’72 or ’73, I had an awakening. I was probably 13 or 14, and just out of the blue sky I started becoming passionate about music. Music was everywhere in Memphis then, and my brother-in-law had given me a guitar. I taught myself how to play. I still don’t really understand what was moving my fate at the time.”

e way she sees it, her luck could have soured if not for Memphis, then in its heyday as a music industry giant. It was a world away from both West Virginia, where Russell was born, and Florida, where she lived before moving here. “My dad died at an early age. It’s a long, weird story, but we were living in Florida because my mom was close to her sister down there. My two older sisters had already left home, and had come up here to be in the medical industry — nurses and that kind of stuff. Meanwhile, my brother and I were basically becoming delinquents in Florida.

“I had gotten in trouble quite a bit,” Russell continues. She was in trouble for truancy and “that kind of thing,” she says. “ en my mom moved us up here. My brother left shortly after that, so it was just me, my mom,

ON SEEING JOYCE COBB IN CONCERT AT THE MID-SOUTH FAIRGROUNDS:

“I walked up to the stage and here’s this Black woman playing the guitar. Her entire band is white, and she’s playing Jimi Hendrix, and then a couple songs later, she’s playing harp and singing. And she’s singing everything from Jimi Hendrix to Patsy Cline. You know, she’s just freaking! I stood there and I was like, ‘I want to be that. I want to do that.’

… ‘If she can do this, maybe I can do this.’”

and my sisters. Honestly, Memphis saved me. Yeah, it saved my life.”

It wasn’t just playing the guitar that came to occupy young Reba’s time. e instrument inspired her to use her voice, too. “I was playing guitar in high school, and I would sing with friends at parties. I had a little duet with a high school friend, singing at different little events. And I’d go to Audubon Park and hang out and sing.”

After she began performing, she remembers one encounter in particular that solidified the hold music’s had on her: seeing Joyce Cobb in concert at the Mid-South Fairgrounds. “I walked up to the stage and here’s this Black woman playing the guitar,” she says. “Her entire band is white, and she’s playing Jimi Hendrix, and then a couple songs later, she’s playing harp and singing. And she’s singing everything from Jimi Hendrix to Patsy Cline. You know, she’s just freaking! I stood there and I was like, ‘I want to be that. I want to do that.’ I think

she had just gotten to Memphis when I saw her, and I thought, ‘If she can do this, maybe I can do this.’”

When Russell enrolled at then-Memphis State University to study voice, that newfound resolve was tested. ese days, at the University of Memphis, students can study any type of singing, from jazz to pop. Back then? Not so much. “ ere were no cool music classes; it was all classical,” Russell recalls. “So I had to take an opera class for singing, and I would just sing Joni Mitchell or Crosby, Stills and Nash. e woman teaching the class hated me because I wouldn’t learn an aria or whatever. At the time, I was spitting vinegar, so I was like, ‘I am good. I know I’m good, and I’m never out of tune. I’m killing this thing.’ When she gave me a D in the class, I was like, ‘Screw this!’ at was disappointing for my family, because I quit going to Memphis State. I was working at a hamburger place, just making ends meet.” Meanwhile, she kept singing. “While that was going

above: Seeing Joyce Cobb (right) inspired Russell (left) to become a singer.

right: Russell fronting the band Portrait at Solomon Alfred’s in the ’80s.

on,” she says, “Wayne and my other friends were like, ‘Hey, you’re really good!’ He’s nine years older than me, but we had some mutual friends, and he was the one who said, ‘Hey, you sing great! I’ll help you put a band together.’ We were friends and bandmates for a long time before we were a couple.”

Wayne Russell knew what he was talking about. Growing up in a very musical family, he was already established as a professional bassist for years by the time he met Reba, playing with the likes of local luminaries Jimi Jamison and Rick Christian, even touring overseas. Paul Taylor, a longtime Memphis musician who played in the Reba Russell Band for a time, now based in Wisconsin, knew Wayne through his father, the late Pat Taylor, also a celebrated Memphis player.

“Wayne played in bands with my dad,” says Taylor, “and they knew each other for a long time. ey were old friends, and Wayne can fool you into not realizing how knowledgeable and smart he is. He’s a super-solid bass player, and a super-talented painter. Yet he’s an incredibly unassuming person. And much like my dad, who did the same thing with Suzanne Taylor, he fell in love with a woman and sort of became, I think, her rock. He’s been steadily there to support her, and that’s the one of the most incredibly selfless things you could ever do as a human being.”

As they entered the ’80s, good friends Wayne and Reba began performing live around town. “R.P. Tracks was my very first gig,” she says. “As a matter of fact, I told the dude who was giving me a ride there, my friend Bill Turner, ‘Take me home. I don’t want to do this. I’m scared!’” Luckily for the club-goers that night, Turner stayed the course. “I pretty much sang with my back to the audience,” Russell recalls with a laugh. at wouldn’t last long. She knew she was good, after all, and her confidence onstage only added to the natural power of her voice. rough a series of bands, fi rst Visions, then Portrait, and fi nally Reba and the Portables, Reba and Wayne took the city by storm, performing mainly covers at clubs like Solomon Alfred’s or the Bombay Bicycle Club. In the meantime, the couple was clicking in other ways, and married in 1986.

Producer/engineer

Juke Joint Festival in Clarksdale, Mississippi.

the late ’90s.

top:

Dawn Hopkins with Russell when they first started making records together.

One of their gigs was an outdoor event in Overton Square, where Russell sang Aretha Franklin’s classic, “Do Right Woman, Do Right Man.” As Taylor relates hearing the tale, “Afterwards, this guy walked up to her, and she didn’t even know who it was, but he was like, ‘Hey, you probably don’t know me, but I wrote that song.’” It was famed producer Chips Moman, and he told her, ‘I’ve never heard anyone sing it like you just sang it.’”

In classic record-business fashion, Moman decided to develop Russell for stardom.

“When Chips Moman signed me,” she recalls, “I really could have broken [through] and become something. But deep down in my heart, even though I loved it and I enjoyed it, I really felt like what I was singing and recording, from my point of view, was cheese.” Her ambitions, she decided, were more artistic than commercial.

“I might have been somebody — if I had kissed some more ass, if I had given in and really drank the Kool-Aid,” she says.

In the meantime, Russell was making a name for herself as a go-to background singer for important recording sessions, work that she still does to this day. One of the first was also one of the biggest, lending her harmonies to the Moman-produced Class of ’55: Memphis Rock & Roll Homecoming, which brought Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins together on the same album in 1986.

As Taylor notes, just having a good voice doesn’t automatically lead to that kind of session work. “If you’re a lead vocalist, your voice doesn’t necessarily blend so well as a background singer. But I think by some strange miracle, Reba and Susan Marshall, who are both incredibly powerful lead vocalists and stars in their own right, just blend so well as background singers.” Indeed, they often appear as a team, as on Jerry Phillips’ 2024 album, For the Universe. Russell’s backup harmonies can be heard on recordings by artists as diverse as U2 and Huey Lewis & the News.

Russell became well-respected among Memphis musicians and producers, but fate had more in store for her, when she met a like-minded soul, another gifted woman in the male-dominated recording industry, now considered one of the city’s best audio engineers.

“When I got with Dawn Hopkins and started making records,” says Russell, “there was no turning back, because we just kicked ass. We made a record, made all the money back, and money enough to make another record. And I just did that eight times in a row over 10 years. And we killed it, we smoked it. at was us having nothing, nobody representing

us, no label, no nothing, and we still made money. So that was really the tipping point. No matter what somebody was asking me to do or buy into or whatever, I was just like, ‘Later!’”

Though that was nearly three decades ago, her partnership with Hopkins has endured to this day. That’s proof positive that when Russell said “Later!” to Chips Moman, to the covers-heavy bar band life, and to courting favor with record labels, she was onto something. Gone were the other band names. This was now the Reba

As guitarist Brad Webb looks on, Russell receives a Beale Street Brass Note for her band in 2018. “That’s been my whole dream,“ she says of the honor.

Russell Band, focused largely on her own brand of blues, but staunchly eclectic. Since 1997, the independent releases by Russell and Hopkins have buoyed a career that’s been on a steady upward curve. rough it all, the two have maintained the same defiant energy, as reflected in the name of their production company, taking the helm on albums by other artists as well, from Delta Joe Sanders to the Sister Lucille Band.

Early on in their partnership, “We were working on something in the studio,” says Russell, “and Wayne kept asking to redo a bass part, and we just shut him down. We said, ‘No, we’re keeping this. We like it!’ So Wayne said, ‘Y’all are sure some blue-eyed bitches!’ And Dawn just looked at me and said, ‘ at’s the name of our production company: Blue. Eyed. Bitches.’ And it stuck.” at outspoken defiance has marked Russell’s independent life in music from the start. “I don’t put all my eggs into one basket,” she

Memphis Magazine presents the

2024 INNOVATION AWARDS BREAKFAST

Join Memphis Magazine as we celebrate the 12th annual Innovation Award winners. Memphis has become an innovation hub, with representatives in a wide variety of industries that strive to discover new breakthroughs and push our community forward. In 2024, we feature five progress-focused individuals and organizations who showcase Memphis’ continued evolution through innovation.

Join us Wednesday, January 15 at 7:30 a.m. as we honor:

Breanna Boyd of FeedWells

Dr. Evan S. Glazer of UTHSC

Eric Mathews of Start Co

Susan Cooper and Megan Williams of Regional One

Tickets are $25 per person and include breakfast. Tables of 10 are available for $200.

Doors open at 7:30 a.m. Program begins around 8:15 a.m.

Memphis Botanic Garden, Hardin Hall 750 Cherry Road, Memphis, TN 38117

Visit bit.ly/memphisinnovation to purchase tickets.

says of not identifying with any particular scene. “I’m always a little bit on the fringe.” It’s paradoxical to hear this from an artist who’s been awarded the Recording Academy’s Premier Player Award for vocals, named an Emissary of Memphis Music by the Memphis and Shelby County Music Commission, and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Memphis Blues Society last month. And yet for those who know her, it rings true. As Taylor says, “She’s sort of an heir to Jim Dickinson, because she always remains outspoken, and she always calls the scene on its own BS. She’s never scared to tell it like

it is. You know, her stances on the follies of the music industry are never hidden. I felt there was a huge hole when Dickinson left us, like that statesman to sort of tell it like it is. And Reba is the only person who embraced that role.”

At the same time, Russell has an undeniable self-effacing streak. She conveys an air of disbelief when talking about her talent or her career high points, even as she reveals no little pride in being a woman who’s succeeded on her own terms in a male-dominated industry.

“In 2018, when they gave the Reba Russell Band a brass note on Beale Street, that really was meaningful to me,” she says. “Several years before that, I kept saying, ‘No, it’s not right.’” She felt she wasn’t worthy of the honor. “But then finally I gave in, because it was like, that’s been my whole dream from the time I realized I loved music! I am a Memphis musician and man, that’s all I ever wanted to be.”

Reba and Wayne Russell today, on their front porch in Oakland, Tennessee.

To

Nominate a young person for the 10<20 Youth Impact Awards, presented by Memphis Parent. This award celebrates youth and young adults who strive to impact their community through school, business, leadership, or service by committing themselves to changing the lives of others for the better. Nominations will be accepted for K-12 students.

The Art of the Cocktail

Sarah James gets creative in Crosstown’s hideaway bar.

BY BRUCE VANWYNGARDEN

There’s a lot going on inside Crosstown Concourse, the former Sears distribution center that’s become a thriving urban village (for proof, see our December cover story). Which is why it might be easy to overlook the Art Bar, nestled in a nook on the vast building’s second floor, just past, well, the art gallery.

e interior of the place is a celebration of mid-century-modern decor: kitschy vinyl couches and chairs in shades of citrus, low-slung coffee tables (the kind Dick Van Dyke used to trip over in his show’s opening credits), and thrift-store-looking lamps, curios, and knickknacks.

If you’ve been around long enough to get that Dick Van Dyke Show reference, well, you’re much older than the Art Bar’s bartender, Sarah James, who’s all of 23. But it must be said that though she’s decades younger than the decor at her workplace, she is sharp enough to appreciate its charm.

“Lots of artists and musicians come here. And we get lots of first dates,” she says. “ e room

sort of wraps around and there are some nice private spots where you can talk. Another thing that I like is that it’s not loud. e music is low and there aren’t any TVs. You have to talk to people when you’re in here.”

James has been at the Art Bar for a little more than a year. Before that she worked at Pantà with Aaron Ivory (featured in our July 2023 Sips column), who mentored her in mixology.

“Aaron taught me how to create a cocktail,” James says. “What should I start off with? How can I elevate this drink? And then just learning things like a drink’s not fi nished without a garnish. I loved working at Pantà. Aaron was wonderful and (chef/owner) Kelly English is such a good guy.”

James was born in Louisiana, but her family moved to Memphis when she was 6, so Memphis is home. After graduating from Arlington High School, she attended the University of Memphis for a year and a half, until Covid hit.

“When the pandemic came, I decided to take a break from school, and here I am,” she laughs, “still on break. But I have plenty of time to figure out what I want to do.” For now, what James does is craft the interesting menu drinks and specialty cocktails at the Art Bar. And it’s obvious by the way she discusses her trade that she likes her work.

“I enjoy making more balanced drinks, rather than spirit-forward drinks,” she says. “Something I’ve loved doing recently is taking a blanc vermouth and infusing it. For the summer, I did a strawberry-infused vermouth — juicing the strawberries, then straining them through cheesecloth. I also did a strawberry-basil vermouth that was really good.”

“You’re doing a good job of talking me into trying one of your cocktails,” I say. “What should it be?”

“I usually start off by asking what kind of liquor you like. I’ve been wanting to try a variation of a drink we make with vodka and instead use Bristow Gin. It’s from Mississippi …”

“Mississippi gin?”

“It’s really good, trust me.”

“All right, Mississippi gin it is.”

“The ‘November Breeze’ has got apple-cinnamon-infused vermouth, vanilla simple syrup, Cappelletti aperitif, and a dehydrated lemon garnish. The Bristow Gin has some citrusy notes that I think pair really well with the other flavors.”

When Pantà stopped service a little over a year ago, James and some of her fellow employees came to the Art Bar to commiserate, and fate stepped in. “We were kind of grieving the loss of the restaurant,” James recalls, “and the Art Bar’s manager asked Aaron if he needed a job. Aaron said, ‘I don’t, but Sarah does.’ And that’s how I got here.”

“We call the vodka version ‘November Breeze,’” says James. “It’s got apple-cinnamon-infused vermouth, vanilla simple syrup, Cappelletti aperitif, and a dehydrated lemon garnish. e Bristow Gin has some citrusy notes that I think pair really well with the other flavors.”

A couple of minutes later, the lovely-looking cocktail is sitting in front of me. And friends, I’m here to say that Sarah James’ version of the “November Breeze” is a very good drink. I feel bad for a moment for doubting Mississippi’s gin game, but I get over it and take another sip. I recommend you find your way to Sarah James at the Art Bar and do the same.

e Art Bar is located inside Crosstown Concourse, 1350 Concourse Avenue.

Making New Memories

Mahogany River Terrace is offering fine dining in the former club and restaurant on Mud Island.

BY MICHAEL DONAHUE

Iremember drinking champagne with a friend at the old River Terrace Yacht Club restaurant on Mud Island back in the ’90s. She and I had a window seat facing the Mississippi River. e sun was setting. e view was breathtaking. As far as I was concerned, nothing would ever compare to that dining experience

Well, I discovered I can go home again. Mahogany River Terrace, which opened last fall in the former River Terrace space, is already creating memories for diners.

It was dark when my sister and I recently had dinner there, but

the view of the lights, shimmering onto the water from the Harahan Bridge, was magical.

General manager Brian Bailey brought out a selection of dishes for us to sample, and everything we tasted was delicious. A must-try is the “Mahogany

Johnny Cat,” which is blackened catfish topped with shrimp, lump crab, and crawfish. Another is the crab bisque, which reminded me of “Crabmeat Justine” from the legendary Memphis restaurant, Justine’s.

I had remembered the River Terrace Yacht Club as a rather stark space with a lot of bare stone. Not anymore. e decor is elegant, but not intimidating — no white tablecloths here. ere is no formal dress code, but I noticed every diner was dressed to the nines.

After years of dormancy, the building on Mud Island wasn’t in great shape. It required new windows and the roof needed to be replaced. McCullough remembers, “Everywhere, it leaked.” But she had a vision and signed the lease in 2022.

“I think they just automatically assume that there is a dress code and they dress accordingly,” says owner Carlee McCullough, who also owns the Mahogany Memphis restaurant at 3092 Poplar Avenue in Chickasaw Oaks. ey didn’t enforce a dress code because they get a lot of tourist traffic with casually dressed people, McCullough says.

Mahogany River Terrace isn’t McCullough’s fi rst classy venture. A native Memphian, she

also owned a restaurant in the antebellum building that had housed Justine’s, considered the epitome of elegance and fine dining from the 1950s to the mid-1990s.

McCullough was living in Houston after graduating from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, when Willie Herenton asked her to return to Memphis. She had met the former mayor years earlier at a fundraiser in California, and says, “Dr. Herenton brought me back to run the office of contract compliance. In addition to working, I was going to start a nonprofit.”

But her friends had other ideas, telling her, “We need you to solve some of our entertainment woes.” Meaning, they wanted more places to eat.

So, in 2000, McCullough bought the iconic Justine’s, a fine-dining restaurant that already had had one new owner since Justine Smith closed it and sold the house and grounds in the mid-1990s. McCullough says she named the new establishment “The Ivy” after The Ivy restaurant in Beverly Hills, and because Justine’s “used to have ivy all over the front of it.”

Her version of “ e Ivy” was a private club, but the restaurant, which served upscale Creole fusion cuisine, was also open to the public. After she closed e Ivy in 2003, McCullough hoped to open a restaurant in the vicinity of the National Civil Rights Museum. She missed out on the location on East Butler which became Central Barbecue, so she shelved that business plan for a while.

In 2018, McCullough began thinking about opening a new

Brian Bailey Mary Bonnie Yates

Carlee McCullough

restaurant in the recently opened Crosstown Concourse. But someone at the management company told her she might want to look into the Chickasaw Oaks location, which had formerly been the Just For Lunch restaurant. “I went there in 2018,” she says, “and I’ve been there six years.”

She began considering the River Terrace location about two years ago. McCullough and Carol Coletta, former president and CEO of Memphis River Parks Partnership, began chatting about the venture during

an event at Mahogany Memphis. Buying it just worked out for both parties, she says.

After years of dormancy, the building on Mud Island wasn’t in great shape. It required new windows and the roof needed to be replaced. McCullough remembers, “Everywhere, it leaked.” But she had a vision and signed the lease in 2022.

She didn’t want the restaurant to be a carbon copy of her Chickasaw Oaks restaurant. “I

think that we wanted Midtown to be modern upscale but somewhat eclectic. And downtown we still wanted modern, somewhat eclectic, but we wanted it a tad more elegant.”

McCullough brought in Mary Bonnie Yates to design the interior. She had previously worked on e Ivy and Mahogany Memphis.

When she looked at the place for the first time, Yates immediately thought, “I can’t do it. is is too much.” Her first impression was that it was enormous. “ e building is four stories — just a

The menu includes everything from braised oxtails with cheese grits to the “Seafood Tower,” which, according to the menu, features “lobster tails, shrimp, crispy Cajun chicken and Belgian waffles, beignets, and champagne.”

humongous place. Everything was brick and stone, and it was just so cold. It had this cold, abandoned look.”

But, she changed her mind. “We just charged into it. We took it area by area.”

She kept all the brass, including the railings, but over two years she replaced just about everything else inside. e bar area had vintage paneling dating to when River Terrace opened in the 1980s. All the floors

were brick, which she replaced with tile. She put in a new bar and also added a fi replace, and the area went from being  all brown to all white, a fresher approach, she says.

The main dining room was next. “ e floors were a reddish dark brown hardwood. We sanded it and redid the floors.” She wanted the mezzanine to be a “comfortable lounge area,” where people could sit and watch the river. “I played with texture up there. A lot of pony hair.”

Her color scheme for the

restaurant was “multi-color.”

ey used a wallpaper with a “reptile texture.” She wanted the overall look to be “comfortable and elegant. I didn’t want it to be stuff y.”

McCullough also brought in an old friend, Raymond Neal, who had been a server at Justine’s as well as e Ivy and Mahogany Memphis. McCullough says Neal told her, “I need to come out of retirement to help you get this right.”

Neal oversees the wait staff to make sure they’re doing everything correctly. McCullough didn’t want identical menus at the two restaurants. She describes the menu at Mahogany Memphis as “upscale Southern with a dash of Creole.” Meanwhile, Mahogany River Terrace is “upscale Southern with a dash of Creole and with a concentration on seafood.” e menu includes everything from braised oxtails with cheese grits to the “Seafood Tower,” which, according to the menu, features “lobster tails,  shrimp, crispy Cajun chicken and Belgian waffles, beignets, and champagne.” Depending on what champagne or sparkling wine you get with your Tower, the price ranges from $250 to $1,000.

In general, however, entrees are considerably more affordable, with prices running from $25 to $150.

e rooftop, with its view of the river, both lighted bridges, Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid, and the Memphis skyline, is a big draw for patrons. “We share that with River Parks Partnerships, so that’s not part of our lease. But if I want to use it, I let them know so we don’t book it at the same time.”

She already has plans for the roof. “In the spring, we’re going to show movies up there.”

McCullough also has ideas for future Mahogany restaurants, including a Mahogany spin-off serving only plant-based food. “My son calls me a ‘serial entrepreneur,” she says with a laugh.

Mahogany River Terrace is located at 280 Island Drive on Mud Island.

River views enhance the dining experience.

Crab bisque

“Strawberry Fields”

The mezzanine overlooks the main dining room.

Memphis Dining Guide

A Curated Guide to Eating Out

served Thu.-Sun., noon-3:30 p.m. (reservations required). Closed Sun.Tues. The Peabody, 149 Union. 529-4188. D, MRA, $$$$

CIMAS—It’s breakfast tacos, shrimp and grits, chilaquiles verdes, and plenty of other Southern and Latin-American twists at the Hyatt Centric. 33 Beale St. 444-3232. B, L, D, $-$$$

COCOZZA AMERICAN ITALIAN—”The red sauce joint of your dreams” serves up classic Italian-American fare from the owners of Majestic Grille. Closed Sun. 110 Harbor Town Sq. 609-1111. D, $-$$

COZY CORNER—Serving up ribs, pork sandwiches, chicken, spaghetti, and more; also homemade banana pudding. Closed Mon. 735 N. Parkway. 527-9158. L, D, $

CURFEW—An elevated sports bar/American tavern concept by Top Chef contestant Fabio Viviani at the Canopy Memphis Downtown hotel. 164 Union Ave. B, L, D, $-$$

DOS HERMANOS KITCHEN—Breakfast and lunch concept by Eli Townsend in the Cossitt Library. 33 S. Front. 286-2399. B, L, $

ESCO RESTAURANT AND TAPAS—Shareable dishes, turkey ribs, and seafood mac’n’cheese at this 2 Chainz franchise. 156 Lt. George W. Lee Ave. 808-3726. L, D, $$-$$$

FERRARO’S CHEESY CORNER & PIZZERIA—Plenty of pizzas, along with a whole new cheese-inspired menu (fancy grilled cheeses and build-your-own mac and cheese bowls). 111 Jackson. 522-2033. L, D, $

FISHBOWL AT THE PYRAMID—Burgers, fish dishes, sandwiches, and more served in a unique “underwater” setting. Bass Pro, 1 Bass Pro Drive, 291-8000. B, L, D, $-$$

FLAME RAMEN—Traditional Japanese ramen restaurant serving up bowls of noodles. 61 S. Second St. 441-6686. L, D, wheelchair accessible, $-$$

Memphis Magazine offers this curated restaurant listing as a service to our readers. Broken down alphabetically by neighborhoods, this directory does not list every restaurant in town. It does, however, include the magazine’s “Top 50” choices of must-try restaurants in Memphis, a group that is updated every August. Establishments open less than a year are not eligible for “Top 50” but are noted as “New.” is guide also includes a representative sampling of other Bluff City eating establishments. No fast-food facilities or cafeterias are listed. Restaurants are included regardless of whether they advertise in Memphis Magazine; those that operate in multiple locations are listed under the neighborhood of their original location. is guide is updated regularly, but we recommend that you call ahead to check on hours, prices, or other details. Suggestions from readers are welcome: dining@memphismagazine.com.

DOWNTOWN

ALDO’S PIZZA PIES—Serving gourmet pizzas — including Mr. T Rex — salads, and more. Also 30 beers, bottled or on tap. 100 S. Main. 577-7743; 752 S. Cooper. 725-7437. L, D, $-$$

AMELIA GENE’S—Globally inspired fine-dining cuisine at the One Beale project, including Rohan duck, Wagyu filet, and an extensive cheese cart. 255 S. Front. 686-5051. D, $$-$$$

THE ARCADE—Possibly Memphis’ oldest cafe. Specialties include sweet potato pancakes, a fried peanut butter and banana sandwich, and breakfast served all day. 540 S. Main. 526-5757. B, L, D (Thurs.-Sat.), MRA, $

ARNOLD’S SMOKEHOUSE—A classic smokehouse with vegan and nonvegan options seasoned to perfection. Closed Mon. 2019 E. Person Ave. 922-5950. L, D, SB, $-$$$

AUTOMATIC SLIM’S—Longtime downtown favorite specializes in contemporary American cuisine emphasizing local ingredients; also extensive martini list. 83 S. Second. 525-7948. L, D, WB, MRA, $-$$$

BARDOG TAVERN—Classic American grill with Italian influence, Bardog offers pasta specialties such as Grandma’s NJ Meatballs, as well as salads, sliders, sandwiches, and daily specials. 73 Monroe. 275-8752. B (Mon.-Fri.), L, D, WB, MRA, $-$$

BELLE TAVERN—Serving elevated bar food, including a butcher board with a variety of meats and cheeses, as well as daily specials. 117 Barboro Alley. 249-6580. L (Sun.), D, MRA, $

BEN YAY’S GUMBO SHOP—Spiritual successor to DejaVu, offering fresh and authentic Creole staples. 150 Peabody Place, Suite 111. 779-4125. L, D, $-$$

BISCUITS & JAMS—Offering sweet and savory brunch with a Cajun flare. Specialties include smoked sausage or spicy fried chicken on

biscuits, lemon blueberry waffles, and rum custard French toast. No walk-ins on weekends. 24 N. B.B. King Blvd. 672-7905. B, L, WB, $-$$

BRASS DOOR IRISH PUB—Irish and New-American cuisine includes such entrees as fish and chips, burgers, shepherd’s pie, all-day Irish breakfast, and more. 152 Madison. 572-1813. L, D, SB, $-$$

BY THE BREWERY—Breakfast and lunch café, with a focus on Southern-style biscuits, salads, and soups. 496 Tennessee St. 310-4341. B, L, $

CAFE KEOUGH—European-style cafe serving quiche, paninis, salads, and more. 12 S. Main. 509-2469. B, L, D, $

CAPRICCIO GRILL ITALIAN STEAKHOUSE

Offers prime steaks, fresh seafood (lobster tails, grouper, mahi mahi), pasta, and several Northern Italian specialties. 149 Union, The Peabody. 529-4199. B, L, D, SB, MRA, $-$$$$

CAROLINA WATERSHED—This indoor/outdoor eatery, set around silos, features reimagined down-home classics, including fried green tomatoes with smoked catfish, a buttermilk fried chicken sandwich, burgers, and more. Closed Mon.-Thurs. 141 E. Carolina. 321-5553. L, D, WB, $-$$

breakfast

lunch

dinner

FLIGHT RESTAURANT & WINE BAR—Steaks and seafood, with such specialties as bison ribeye and Muscovy duck, all matched with appropriate wines. 39 S. Main. 521-8005. D, SB, MRA, $-$$$

FLYING FISH—Serves up fried and grilled versions of shrimp, crab, oysters, fish tacos, and catfish; also chicken and burgers. 105 S. Second. 522-8228. L, D, $-$$

GARDEN BRUNCH CAFÉ—Fish and grits, steak and eggs, and other upscale takes on Southern brunch classics. 492 S. Main St. 249-7450. B, L, $$ GOOD FORTUNE CO.—Authentic handcrafted noodles, ramen, and dumplings. 361 S. Main. 561-306-4711. L, D, $-$$

THE GENRE—Burgers, tenders, catfish, and plenty of vegan options made to order at this music-themed restaurant/lounge. 200 Poplar, Suite 105. 410-8169. B, L, D, $-$$

THE GOURMET GALLERY—A variety of elevated comfort dishes, like fried ribs and waffles, shrimp and grits, grilled salmon, and more. Closed Mon. 412 S. Main St. 848-4691. L, D, $-$$$

GROOVY GRATITUDE—Offers a vibrant selection of cold-pressed juices, handcrafted smoothies, and healthy eats like paninis and acai bowls. Closed Sun. 605 N. Second St. 417-8007. B, L, WB, $ GUS’S WORLD FAMOUS FRIED CHICKEN—Serves chicken with signature spicy batter, along with homemade beans, slaw, and pies. 310 S. Front. 527-4877; 3100 Forest Hill Irene (Germantown). 853-6005; 2965 N. Germantown Pkwy. (Cordova). 373-9111; 730 S. Mendenhall. 767-2323; 505 Highway 70 W., Mason, TN. 901-294-2028. L, D, MRA, $

SB — Sunday brunch

WB — weekend brunch

MRA — member, Memphis Restaurant Association

$ — under $15 per person without drinks or desserts

$$ — under $25

$$$ — $26-$50

$$$$ — over $50

CATHERINE & MARY’S—A variety of pastas, grilled quail, pâté, razor clams, and monkfish are among the dishes served at this Italian restaurant in the Chisca. 272 S. Main. 254-8600. D, SB, MRA, $-$$$

CHEZ PHILIPPE—Classical/contemporary French cuisine with Asian and Nordic influences, presented in a luxurious atmosphere with seasonal tasting menus from chef Keith Clinton. Afternoon tea

celebrate our city’s community table and the people

HAPPY MEXICAN—Quesadillas, burritos, chimichangas, vegetable and seafood dishes, and more. 385 S. Second. 529-9991; 6080 Primacy Pkwy. 683-0000; 7935 Winchester. 751-5353. L, D, $

HIVE BAGEL & DELI Bagels, bagels, and more bagels at this new downtown deli offering baked goods, sandwiches, and salads. Closed Mon./Tue. 276 S. Front St. 509-2946. B, L, $

HU. ROOF—Rooftop cocktail bar serves toasts with a variety of toppings including beef tartare with cured egg, cognac, and capers or riced cauliflower with yellow curry, currants, and almonds. Also salads, fish tacos, and boiled peanut hummus. 79 Madison. 333-1229. D, $

HUSTLE & DOUGH BAKERY & CAFE—Flaky, baked breakfast goodness every day with fresh pastries, sandwiches, and more at Arrive Hotel. 477 S. Main St., 701-7577. B, L, $ IBIS—Upscale cocktail bar serving sharable small plates, including lobster rolls, crab cakes, and lamb meatballs, alongside select larger entrees. Closed Mon.-Wed. 314 S. Main. 748-5187. D, $-$$

DINING SYMBOLS

ITTA BENA—Southern and Cajun-American cuisine served here, located above B.B. King’s Blues Club on Beale St.; specialties are duck and waffles and shrimp and grits, along with steaks, chops, seafood, and pasta. 145 Beale St. 578-3031. D, MRA, $$-$$$

JEM DINING—Chef Josh Mutchnick offers a dining experience that’s memorable, refined, unpretentious, and welcoming with dishes from around the world. Closed Sun./Mon./Tue. 644 Madison Ave. 286-1635. D, $$-$$$

KINFOLK—Breakfast with a side of nostalgia in Harbor Town. Specialties include biscuit sandwiches, steak and omelet plate, and brown butter mushrooms with jammy egg over grits. 111 Harbor Town Square. 457-5463. B, L, SB, WB, $-$$

KING & UNION BAR GROCERY—Classic Southern favorites including catfish plate, pimento cheese, po-boys, chicken & waffles. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner with cocktails served with flair and favorite Memphis beers. Locally made confections available in the grocery. 185 Union Ave. 523-8500. B, L, D, $-$$

KOOKY CANUCK—Offers prime rib, catfish, and burgers, including the 4-lb. “Kookamonga”; also late-night menu. 87 S. Second. 578-9800; 1250 N. Germantown Pkwy. 1-800-2453 L, D, MRA, $-$$$ LITTLE BETTIE—New Haven-style pizzas and snacks from the Andrew-Michael team at Wiseacre’s Downtown location. 398 S. B.B. King Blvd. 334-9411. L, D, $-$$

THE LOBBYIST AT THE CHISCA—Chef Jimmy Gentry brings his farm-to-table ideas downtown, with seasonal, and sometimes weekly, new menus, and an emphasis on creative vegetable dishes. Closed Sun. 272 S. Main St., Suite 101. 249-2170. D, $$-$$$$

LOFLIN YARD—Beer garden and restaurant serves vegetarian fare and smoked-meat dishes, including beef brisket and pork tenderloin, cooked on a custom-made grill. Closed Mon.-Tues. 7 W. Carolina. 249-3046. L (Sat. and Sun.), D, MRA, $-$$

THE LOOKOUT AT THE PYRAMID—Serves seafood and Southern fare, including cornmeal-fried oysters, sweet tea brined chicken, and elk chops. 1 Bass Pro Dr. 620-4600/291-8200. L, D, $-$$$

LUNA RESTAURANT & LOUNGE—Serving a limited menu of breakfast and lunch items. Dinner entrees include citrus glaze salmon and Cajun stuffed chicken. 179 Madison (Hotel Napoleon). 526-0002. B, D (Mon.-Sat.), $-$$$

MACIEL’S—Entrees include tortas, fried taco plates, quesadillas, chorizo and pastor soft tacos, salads, and more. Closed Sun. 45 S. Main. 526-0037, MRA, $

THE MAJESTIC GRILLE—Features aged steaks, fresh seafood, and such specialties as roasted chicken and grilled pork tenderloin; offers a pre-theater menu and classic cocktails. Well-stocked bar. 145 S. Main. 522-8555. L, D, WB, MRA, $-$$$

McEWEN’S—Southern/American cuisine with international flavors; specialties include steak and seafood, sweet potato-crusted catfish with macaroni and cheese, and more. Closed Sun., Monroe location. 120 Monroe. 527-7085; 1110 Van Buren (Oxford). 662-234-7003. L, D, SB (Oxford only), MRA, $$-$$$ MESQUITE CHOP HOUSE—The focus here is on steaks, including prime fillet, rib-eyes, and prime-aged New York strip; also, some seafood options. 5960 Getwell (Southaven). 662-890-2467; 88 Union. 5275337. 249-5661. D, SB, $$-$$$

MOLLIE FONTAINE LOUNGE—Specializes in tapas (small plates) featuring global cuisine. Closed Sun.-Tues. 679 Adams Ave. 524-1886. D, MRA, $

MOMMA’S ROADHOUSE—This diner and dive at Highway 55 serves up smoked wings, burgers, and beer, among other solid bar-food options 855 Kentucky. 207-5111. L, D, MRA, $

PAULETTE’S—Presents fine dining with a Continental flair, including such entrees as filet Paulette with butter cream sauce and crabmeat and spinach crepes; also changing daily specials and great views. River Inn. 50 Harbor Town Square. 260-3300. B, L, D, WB, MRA, $-$$$

PLANT BASED HEAT EXPRESS—Flavorful, 100% vegan meals, including plants, plant-based meat, and kid’s meals. No reservations. Closed Sun. 363 S. Front St. 570-5339. L, D, $-$$

PRETTY TACO Fast casual tacos with a Memphis twist, like the Soul Burger tacos. Closed Sun./Mon. 265 S. Front St. 509-8120. L, D, $-$$

PROMISE South Main soul food restaurant (think turkey necks, meatloaf, fried catfish) using old family recipes. Closed Sun./Mon. 412 S. Main. L, D, $-$$

RENDEZVOUS, CHARLES VERGOS’—Menu items include barbecued ribs, cheese plates, skillet shrimp, red beans and rice, and Greek salads. Closed Sun.-Mon. 52 S. Second. 523-2746. L (Fri.Sat.), D, $-$$

ROCK’N DOUGH—A blend of Italian and American foods like artisan pizza, salads, pasta, burgers, and house-brewed beers. 704 Madison Ave. 587-6256. L, D, $-$$

SABOR CARIBE—Serving up “Caribbean flavors” with dishes from Colombia, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, and Cuba. Closed Sunday. 662 Madison. 949-8100. L, D, $

SAGE—Restaurant and lounge features daily lunch specials and tapas with such dishes as braised short ribs, teriyaki pulled pork, and the Sage burger made with Angus beef, avocado mash, fried egg, and flash-fried sage. 94 S. Main. 672-7902. L, D, WB, $-$$

SILLY GOOSE LOUNGE—Gourmet, wood-fired pizzas and handcrafted cocktails at this downtown restaurant and lounge. 150 Peabody Place, Suite 111. 435-6915. L, D, $

SMURFEY’S SMOKEHOUSE—The beloved food truck has found a permanent home for their famous loaded nachos and fries with plans of adding breakfast soon. Closed Sun. and Mon. 149 Madison Ave. 337-7966. L, D, $-$$

SOUTH MAIN SUSHI & GRILL—Serving sushi, nigiri, and more. 520 S. Main. 249-2194. L, D, $

SOB—Elevated gastropub that serves favorites like general Tso’s cauliflower or duck fried rice. 345 S. Main. 526-0388; 5040 Sanderlin (East Memphis). 818-0821; 1329 W. Poplar Ave. 286-1360. L, D, WB, $-$$

SOUTH POINT GROCERY—Fresh and delicious sandwiches made to order at Downtown’s new grocery market. 136 Webster Ave. B, L, D, $ SUGAR GRITS—Who said breakfast has to be in the morning? The Westmorelands offer grits and other breakfast goodness all day long, in addition to other Southern-style lunch and dinner options. 150 Peabody Pl., Suite 111. 249-5206. B, L, D, $-$$

SUNRISE MEMPHIS—Serves breakfast all day, including house-made biscuits, frittatas, kielbasa or boudin plates, and breakfast platters. 670 Jefferson. 552-3144; 5469 Poplar Ave. (East Memphis). 844-6117. B, L, MRA, $

TALK SHOP—Southern-style cuisine, a breakfast bar, and plenty of other cool dishes and drinks at the Caption by Hyatt. 245 S. Front St. B, L, D, $-$$

TERRACE—Creative American and Continental cuisine includes such dishes as filet mignon, beef or lamb sliders, chicken satay, and mushroom pizzetta. Rooftop, River Inn of Harbor Town, 50 Harbor Town Square. 260-3366. D, MRA, $$

TEXAS DE BRAZIL—Serves beef, pork, lamb, and chicken dishes, and Brazilian sausage; also a salad bar with extensive toppings. 150 Peabody Place, Suite 103. 526-7600. L (Wed.-Fri.), D, WB, $$-$$$

TUG’S—Famous for New Orleans gumbo, fabulous burgers, fried thin catfish, and specialty pancakes. Now serving Grisanti Crafted Pizza. 51 Harbor Town Square. 260-3344. B, L, D, WB, $$-$$$

WAHLBURGERS WILD—Wahlburgers brings its classic menu, but with a few gamey twists at the Bass Pro Pyramid. 1 Bass Pro Drive. B, L, D, $-$$

WESTY’S—Extensive menu includes a variety of wild rice dishes, sandwiches, plate lunches, and hot fudge pie. 346 N. Main. 543-3278. L, D, $

WINGMAN—Downtown lounge and hookah bar offering wings galore with ten signature sauces, and plenty of other goodies. 143 Madison Ave. L, D, WB, $-$$

MIDTOWN (INCLUDES THE MEDICAL CENTER)

ABNER’S FAMOUS CHICKEN—Fried chicken tenders and dipping sauces galore at this Mid-South staple. 1350 Concourse Ave, Suite 137. 425-2597; (East Memphis) 1591 Poplar Ave. 509-3351; (Cordova) 1100 N. Germantown Pkwy. 754-5355. L, D, $-$$

ABYSSINIA RESTAURANT—Ethiopian/Mediterranean menu includes beef, chicken, lamb, fish entrees, and vegetarian dishes; also a lunch buffet. 2600 Poplar. 321-0082. L, D, $-$$

ALCHEMY / SALT|SOY—Handcrafted cocktails and local craft beers with the Asian fusion dining concept from Salt|Soy. 940 S. Cooper. 726-4444. D, SB, $-$$

ART BAR—Inventive cocktails feature locally foraged ingredients; snacks include house-cured salt & vinegar potato chips and herb-roasted olives. Closed Mon. 1350 Concourse Avenue #280. 507-8030. D, $

ASHTAR GARDEN—Southern twists on classic brunch dishes, and plenty of cocktails. Closed Mon.-Wed. 898 Cooper St. 4431514. L, D, $-$$

BABALU TACOS & TAPAS—Spanish-style tapas with Southern flair; also taco and enchilada of the day; specials change daily. 2115 Madison. 274-0100; 6450 Poplar, 410-8909. L, D, SB, MRA, $-$$

BACK DO / MI YARD—A revamped patio space behind The Beauty Shop features rotisserie meats and fishes via Brazilian-style outdoor grill. Dinner Wed.-Sat., weather permitting. 966 S. Cooper, 272-7111. D, $$

BAIN BARBECUE & BAKERY—Brian Bain’s popular Texas-style barbecue is back, alongside an assortment of baked goods. 993 S. Cooper. 310-4141. B, L, $-$$

BAR DKDC—Features an ever-changing menu of international “street food,” from Thai to Mexican, Israeli to Indian, along with specialty cocktails. 964 S. Cooper. 272-0830. D, MRA, $

BAR KEOUGH—It’s old-school eats and cocktails at the new CooperYoung neighborhood corner bar by Kevin Keough. 247 Cooper St. D, $ BAR-B-Q SHOP—Dishes up barbecued ribs, spaghetti, bologna, other classics. Closed Sun. 1782 Madison. 272-1277. L, D, MRA, $-$$

BARI RISTORANTE ENOTECA—Authentic Southeastern Italian cuisine (Puglia) emphasizes lighter entrees. Serves fresh fish and beef dishes and a homemade soup of the day. 524 S. Cooper. 722-2244. D, SB, MRA, $-$$$

BARKSDALE RESTAURANT—Old-school diner serving breakfast and Southern plate lunches. 237 S. Cooper. 722-2193. B, L, D, $ (Temporarily closed.)

BAYOU BAR & GRILL—New Orleans fare at this Overton Square eatery includes jambalaya, gumbo, catfish Acadian, shrimp dishes, red beans and rice, and muffalettas. 2094 Madison. 278-8626. L, D, WB, MRA, $-$$

BEAUTY SHOP—Modern American cuisine with international flair served in a former beauty shop. Serves steaks, salads, pasta, and seafood, including pecan-crusted golden sea bass. Perennial “Best Brunch” winner. Closed for dinner Sunday. 966 S. Cooper. 272-7111. L, D, SB, MRA, $-$$$

BOSCOS—Tennessee’s first craft brewery serves a variety of freshly brewed beers as well as wood-fired oven pizzas, pasta, seafood, steaks, and sandwiches. 2120 Madison. 432-2222. L, D, SB (with live jazz), MRA, $-$$

BROADWAY PIZZA—Serving a variety of pizzas, including the Broadway Special, as well as sandwiches, salads, wings, and soul-food specials. 2581 Broad. 454-7930; 627 S. Mendenhall. 207-1546. L, D, $-$$

CAFE 1912—French/American bistro owned by culinary pioneer Glenn Hays serving such seafood entrees as seared sea scallops with charred cauliflower purée and chorizo cumin sauce; also crepes, salads, and onion soup gratinée. 243 S. Cooper. 722-2700. D, SB, MRA, $-$$$

CAFE ECLECTIC—Omelets and chicken and waffles are among menu items, along with quesadillas, sandwiches, wraps, and burgers. Menu varies by location. 603 N. McLean. 725-1718; 111 Harbor Town Square. 590-4645. B, L, D, SB, MRA, $

CAFE OLÉ—This eatery specializes in authentic Mexican cuisine; one specialty is the build-your-own quesadilla. 959 S. Cooper. 343-0103. L, D, SB, MRA, $-$$

CAFE PALLADIO—Serves gourmet salads, soups, sandwiches, and desserts in a tea room inside the antiques shop. Closed Sun. 2169 Central. 278-0129. L, $

CAMEO—Three longtime Memphis bartenders join forces for creative cocktails, cheese boards, snacks, and Sunday brunch. 1835 Union Ave., Suite 3. 305-6511. D, SB, $-$$

CELTIC CROSSING—Specializes in Irish and American pub fare. Entrees include shepherd’s pie, shrimp and sausage coddle, and fish and chips. 903 S. Cooper. 274-5151. L, D, WB, MRA, $-$$

CENTRAL BBQ—Serves ribs, smoked hot wings, pulled pork sandwiches, chicken, turkey, nachos, and portobello sandwiches. Offers both pork and beef barbecue. 2249 Central Ave. 272-9377; 4375 Summer Ave. 767-4672; 147 E. Butler. 672-7760 ; 6201 Poplar. 4177962. L, D, MRA, $-$$

COMPLICATED PILGRIM—Quick-serve coffee shop, bar, and restaurant all in one at The Memphian hotel. 21 S. Cooper St. 538-7309. B, L, D, $-$$

THE COVE—Nautical-themed restaurant and bar serving oysters, pizzas, and more. The Stoner Pie, with tamales and fritos, is a popular dish. 2559 Broad. 730-0719. L, D, $

THE CRAZY NOODLE—Korean noodle dishes range from bibam beef noodle with cabbage, carrots, and other vegetables, to curry chicken noodle; also rice cakes served in a flavorful sauce. Closed for lunch Sat.-Sun. 2015 Madison. 272-0928. L, D, $

ECCO—Mediterranean-inspired specialties range from rib-eye steak to seared scallops to housemade pastas and a grilled vegetable plate; also a Saturday brunch. Closed Sun.-Mon. 1585 Overton Park. 410-8200. B, L, D, $-$$

EVERGREEN GRILL—Serving classic American cuisine like patty melts, burgers, phillies, and more to bring you the comforting taste of home. Closed Mon./Tue. 212 N. Evergreen St. 779-7065. L, D, X,$$-$$$

FARM BURGER—Serves grass-fed, freshly ground, locally sourced burgers; also available with chicken, pork, or veggie quinoa patties, with such toppings as aged white cheddar, kale coleslaw, and roasted beets. 1350 Concourse Avenue, Suite 175. 800-1851. L, D, $

THE FARMER AT RAILGARTEN—Farmer classics include panseared catfish, gulf shrimp and grits, or a Gibson donut bread pudding. Closed Mon./Tue. 2166 Central. 313-0087. D, $-$$

FEAST & GRAZE—Whipped goat toast, open-faced grilled cheese, and other local pantry snacks and charcuterie boards. Closed Sun./Mon. Inside Brooks Museum, 1934 Poplar. 654-5926. L, $

FINO’S FROM THE HILL—Italian deli offers old favorites such as the Acquisto as well as a new breakfast menu. Germantown location paired with Happy Glaze Donuts. 1853 Madison. 272-FINO; 7781 Farmington Blvd. (Germantown). B, L, D, $

FLAME RAMEN—Traditional Japanese ramen restaurant serving up bowls of noodles in Midtown. 1838 Union Ave. 779-8666; 61 S. Second St., Suite 160 (downtown). D, $-$$

FLIP SIDE—Pinball meets pub in the Crosstown neighborhood, with plenty of games alongside a Caribbean- and Latin-inspired menu. Closed Mon. 1349 Autumn Ave. 207-6193. L, D, $-$$

FRIDA’S—Mexican cuisine and Tex-Mex standards, including chimichangas, enchiladas, and fajitas; seafood includes shrimp and tilapia. 1718 Madison. 244-6196. L, D, $-$$

GLOBAL CAFÉ—This international food hall hosts three immigrant/refugee food entrepreneurs serving Venezuelan, Sudanese, and Syrian cuisines. Samosas, shawarma, and kabobs are among the menu items. Closed Mon. 1350 Concourse Avenue, Suite 157. L, D, MRA, $

GOLDEN INDIA—Northern Indian specialties include tandoori chicken as well as lamb, beef, shrimp, and vegetarian dishes. 2097 Madison. 728-5111. L, D, $-$$

GOOD GROCERIES MARKET & CAFÉ—Providing fresh, healthy, cruelty-free meals, Good Groceries offers a classic American menu with a twist: instead of pork, they use duck for their BBQ. They also sell quesadillas, mac-and-cheese, sandwiches, and more. Closed Sun. 585 S. Cooper St. 325-1269. B, L, D, $

GROWLERS—Sports bar and eatery serves standard bar fare in addition to pasta, tacos, chicken and waffles, and light options. 1911 Poplar. 244-7904. L, D, $-$$

GUAC FRESH MEX—Authentic Mexican cuisine and four types of guacamole. Closed Sun. 782 Washington Ave. 587-4100. L, D, $ HATTIE B’S—Fried chicken spot features “hot chicken” with a variety of heat levels; from no heat to “shut the cluck up” sauce. Sides include greens, pimento mac-and-cheese, and black-eyed pea salad. 596 S. Cooper. 424-5900. L, D, $

HUEY’S—This family-friendly restaurant offers 13 different burgers, a variety of sandwiches, and delicious soups and salads. 1927 Madison. 726-4372; 1771 N. Germantown Pkwy. (Cordova). 7543885; 77 S. Second (downtown). 527-2700; 2130 W. Poplar (Collierville). 854-4455; 7090 Malco Blvd. (Southaven). 662-349-7097; 7825 Winchester. 624-8911; 4872 Poplar. 682-7729; 7677 Farmington Blvd. (Germantown). 318-3030; 8570 Highway 51 N. (Millington). 873-5025. L, D, MRA, $

IMAGINE VEGAN CAFE—Dishes at this fully vegan restaurant range from salads and sandwiches to full dinners, including eggplant parmesan and “beef” tips and rice; breakfast all day Sat. and Sun. 2158 Young. 654-3455. L, D, WB, $

INDIA PALACE—Tandoori chicken, lamb shish kabobs, and chicken tikka masala are among the entrees; also, vegetarian options and a daily all-you-can-eat lunch buffet. 1720 Poplar. 278-1199. L, D, $-$$

INSPIRE COMMUNITY CAFE—Serving breakfast all day, in addition to quesadillas, rice bowls, and more for lunch and dinner. 510 Tillman, Suite 110. 509-8640. B, L, D, $

JACK BROWN’S BEER AND BURGER JOINT—Another spot to satisfy your burger craving, this time with 100% American Wagyu beef. 2197 Central Ave. 512-6957. L, D, $-$$$

KNIFEBIRD—Neighborhood wine bar boasts plenty of flights, cocktails, and mocktails alongside bruschetta and charcuterie boards. Closed Sun. 2155 Central Ave. 748-5425. D, $-$$$

LAFAYETTE’S MUSIC ROOM—Serves such Southern cuisine as po’boys, shrimp and grits, and wood-fired pizzas. 2119 Madison. 2075097. L, D, WB, MRA, $-$$

LOS COMALES—Authentic Mexican cuisine, daily specials, and strong margaritas. 1322 Madison. 440-8393; 345 Madison Ave. (downtown). 590-4524; 2860 S. Perkins (East Memphis). 369-0528. L, D, $-$$ THE LIQUOR STORE—Renovated liquor store turned diner serves all-day breakfast, sandwiches, and entrees such as Salisbury steak and

smothered pork chops. 2655 Broad. 405-5477; 669 S. Mendenhall Rd. (East Memphis). B, L, D, $-$$

LOUIS CONNELLY’S BAR FOR FUN TIMES & FRIENDSHIP—An upgraded dive bar with a neighborhood feel and a rockin’ SMASH burger. Closed Sun. and Mon. 322 S. Cleveland St. 433-9582. L, D, $-$$

MADISON TAVERN—Indoor and outdoor seating available, plus a full menu with a range of comfort foods and drinks on tap. 2126 Madison Ave. 417-8029. L, D, $-$$$

MARY’S B.O.T.E.—This bar of tropical escapism offers over 30 specialty drinks, pizzas, bar snacks, and a cozy interior that transports customers to the beach. 21+ only. Closed Mon. 588 S. Cooper St. No phone number. D, wheelchair accessible, $

MEMPHIS PIZZA CAFE—Homemade pizzas are specialties; also serves sandwiches, calzones, and salads. 2087 Madison. 726-5343; 5061 Park Ave. 684-1306; 7604 W. Farmington (Germantown). 7532218; 797 W. Poplar (Collierville). 861-7800; 5627 Getwell (Southaven). 662-536-1364. L, D, $-$$

MEMPHIS TOAST—Provides authentic Memphian breakfast cuisine and features themed rooms to honor iconic Memphis figures. Specialties include French toast, shrimp and grits, and their little Lucille breakfast burrito. 954 Jackson Ave. 417-7817. B, L, WB, $-$$

MEMPHIS WHISTLE—Cocktails, cocktails, and even more delicious cocktails alongside burgers, sandwiches, and other tasty snacks. 2299 Young Ave. Closed Mon.-Tue. 236-7136. D, $-$$

MOLLY’S LA CASITA—Homemade tamales, fish tacos, a vegetarian combo, and bacon-wrapped shrimp are a few of the specialties. 2006 Madison. 726-1873. L, D, MRA, $-$$

PAYNE’S BAR-B-QUE—Opened in 1972, this family-owned barbecue joint serves ribs, smoked sausage, and chopped pork sandwiches with a standout mustard slaw and homemade sauce. About as down-to-earth as it gets. 1762 Lamar. 272-1523. L, D, $-$$

PETALS OF A PEONY—Authentic Chinese restaurant serving chicken, fish, tofu, and more, smothered in spicy sauces. 2110 Madison Ave. 207-6680. L, D, $-$$$

THE PUBLIC BISTRO—Knifebird owners’ full-service American bistro with a menu by chef Gannon Hamilton. 937 S. Cooper St. Closed Sun. 509-2113. D, $-$$

SALTWATER CRAB—Offers an array of seafood dishes including boils with blue crab, crab legs, lobster tails, and more, and specialty sushi like the Dynamite or Royal King rolls, in addition to signature sangrias and cocktails. 2059 Madison Ave. 922-5202. L, D, $$

THE SECOND LINE—Kelly English brings “relaxed Creole cuisine” to his newest eatery; serves a variety of po’boys and such specialties as barbecue shrimp, andouille shrimp, and pimento cheese fries. 2144 Monroe. 590-2829. L, D, WB, $-$$

SEKISUI—Japanese fusion cuisine, fresh sushi bar, grilled meats and seafood, California rolls, and vegetarian entrees. Poplar/ Perkins location’s emphasis is on Pacific Rim cuisine. Menu and hours vary at each location. 25 Belvedere. 725-0005; 1884 N. Germantown Pkwy. (Cordova). 309-8800; 4724 Poplar. 767-7770; 2130 W. Poplar (Collierville). 854-0622; 2990 Kirby-Whitten (Bartlett). 377-2727; 6696 Poplar. 747-0001. L, D, $-$$$

SEN TRANG—Serving a wide variety of Chinese and Vietnamese soups, stir-fries, and noodles. 1615 Madison Ave. 276-0006. L, D, wheelchair accessible, $-$$

SHROOMLICIOUS MEALS—Vegan eatery with a heavy blend of (as the name implies) mushrooms. Closed Mon. and Tues. 394 N. Watkins St. 205-8413. L, D, $ SLICE MIDTOWN—Serving New York-style pizza as well as subs and pasta dishes (formerly known as Little Italy). 1495 Union. 725-0280; L, D, $-$$

SMOKY CITY BBQ—Serving authentic Memphis barbeque, including burgers, ribs, wings, and daily specials. Closed Sun. 1023 Jackson Ave. 425-3115. L, D, $-$$$

SOUL FISH CAFE—Serving Southern-style soul food, tacos, and po’boys, including catfish, crawfish, oyster, shrimp, chicken, and smoked pork tenderloin. 862 S. Cooper. 725-0722; 3160 Village Shops Dr. (Germantown). 755-6988; 4720 Poplar. 590-0323. L, D, MRA, $-$$

STICKEM—Brick-and-mortar location for the popular food truck, which offers grilled meat on a stick. 1788 Madison. Closed Sunday. 474-7214. L, D, $

TEKILA MEXICAN CUISINE—Mexican cuisine with a modern twist. Specialties include chicken mole, enchiladas verde, and the trio special. 1433 Union Ave. 510-5734. L, D, WB, wheelchair accessible, $-$$$ TAMBOLI’S PASTA & PIZZA—Pasta-maker Miles Tamboli whips up Italian soul food with seasonal menus featuring dishes like crispy

fried chicken or creamy bucatini with pecorino cheese. Serves dinner Tues.-Sat. 1761 Madison. 410-8866. D, $-$$

TAKASHI BISTRO—Fusion restaurant with an open kitchen that lets customers watch chefs prepare a variety of Japanese and Thai cuisine. 1680 Union Ave., Suite 109. 800-2936. L, D, $-$$.

TJ MULLIGAN’S—Cold drinks, comfort food, and plenty of live entertainment. 2021 Madison. 725-0770; 1817 Kirby Pkwy. (East Memphis). 755-2481; 8070 Trinity Rd. Suite 1 (Cordova). 756-4480; 2821 N. Houston Levee Rd. (Lakeland). 377-9997. L, D, $-$$

TONICA—Paella and other Spanish-inspired dishes with an Italian touch, alongside an extensive list of gin and tonics. 1545 Overton Park. Closed Mon.-Wed. D, $-$$

TSUNAMI—Features Pacific Rim cuisine (Asia, Australia, South Pacific, etc.); also a changing “small plate” menu. Chef Ben Smith is a Cooper-Young pioneer. Specialties include Asian nachos and roasted sea bass. Closed Sunday. 928 S. Cooper. 274-2556. D, MRA, $$-$$$

TUYEN’S ASIAN BISTRO—A variety of Asian dishes from the minds and chefs behind Saigon Le. Closed Sun. 288 N. Cleveland. L, D, $-$$

VIBE FOODS—By way of Colorado, superfood bar serves up clean and delicious meals and juices. Closed Sun. 1350 Concourse Ave. 572-1127; 3139 Poplar Ave. (East Memphis). 207-2535. B, L, $-$$

ZINNIE’S—Dive bar classic reopens with a makeover and signature Zinnaloni sandwich. 1688 Madison. 726-5004. L, D, $

SOUTH MEMPHIS (INCLUDES PARKWAY VILLAGE, FOX MEADOWS, SOUTH MEMPHIS, WINCHESTER, AND WHITEHAVEN)

BALA’S BISTRO—Authentic West African cuisine available to order or by the pound, alongside traditional American dishes and an extensive vegan menu. 4571 Elvis Presley Blvd. 509-3024. L, D, $-$$

CACHE 42 KITCHEN & COCKTAILS—Elevated fine dining (think golden rack of lamb or lobster queso) and cocktail lounge at MoneyBagg Yo’s restaurant; menu by chef Daris Leatherwood. Brunch and lunch options coming soon. 4202 Hacks Cross Rd., Suite 121. 494-5458. D, $-$$

COLETTA’S—Longtime eatery serves such specialties as homemade ravioli, lasagna, and pizza with barbecue or traditional toppings. 1063 S. Parkway E. 948-7652; 2850 Appling Rd. (Bartlett). 383-1122. L, D, $-$$

CURRY BOWL—Specializes in Southern Indian cuisine, serving Tandoori chicken, biryani, tikka masala, and more. Weekend buffet. 4141 Hacks Cross Rd. 207-6051. L, D, $

DELTA’S KITCHEN—The premier restaurant at The Guest House at Graceland serves Elvis-inspired dishes — like Nutella and Peanut Butter Crepes for breakfast — and upscale Southern cuisine — including lamb chops and shrimp and grits — for dinner. 3600 Elvis Presley Blvd. 443-3000. B, D, $-$$$

DWJ KOREAN BARBECUE—This authentic Korean eatery serves kimbap, barbecued beef short ribs, rice and noodles dishes, and hot pots and stews. 3750 Hacks Cross Rd., Suite 101. 746-8057; 2156 Young. 207-6204. L, D, $-$$

FABULOUS FLAVORS & FRIENDS ”The Candy Lady” Precious Thompson Jones comes up with a little bit of everything: omelettes, quesadillas, t-bones and waffles, and plenty of soul food. 2063 E. Brooks Rd. 314-0735. L, D, $

THE FOUR WAY—Legendary soul-food establishment dishing up such entrees as fried and baked catfish, chicken, and turkey and dressing, along with a host of vegetables and desserts. Around the corner from the legendary Stax Studio. Closed Mon. 998 Mississippi Blvd. 507-1519. L, D, $

HERNANDO’S HIDEAWAY No one cares how late it gets; not at Hernando’s Hideaway. Live music, killer happy hour, and plenty of bar fare at this South Memphis hang. 3210 Old Hernando Rd. 917-982-1829. L, D, $

INTERSTATE BAR-B-Q—Specialties include chopped pork-shoulder sandwiches, ribs, hot wings, spaghetti, chicken, and turkey. 2265 S. Third. 775-2304; 150 W. Stateline Rd. (Southaven). 662-393-5699. L, D, $-$$

JIM & SAMELLA’S—It’s a revolving menu of soul food delight from Chef Talbert Fleming, with anything from Southern ribs to fried tamales. 841 Bullington Ave. 265-8761. L, D, $

LEONARD’S—Serves wet and dry ribs, barbecue sandwiches, spaghetti, catfish, homemade onion rings, and lemon icebox pie; also a lunch buffet. 5465 Fox Plaza. 360-1963. L, $-$$

MARLOWE’S—In addition to its signature barbecue and ribs, Marlowe’s serves Southern-style steaks, chops, lasagna, and more. 4381 Elvis Presley Blvd. 332-4159. D, MRA, $-$$

UNCLE LOU’S FRIED CHICKEN—Featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives for good reason: fried chicken (mild, hot, or home-style); jumbo burgers four patties high; strawberry shortcake, and assorted fruit pies. 3633 Millbranch. 332-2367. L, D, MRA, $

SUMMER/BERCLAIR/ RALEIGH/BARTLETT

901 HOT POT & KOREAN BBQ—All-you-can-eat hot pot and Korean BBQ, from short ribs to garlic shrimp. 2965 N. Germantown Pkwy. 5124963. L, D, $$-$$$

BISCUITS & JAMS—Biscuits, waffles, French toast, and plenty of sharables at this Bartlett breakfast spot. Closed Mon./Tue. 5806 Stage Rd. 672-7905. B, L, $

BRYANT’S BREAKFAST—Slingin’ famous biscuits, plate lunches, chicken fried steak, and other breakfast classics since 1968. 3965 Summer Ave. 324-7494. B, L, $

CEVICHERIA AND GRILL CHILEMON—Ceviche, of course, but also plenty of other postres, aperitivos, and mixed grilled meat and seafood feasts. Closed Sun. 4509 Summer Ave. 672-7905. L, D, $

CHEF FLAVAS AND BARTLETT BREAKFAST FACTORY

”Flavaful” sandwiches, soups, pastas, and more from the makers of the popular local spinach artichoke dip. Traditional breakfast options served by Bartlett Breakfast Factory. Closed Sun./Mon. 6301 Stage Rd. 7792200. B, L, D, $-$$

DIM SUM KING—All the best from a selection of authentic Chinese dishes: roasted duck, sizzling hot plate, Cantonese BBQ, and plenty more. 5266 Summer Ave. Suite 65. 766-0831. L, D, $-$$

ELWOOD’S SHACK—Casual comfort food includes tacos, pizza, and sandwiches. Specialties include meats smoked in-house (chicken, turkey, brisket, pork), barbecue pizza, and steelhead trout tacos. 4523 Summer. 7619898; 4040 Park Ave. 754-2520. B, L, D, $

EXLINES’ BEST PIZZA—Serves pizza, Italian dinners, sandwiches, and salads. 6250 Stage Rd. 382-3433; 2935 Austin Peay. 388-4711; 2801 Kirby Parkway. 754-0202; 7730 Wolf River Blvd. (Germantown). 753-4545; 531 W. Stateline Rd. 662-342-4544. L, D, MRA, $

LA TAQUERIA GUADALUPANA—Fajitas and quesadillas are just a few of the authentic Mexican entrees offered here. A bona-fide Memphis institution. 4818 Summer. 685-6857; 5848 Winchester. 3654992. L, D, $

LOTUS—Authentic Vietnamese-Asian fare, including lemon-grass chicken and shrimp, egg rolls, Pho soup, and spicy Vietnamese vermicelli. 4970 Summer. 682-1151. D, $

MORTIMER’S—Contemporary American entrees include trout almondine, chicken dishes, and hand-cut steaks; also sandwiches, salads, and daily/nightly specials. A Memphis landmark since the Knickerbocker closed. Closed for lunch Sat.-Sun. 590 N. Perkins. 761-9321. L, D, $-$$

NAGASAKI INN—Chicken, steak, and lobster are among the main courses; meal is cooked at your table. 3951 Summer. 454-0320. D, $$ NAM KING—General Tso’s chicken, hot and sour soup, and homemade chicken wings are back at the longtime Raleigh Chinese eatery. 3624 Austin Peay Highway, Suite 3. 373-4411. L, D, $-$$

ÓRALE TACOS & BAKERY—Tacos, enchiladas, and other traditional Southern Mexican dishes alongside baked pan dulces. 2204 Whitten Rd. 571-1786. B, L, D, $-$$

PANDA GARDEN—Sesame chicken and broccoli beef are among the Mandarin and Cantonese entrees; also seafood specials and fried rice. Closed for lunch Saturday. 3735 Summer. 323-4819. L, D, $-$$

QUEEN OF SHEBA—Featuring Middle Eastern favorites and Yemeni dishes such as lamb haneeth and saltah. 4792 Summer. 207-4174. L, D, $

SIDE PORCH STEAK HOUSE—In addition to steak, the menu includes chicken, pork chops, and fish entrees; homemade rolls are a specialty. Closed Sun./Mon. 5689 Stage Rd. 377-2484. D, $-$$

TORTILLERIA LA UNICA—Individual helping of Mexican street food, including hefty tamales, burritos, tortas, and sopes. 5015 Summer Ave. 685-0097. B, L, D, $

UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD DISTRICT (INCLUDES CHICKASAW GARDENS AND HIGHLAND STRIP)

A-TAN—Serves Chinese and Japanese hibachi cuisine, complete with sushi bar. A specialty is Four Treasures with garlic sauce. 3445 Poplar, Suite 17, University Center. 452-4477. L, D, $-$$$

BROTHER JUNIPER’S—This little cottage is a breakfast mecca, offering specialty omelets, including the open-faced San Diegan omelet; also daily specials, and homemade breads and pastries. Closed Mon. 3519 Walker. 324-0144. B, $

CHAR RESTAURANT—Specializing in modern Southern cuisine, this eatery offers homestyle sides, charbroiled steaks, and fresh seafood. 431 S. Highland, Suite 120. 249-3533. L, D, WB, MRA, $-$$$

EL PORTON—Fajitas, quesadillas, and steak ranchero are just a few of the menu items. 2095 Merchants Row (Germantown). 754-4268; 8361

Highway 64. 380-7877; 3448 Poplar (Poplar Plaza). 452-7330; 1805 N. Germantown Parkway (Cordova). 624-9358; 1016 W. Poplar (Collierville). 854-5770. L, D, MRA, $-$$

PLANT BASED HEAT

All of your favorite Southern-style recipes, but deliciously transformed into a vegan format. Specialties include the spicy fye junt burger, or the chopped ‘n’ smoked BBQ jackfruit sandwich. Closed Sun. 669 S. Highland St.; 363 S. Front St. (downtown). L, D, $

SAM’S DELI—Everything from sandwiches to bibimbap bowls at this local favorite. Closed Mon./Tue. 643 S. Highland St. 454-5582. L, D, $ EAST MEMPHIS (INCLUDES POPLAR/I-240)

ACRE—Features seasonal modern American cuisine in an avantegarde setting using locally sourced products; also small plates and enclosed garden patio. Closed for lunch Sat. and all day Sun. 690 S. Perkins. 818-2273. L, D, $$-$$$

AGAVOS COCINA & TEQUILA—Camaron de Tequila, tamales, kabobs, and burgers made with a blend of beef and chorizo are among the offerings at this tequila-centric restaurant and bar. 2924 Walnut Grove. 433-9345. L, D, $-$$

AMERIGO—Traditional and contemporary Italian cuisine includes pasta, wood-fired pizza, steaks, and cedarwood-roasted fish. 1239 Ridgeway, Park Place Mall. 761-4000. L, D, SB, MRA, $-$$$ ANDALUSIA— Authentic Moroccan cuisine, including tagines, brochettes, and briouates. 5101 Sanderlin Ave., Suite 103. 236-7784. L, D, $-$$

ANDREW MICHAEL ITALIAN KITCHEN—Traditional Italian cuisine with a menu from two of the city’s top chefs that changes seasonally with such entrees as Maw Maw’s ravioli. Closed Sun.-Mon. 712 W. Brookhaven Circle. 347-3569. D, MRA, $$-$$$

ANOTHER BROKEN EGG CAFE—Offering several varieties of eggs Benedict, waffles, omelets, pancakes, beignets, and other breakfast fare; also burgers, sandwiches, and salads. 6063 Park Ave. 729-7020; 65 S. Highland. 623-7122. B, L, WB, $

ANTIGUA MEXICAN BAR & GRILL—Tortas, tacos, and other authentic Mexican cuisine alongside freshly-made salsa, guacamole, and white queso dip. 717 N. White Station Rd. 761-1374. L, D, $-$$

BANGKOK ALLEY—Thai fusion cuisine includes noodle and curry dishes, chef-specialty sushi rolls, coconut soup, and duck and seafood entrees. Closed for lunch Sat. and all day Sun. at Brookhaven location; call for hours. 715 W. Brookhaven Circle. 590-2585; 2150 W. Poplar at Houston Levee (Collierville). 854-8748. L, D, $-$$

BELLE MEADE SOCIAL—Upscale Americana cuisine including lamb lollipops, spicy tuna stack, and steak & noodle salad. 518 Perkins Extd. 480-7054. L, D, $-$$$

BELMONT GRILL—Burgers, steak sandwiches, and other classic American fare at one of Memphis’ longstanding bars. 4970 Poplar. 767-0305. L, D, $-$$

BENIHANA—This Japanese steakhouse serves beef, chicken, and seafood grilled at the table; some menu items change monthly; sushi bar also featured. 912 Ridge Lake Blvd. 767-8980. L, D, $$-$$$ BIG BAD BREAKFAST—Fresh biscuits, house-made cured meats, jams, jellies, and more for the most important meal of the day. 6450 Poplar. 881-3346. B, L, $-$$

BOG & BARLEY—An all-Irish fine dining experience by the owners of Celtic Crossing, and a full bar with plenty of beer and 25-year-old Macallan. 6150 Poplar, Suite 124. 805-2262. L, D, WB, $-$$ BROOKLYN BRIDGE ITALIAN RESTAURANT—Specializing in such homemade entrees as spinach lasagna and lobster ravioli; a seafood specialty is horseradish-crusted salmon. Closed Sun. 1779 Kirby Pkwy. 755-7413. D, $-$$$

BRYANT’S BREAKFAST—Three-egg omelets, pancakes, and The Sampler Platter are among the popular entrees here. Possibly the best biscuits in town. Closed Mon. and Tues. 3965 Summer. 324-7494. B, L, $

CAPITAL GRILLE—Known for its dry-aged, hand-carved steaks; among the specialties are bone-in sirloin, and porcini-rubbed Delmonico; also seafood entrees and seasonal lunch plates. Closed for lunch Sat.Sun. Crescent Center, 6065 Poplar. 683-9291. L, D, $$$-$$$$

CASABLANCA—Lamb shawarma is one of the fresh, homemade specialties served at this Mediterranean/Moroccan restaurant; fish entrees and vegetarian options also available. 5030 Poplar. 725-8557; 1707 Madison. 421-6949. L, D, $-$$

CHUKIS TACOS 2—Traditional homestyle Mexican recipes. 3445 Poplar Ave., Suite 1. 888-4139. B, L, D, $-$$

CIAO BELLA—Among the Italian and Greek specialties are lasagna, seafood pasta, gourmet pizzas, and vegetarian options. 5101 Sanderlin Ave. 205-2500. D, MRA, $-$$$

CITY SILO TABLE + PANTRY—With a focus on clean eating, this establishment offers fresh juices, as well as comfort foods re-imagined

with wholesome ingredients. 5101 Sanderlin. 729-7687. Germantown: 7605 W. Farmington Blvd., Suite 2. 236-7223. B, L, D, $ COASTAL FISH COMPANY—Upscale offerings of international fish varieties utilizing styles ranging from the Carribbean, East Coast, West Coast, China, Philippines, and more. 415 Great View Dr. E., Suite 101. 266-9000. D, $$-$$$

CORKY’S—Popular barbecue emporium offers both wet and dry ribs, plus a full menu of other barbecue entrees. Wed. lunch buffets, Cordova and Collierville. 5259 Poplar. 685-9744; 1740 N. Germantown Pkwy. (Cordova). 737-1911; 743 W. Poplar (Collierville). 405-4999; 6434 Goodman Rd., Olive Branch. 662-893-3663. L, D, MRA, $-$$

DAN MCGUINNESS PUB—Serves fish and chips, shepherd’s pie, burgers, and other Irish and American fare; also lunch and dinner specials. 4694 Spottswood. 761-3711; 3964 Goodman Rd. 662-8907611. L, D, $

ERLING JENSEN—For decades, Chef Erling has presented “globally inspired” cuisine to die for. Specialties are rack of lamb, big-game entrees, and fresh fish dishes. 1044 S. Yates. 763-3700. D, MRA, $$-$$$

ERLING JENSEN SMALL BITES—Enjoy Erling Jensen’s specialty dishes in a sharable, small-plate format alongside TopGolf Swing suites. 5069 Sanderlin Ave. 587-9464. L, D, $-$$$

FLEMING’S PRIME STEAKHOUSE—Serves wet-aged and dry-aged steaks, prime beef, chops, and seafood, including salmon, Australian lobster tails, and a catch of the day. 6245 Poplar. 761-6200. D, MRA, $$$-$$$$

FOLK’S FOLLY ORIGINAL PRIME STEAK HOUSE

Specializes in prime steaks, as well as lobster, grilled Scottish salmon, Alaskan king crab legs, rack of lamb, and weekly specials. 551 S. Mendenhall. 762-8200. D, MRA, $$$-$$$$

FORMOSA—Offers Mandarin cuisine, including broccoli beef, hotand-sour soup, and spring rolls. Closed Mon. 6685 Quince. 753-9898. L, D, $-$$

FOX RIDGE PIZZA & GRILL—Pizzas, calzones, sub sandwiches, burgers, and meat-and-two plate lunches are among the dishes served at this eatery, which opened in 1979. 711 W. Brookhaven Circle. 758-6500. L, D, $

FRATELLI’S—Serves hot and cold sandwiches, salads, soups, and desserts, all with an Italian/Mediterranean flair. Closed Sun. 750 Cherry Rd., Memphis Botanic Garden. 766-9900. L, $

HALF SHELL—Specializes in seafood, such as king crab legs; also serves steaks, chicken, pastas, salads, sandwiches, a ”voodoo menu”; oyster bar at Winchester location. 688 S. Mendenhall. 682-3966; 7825 Winchester. 737-6755. L, D, WB, MRA, $-$$$

HEN HOUSE—Hybrid wine/cocktail bar and tasting room with plenty of cosmopolitan eats. Closed Sun. 679 S. Mendenhall. 499-5436. D, $-$$$ HIGH POINT PIZZA—Serves a variety of pizzas, subs, salads, and sides. Closed Mon. A neighborhood fixture. 477 High Point Terrace. 452-3339. L, D, $-$$

HOG & HOMINY—The casual sister to Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen serves brick-oven-baked pizzas, including the Red-Eye with pork belly, and small plates with everything from meatballs to beef and cheddar hot dogs; and local veggies. Closed for lunch Mon. 707 W. Brookhaven Cir. 207-7396. L, D, SB, MRA. $-$$$

HOUSTON’S—Serves steaks, seafood, pork chops, chicken dishes, sandwiches, salads, and Chicago-style spinach dip. Famous for first-class service. 5000 Poplar. 683-0915. L, D, X $-$$$

LA BAGUETTE—An almond croissant and chicken salad are among specialties at this French-style bistro. Closed for dinner Sun. 3088 Poplar. 458-0900. B, L, D (closes at 7), MRA, $

LAS DELICIAS—Popular for its guacamole, house-made tortilla chips, and margaritas, this restaurant draws diners with its chicken enchiladas, meat-stuffed flautas, and Cuban torta with spicy pork. Closed Sun. 4002 Park Ave. 458-9264; 5689 Quince. 800-2873. L, D, $

LIBRO AT LAURELWOOD—Bookstore eatery features a variety of sandwiches, salads, and homemade pasta dishes, with Italian-inspired options such as carbonara and potato gnocchi. Closed for dinner Sun. 387 Perkins Ext. (inside Novel). 800-2656. B, L, D, SB, $-$$

LITTLE ITALY EAST—New York-style pizzas galore and homemade pasta. Closed Sun. 6300 Poplar Ave., Ste. 113. 729-7432. L, $-$$

LOST PIZZA—Offering pizzas (with dough made from scratch), pasta, salads, sandwiches, tamales, and more. 2855 Poplar. 572-1803; 5960 Getwell (Southaven). 662-892-8684. L, D, $-$$

MAGNOLIA & MAY—Southern-inspired, family-owned, casual dining restaurant serving up a variety of sandwiches, chef-inspired dishes, and craft cocktails. Popular items include shrimp and grits and

the double cheeseburger. Closed Mon. 718 Mt. Moriah Rd. 676-8100. L, D, WB, MRA. $$-$$$

MAHOGANY MEMPHIS—Upscale Southern restaurant offers such dishes as coffee-rubbed lamb chops and baked Cajun Cornish hen. Closed for dinner Sun. and all day Mon.-Tues. 3092 Poplar, Suite 11. 623-7977. L, D, SB, $-$$$

MANDE DIBI WEST AFRICAN BBQ GRILL—Pairs traditional West African BBQ with Memphis BBQ for a menu that offers a wide variety of flavors, including daily specials and vegan-friendly options. 6825 Winchester Rd. 672-8995. L, D, $-$$$

MARCIANO MEDITERRANEAN AND ITALIAN CUISINE—Veal Saltimbocca with angel-hair pasta and white wine sauce is among the entrees; also steaks, seafood, and gourmet pizza. 780 E. Brookhaven Cir. 682-1660. D, $-$$

MAYURI INDIAN CUISINE—Serves tandoori chicken, masala dosa, tikka masala, as well as lamb and shrimp entrees; also a daily lunch buffet, and dinner buffet on Fri.-Sat. 6524 Quince Rd. 753-8755. L, D, $-$$

MELLOW MUSHROOM—Large menu includes assortment of pizzas, salads, calzones, hoagies, vegetarian options, and 50 beers on tap. 5138 Park Ave. 562-1211; 9155 Poplar, Shops of Forest Hill (Germantown). 907-0243. L, D, $-$$

MOSA ASIAN BISTRO—Specialties include sesame chicken, Thai calamari, rainbow panang curry with grouper fish, and other Pan Asian/ fusion entrees. Closed Mon. 850 S. White Station Rd. 683-8889. L, D, MRA, $

NAM KING—Offers luncheon and dinner buffets, dim sum, and such specialties as fried dumplings, pepper steak, and orange chicken. 4594 Yale. 373-4411. L, D, $

NAPA CAFE—Among the specialties are miso-marinated salmon over black rice with garlic spinach and shiitake mushrooms. Closed Sun. 5101 Sanderlin, Suite 122. 683-0441. L, D, MRA, $$-$$$

ONE & ONLY BBQ—On the menu are pork barbecue sandwiches, platters, wet and dry ribs, smoked chicken and turkey platters, a smoked meat salad, barbecue quesadillas, Brunswick Stew, and Millie’s homemade desserts. 1779 Kirby Pkwy. 751-3615; 567 Perkins Extd. 249-4227. L, D, $

ONO POKÉ—This eatery specializes in poké — a Hawaiian dish of fresh fish salad served over rice. Menu includes a variety of poké bowls, like the Kimchi Tuna bowl, or customers can build their own by choosing a base, protein, veggies, and toppings. 3145 Poplar. 618-2955. L, D, $

OWEN BRENNAN’S—New Orleans-style menu of beef, chicken, pasta, and seafood; jambalaya, shrimp and grits, and crawfish etouffee are specialties. Closed for dinner Sun. The Regalia, 6150 Poplar. 761-0990. L, D, SB, MRA, $-$$$

PARK + CHERRY—The Dixon offers casual dining within the museum. Seasonal menu features sandwiches, like rustic chicken salad on croissant, as well as salads, snacks, and sweets. Closed for breakfast Sun. and all day Mon. 4339 Park (Dixon Gallery and Gardens). 761-5250. L, $ PATRICK’S—Serves barbecue nachos, burgers, and entrees such as fish and chips; also plate lunches and daily specials. 4972 Park. 682-2852. L, D, MRA, $

PETE & SAM’S—Serving Memphis for 60-plus years; offers steaks, seafood, and traditional Italian dishes, including homemade ravioli, lasagna, and chicken marsala. 3886 Park. 458-0694. D, $-$$$

PF CHANG’S CHINA BISTRO—Specialties are orange peel shrimp, Mongolian beef, and chicken in lettuce wraps; also vegetarian dishes, including spicy eggplant. 1181 Ridgeway Rd., Park Place Centre. 8183889. L, D, $-$$

PHO SAIGON—Vietnamese fare includes beef teriyaki, roasted quail, curry ginger chicken, vegetarian options, and a variety of soups. 2946 Poplar. 458-1644. L, D, $

PYRO’S FIRE-FRESH PIZZA—Serving gourmet pizzas cooked in an open-fire oven, wide choice of toppings, and large local and craft beer selection. 1199 Ridgeway. 379-8294; 2035 Union Ave. 208-8857; 2286 N. Germantown Pkwy. (Cordova). 207-1198; 3592 S. Houston Levee (Collierville). 221-8109. L, D, MRA, $

THE READY ROOM—Duck wontons, bananas “Oscar,” and plenty of other bar snacks and entrees at Hook Point Brewing Co.’s taproom. Closed Mon./Tues. 715 W. Brookhaven Cir. 487-6931. L, D, WB, $-$$

RED HOOK CAJUN SEAFOOD & BAR—Cajun-style array of seafood including shrimp, mussels, clams, crawfish, and oysters. 3295 Poplar. 207-1960. L, D, $-$$

RED KOI—Classic Japanese cuisine offered at this family-run restaurant; hibachi steaks, sushi, seafood, chicken, and vegetables. 5847 Poplar. 767-3456. L, D, X $-$$

RED PIER CAJUN SEAFOOD & BAR—Owners of Red Hook bring more Cajun-style seafood dishes. 5901 Poplar Ave. 512-5923. L, D, $-$$$

RESTAURANT IRIS—French Creole-inspired classics, such as Gulf shrimp and rice grits congee served with lap chong sausage and boiled peanuts, are served at this newly remodeled restaurant owned by Chef Kelly English, a Food and Wine “Top Ten.” 4550 Poplar. 5902828. L, D, $$-$$$

RIVER OAKS—Chef Jose Gutierrez’s French-style bistro serves seafood and steaks, with an emphasis on fresh local ingredients. Closed for lunch Sat. and all day Sun. 5871 Poplar Ave. 683-9305. L, D, $$$

RONNIE GRISANTI’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT— This Memphis institution serves some family classics such as Elfo’s Special and handmade ravioli, along with house-made pizza and fresh oysters. Closed Sun. 6150 Poplar, Suite 122. 850-0191. D, $-$$$

ROTOLO’S CRAFT & CRUST—Louisiana-based pizza company’s first Memphis location, whipping up pizza pies with homemade sauces and fresh ingredients, pasta, wings, and other shareables. 681 S. White Station. 454-3352. L, D, $-$$

RUTH’S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE—Offers prime steaks cut and aged in-house, as well as lamb, chicken, and fresh seafood, including lobster. 6120 Poplar. 761-0055. D, $$$-$$$$

SALSA COCINA MEXICANA—Mexican-Southern California specialties include carnitas, enchiladas verde, and fajitas; also Southwestern seafood dishes such as snapper verde. Closed Sun. Regalia Shopping Center, 6150 Poplar, Suite 129. 683-6325. L, D, $-$$

SEASONS 52—This elegant fresh grill and wine bar offers a seasonally changing menu using fresh ingredients, wood-fire grilling, and brick-oven cooking; also a large international wine list and nightly piano bar. Crescent Center, 6085 Poplar. 682-9952. L, D, $$-$$$

STAKS—Offering pancakes, including birthday cake and lemon ricotta. Menu includes other breakfast items such as beignets and French toast, as well as soups and sandwiches for lunch. 4615 Poplar. 509-2367; 3660 S. Houston Levee Road, Suite 104 (Collierville). 286-4335; 7704 Poplar (Germantown). 800-1951; 2902 May Blvd. (Southaven). B, L, WB, $ SWANKY’S TACO SHOP—Taco-centric eatery offers tortas, flatbreads, quesadillas, chimichangas, burgers, and more. 4770 Poplar. 730-0763; 6641 Poplar (Germantown). 737-2088; 272 S. Main. 779-3499. L, D, $

THREE LITTLE PIGS—Pork-shoulder-style barbecue with tangy mild or hot sauce, freshly made coleslaw, and baked beans. 5145 Quince Rd. 685-7094. B, L, D, $

TOPS BAR-B-Q—Specializes in pork barbecue sandwiches and sandwich plates with beans and slaw; also serves ribs, beef brisket, and burgers. 1286 Union. 725-7527; 4183 Summer. 324-4325; 5391 Winchester. 794-7936; 3970 Rhodes. 323-9865; 6130 Macon. 3710580. For more locations, go online. L, D, $ TORCHY’S TACOS—Plenty of Tex-Mex variety, with creative monthly special tacos. 719 S. Mendenhall. 343-8880. B, L, D, $ VENICE KITCHEN—Specializes in “eclectic Italian” and Southern Creole, from pastas, including the “Godfather,” to hand-tossed pizzas, including the “John Wayne”; choose from 50 toppings. 368 Perkins Ext. 767-6872. L, D, SB, $-$$

WANG’S MANDARIN HOUSE—Offers Mandarin, Cantonese, Szechuan, and spicy Hunan entrees, including the golden-sesame chicken; next door is East Tapas, serving small plates with an Asian twist. 6065 Park Ave., Park Place Mall. 763-0676. L, D, $-$$

WASABI—Serving traditional Japanese offerings, hibachi, sashimi, and sushi. The Sweet Heart roll, wrapped — in the shape of a heart — with tuna and filled with spicy salmon, yellowtail, and avocado, is a specialty. 5101 Sanderlin Rd., Suite 105. 421-6399. L, D, $-$$

THE WING GURU—A staple of the Memphis wing scene, featuring everything from classic buffalo to exquisite lemon pepper. 5699 Mt. Moriah Rd. 509-2405; 875 W. Poplar Ave., Suite 6 (Collierville). 2217488; 8253 Highway 51 North, Suite 103 (Millington). 872-0849; 4130 Elvis Presley Blvd (Whitehaven) 791-4726; 5224 Airline Rd., Suite 107 (Arlington). 209-0349. L, D, $-$$

WOMAN’S EXCHANGE TEA ROOM—Chicken-salad plate, beef tenderloin, soups-and-sandwiches, vegetable plates, and homemade desserts are specialties. Closed Sat.-Sun. 88 Racine. 327-5681. L, $ CORDOVA

THE BLUE ROOM RESTAURANT—An elevated take on traditional Southern recipes, located in the U of M Kemmons Wilson Culinary Institute. Closed Mon. 1245 N. Germantown Pkwy., Suite 101. 249-7512. D, SB, $$-$$$

Sunday Dramas Premiering

BOMBAY HOUSE—Indian fare includes lamb korma and chicken tikka; also, a daily luncheon buffet. 1727 N. Germantown Pkwy. 755-4114. L, D, $-$$

THE BUTCHER SHOP—Serves steaks ranging from 8-oz. filets to a 20-oz. porterhouse; also chicken, pork chops, fresh seafood. 107 S. Germantown Rd. 757-4244. L (Fri. and Sun.), D, $$-$$$ GREEN BAMBOO—Pineapple tilapia, pork vermicelli, and the soft egg noodle combo are Vietnamese specialties here. 990 N. Germantown Parkway, Suite 104. 753-5488. L, D, $-$$

JIM ’N NICK’S BAR-B-Q—Serves barbecued pork, ribs, chicken, brisket, and fish, along with other homemade Southern specialties. 2359 N. Germantown Pkwy. 388-0998. L, D, $-$$

EL MERO TACO—This food truck turned restaurant serves up Mexican and Southern-style fusion dishes, including fried chicken tacos, chorizo con papas tacos, and brisket quesadillas. 8100 Macon Station, Suite 102. 308-1661. Closed Sun.-Mon. L, D, WB, $ OPTIONS Burgers, wings, philly cheesesteaks, and more comfort food options. Closed Mon.-Thu. 7940 Fischer Steel Rd. 245-6048. D, SB, $-$$

CHICAGO STEAKHOUSE AT THE GOLDSTRIKE—1010 Casino Center Dr., Robinsonville, MS, 1-888-24KSTAY / 662-357-1225

FAIRBANKS AT THE HOLLYWOOD—1150 Casino Strip Blvd., Robinsonville, MS, 1-800-871-0711

IGNITE STEAKHOUSE AT SOUTHLAND CASINO HOTEL—1550 N. Ingram Blvd., West Memphis, AR, 1-800-467-6182

JACK BINION’S STEAK HOUSE AT HORSESHOE—1021 Casino Center Drive, Robinsonville, MS, 1-800-303-SHOE

LUCKY 8 ASIAN BISTRO AT HORSESHOE—1021 Casino Center Drive, Robinsonville, MS, 1-800-303-SHOE

SOUTHLAND CASINO HOTEL'S THE KITCHENS—1550 N. Ingram Blvd., West Memphis, AR, 1-800-467-6182

THE STEAKHOUSE AT THE FITZ—711 Lucky Ln., Robinsonville, MS, 1-888-766-LUCK, Ext. 8213

TWAIN’S STEAKHOUSE AT SAM’S TOWN TUNICA—1477 Casino Strip Resorts Boulevard, Robinsonville, MS, 1-800-456-0711

POKÉ WORLD—Serves up Hawaiian poké bowls filled with rice and diced, raw fish. Also offers Taiwanese bubble tea and rolled ice cream for dessert. 1605 N. Germantown Pkwy., Suite 111. 623-7986. East Memphis: 575 Erin Dr. 779-4971. L, D, $

PETALS OF A PEONY—Authentic Sichuan cuisine, from crispy duck to peony fried chicken. Be prepared for spice! 1250 N. Germantown Pkwy. 787-8886. L, D, $-$$

SHOGUN JAPANESE RESTAURANT—Entrees include tempura, teriyaki, and sushi, as well as grilled fish and chicken entrees. 2324 N. Germantown Pkwy. 384-4122. L, D, $-$$

TANNOOR GRILL—Brazilian-style steakhouse with skewers served tableside, along with Middle Eastern specialties; vegetarian options also available. 830 N. Germantown Pkwy. 443-5222. L, D, $-$$$ GERMANTOWN

BLUE HONEY BISTRO—Entrees at this upscale eatery include brown butter scallops served with Mississippi blue rice and herbcrusted beef tenderloin with vegetables and truffle butter. Closed Sun. 9155 Poplar, Suite 17. 552-3041. D, $-$$$

THE CRAZY COOP—Plenty of hot wings and sauces, plus sandwiches and other dinner plates. 1315 Ridgeway Rd. 748-5325; 7199 Stage Rd. (Bartlett). 433-9212. L, D, $-$$

DIMSUM MEM—Traditional Chinese food truck takes over the New Asia space. 2075 Exeter Rd., Suite 90. L, D, $-$$

GERMANTOWN COMMISSARY—Serves barbecue sandwiches, sliders, ribs, shrimp, and nachos, as well as smoked barbecued bologna sandwiches; Mon.-night all-you-can-eat ribs. 2290 S. Germantown Rd. S. 754-5540. L, D, MRA, $-$$

LAS TORTUGAS DELI MEXICANA—Authentic Mexican food prepared from local food sources; specializes in tortugas — grilled bread scooped out to hold such powerfully popular fillings as brisket, pork, and shrimp; also tingas, tostados. Closed Sun. 1215 S. Germantown Rd. 751-1200; 6300 Poplar. 623-3882. L, D, $-$$

LIMELIGHT—Wolf River Hospitality Group brings Wagyu beef, duck gnocchi, and other fine dining dishes on a rotating seasonal menu. Closed Mon./Tue. 7724 Poplar Pike. 791-2328. D, $-$$$

LOCAL LIME—Tacos and margaritas in a casual environment, plus other goodies like the Mexican caramel apple crisp skillet. Closed Mon. 7605 W. Farmington Blvd., Suite 1. 224-2204. L, D, $-$$$

MOONDANCE GRILL—From the owners of Itta Bena and Lafayette’s. Serves steak cooked sous vide and seafood dishes including Abita-barbecued shrimp and pan-seared sand dab, in addition to an extensive wine and cocktail list. 1730 S. Germantown Road, Suite 117. 755-1471. L, D, $$-$$$

NOODLES ASIAN BISTRO—Serves a variety of traditional Asian cuisine, with emphasis on noodle dishes, such as Singapore Street Noodles and Hong Kong Chow Fun. 7850 Poplar, Suite 12. 755-1117. L, D, $

PETRA CAFÉ—Serves Greek, Italian, and Middle Eastern sandwiches, gyros, and entrees. Hours vary; call. 6641 Poplar. 754-4440; 547 S. Highland. 323-3050. L, D, $-$$

ROCK’N DOUGH PIZZA CO.—Specialty and custom pizzas made from fresh ingredients; wide variety of toppings. 7850 Poplar, Suite 6. 779-2008. L, D, SB, MRA, $$

ROYAL PANDA—Hunan fish, Peking duck, Royal Panda chicken and shrimp, and a seafood combo are among the specialties. 3120 Village Shops Dr. 756-9697. L, D, $-$$

SAKURA—Sushi, tempura, and teriyaki are Japanese specialties here. 2060 West St. 758-8181; 4840 Poplar. 572-1002; 255 New Byhalia Rd. 316-5638. L, D, $-$$

SOUTHERN SOCIAL—Shrimp and grits, stuffed quail, and Aunt Thelma’s Fried Chicken are among the dishes served at this upscale Southern establishment. 2285 S. Germantown Rd. 754-5555. D, SB, MRA, $-$$$

STONEY RIVER STEAKHOUSE AND GRILL—Specializes in hand-cut steaks, a fresh seafood selection, and plenty of house specials. 7515 Poplar Ave., Suite 101. 207-1100. L, D, $$-$$$$

SUFI’S MEDITERRANEAN GRILL & BAR—Offers authentic Mediterranean and Persian cuisine, from hummus shawarma to traditional moussaka. Closed Mon. 7609 Poplar Pike. 779-2200. L, D, $-$$$

TAZIKI’S—Mediterranean-inspired dishes all made from scratch. 7850 Poplar Ave., Suite 26. 612-2713. East Memphis: 540 S. Mendenhall Rd. 290-1091. Bartlett: 7974 US-64. 203-0083. L, D, $

THE TOASTED YOLK CAFE—Churro donuts, signature Eggs Benedict, and plenty other boozy brunch options at this franchise’s first Tennessee location. 9087 Poplar Ave., Ste. 11. B, L, $-$$

UNCLE GOYO’S—More than 30 dishes with a focus on authentic Mexican cuisine, from the brains behind TacoNganas. 1730 S. Germantown Rd. L, D, $-$$

WEST STREET DINER—This home-style eatery offers breakfast, burgers, po’boys, and more. 2076 West St. 757-2191. B, L, D (Mon.-Fri.), $

ZEN JAPANESE FINE CUISINE—A full sushi bar and plenty of authentic Japanese dishes, like Hibachi or Wagyu beef. 1730 S. Germantown Rd. 779-2796. L, D, X, $-$$$

COLLIERVILLE

CAFE PIAZZA BY PAT LUCCHESI—Specializes in gourmet pizzas (including create-your-own), panini sandwiches, and pasta. Closed Sun. 139 S. Rowlett St. 861-1999. L, D, $-$$

CIAO BABY—Specializing in Neapolitan-style pizza made in a woodfired oven. Also serves house-made mozzarella, pasta, appetizers, and salads. 890 W. Poplar, Suite 1. 457-7457. L, D, $

COLLIERVILLE COMMISSARY—Serves barbecue sandwiches, sliders, ribs, shrimp, and nachos, as well as smoked barbecued bologna sandwiches. 3573 S. Houston Levee Rd. 979-5540. L, D, MRA, $-$$

DAVID GRISANTI’S ON MAIN—Serving Northern Italian cuisine and traditional Grisanti family recipes. Closed Sun./Mon. 148 N. Main. 861-1777. L, D, $-$$$

DYER’S CAFE—Juicy hamburgers, split dogs, and milkshakes at the historic Collierville restaurant. 101 N. Center St. 850-7750. L, D, $-$$

EL MEZCAL—Serves burritos, chimichangas, fajitas, and other Mexican cuisine, as well as shrimp dinners and steak. 9947 Wolf River, 853-7922; 402 Perkins Extd. 761-7710; 694 N. Germantown Pkwy. (Cordova). 755-1447; 1492 Union. 274-4264; 11615 Airline Rd. (Arlington). 8671883; 9045 Highway 64 (Lakeland). 383-4219; 7164 Hacks Cross Rd. (Olive Branch). 662-890-3337; 8834 Hwy. 51 N. (Millington). 872-3220; 7424 Highway 64 (Bartlett). 417-6026. L, D, $

EMERALD THAI RESTAURANT—Spicy shrimp, pad khing, lemongrass chicken, and several noodle, rice, and vegetarian dishes are offered at this family restaurant. Closed Sunday. 8950 Highway 64 (Lakeland, TN). 384-0540. L, D, $-$$

FIREBIRDS—Specialties are hand-cut steaks, slow-roasted prime rib, and wood-grilled salmon and other seafood, as well as seasonal entrees. 4600 Merchants Circle, Carriage Crossing. 850-1637; 8470 Highway 64 (Bartlett). 379-1300. L, D, $-$$$

JIM’S PLACE GRILLE—Features American, Greek, and Continental cuisine. Closed for lunch Sat. and all day Sun. 3660 Houston Levee. 861-5000. L, D, MRA, $-$$$

MAROON BREW CO.—Family-friendly restaurant serving up gourmet hot dogs, smash burgers, chicken, and shareables, all made to pair with beers brewed on-site. Closed Mon. 642 W. Poplar Ave., Collierville. 799-0354. L, D, $-$$

MULAN ASIAN BISTRO—Hunan Chicken, tofu dishes, and orange beef served here; sushi and Thai food, too. 2059 Houston Levee. 8505288; 2149 Young. 347-3965; 4698 Spottswood. 609-8680. L, D, $-$$

NASHOBA—Offers live music, sports games, and pub classics. Specialties are hot honey flatbread pizza, brisket fried rice, and the Nashoba burger. 4600 Merchants Park Circle, Suite 111, Collierville. 630-4683. L, D, wheelchair accessible, $-$$

OSAKA JAPANESE CUISINE—Featuring an extensive sushi menu as well as traditional Japanese and hibachi dining. Hours vary for lunch; call. 3670 Houston Levee. 861-4309; 3402 Poplar. 249-4690; 7164 Hacks Cross (Olive Branch). 662-890-9312; 2200 N. Germantown Pkwy. (Cordova). 425-4901. L, D, $-$$$

RAVEN & LILY—Eatery offers innovative Southern-inspired cuisine with such dishes as crispy shrimp and cauliflower salad, spiced lamb sausage and parmesan risotto, and bananas foster pain perdu. Closed Mon. 120 E. Mulberry. 286-4575. L, D, SB, $-$$

STIX—Hibachi steakhouse with Asian cuisine features steak, chicken, and a fillet and lobster combination, also sushi. A specialty is Dynamite Chicken with fried rice. 4680 Merchants Park Circle, Avenue Carriage Crossing. 854-3399. 150 Peabody Place, Suite 115 (Downtown). 207-7638 L, D, $-$$

WOLF RIVER BRISKET CO.—From the owners of Pyro’s Fire Fresh Pizza, highlights include house-smoked meats: prime beef brisket, chicken, and salmon. Closed Sun. 9947 Wolf River Boulevard, Suite 101. 316-5590; 1350 Concourse Ave., Suite 165. 791-4389 L, D, $-$$

ZOPITA’S ON THE SQUARE—Cafe offers sandwiches, including smoked salmon and pork tenderloin, as well as salads and desserts. Closed Sun. 114 N. Main. 457-7526. L, D, $

OUT-OF-TOWN

BOZO’S HOT PIT BAR-B-Q—Barbecue, burgers, sandwiches, and subs. 342 Highway 70 (Mason, TN). 901-294-3400. L, D, $-$$

CITY GROCERY—Southern eclectic cuisine; shrimp and grits is a specialty. Closed for dinner Sun. 152 Courthouse Square (Oxford, MS). 662-232-8080. L, D, SB, $$-$$$

COMO STEAKHOUSE—Steaks cooked on a hickory charcoal grill are a specialty here. Upstairs is an oyster bar. Closed Sun. 203 Main St. (Como, MS). 662-526-9529. D, $-$$$

ELFO GRISANTI’S NORTHERN ITALIAN CUISINE—Grisanti family classics like lasagna, homemade ravioli, garlic bread, and Northern Italian pizza. Closed Sun. 5627 Getwell Rd. (Southaven, MS). 662-4704497. L, D, $-$$

MANILA FILIPINO RESTAURANT—Entrees include pork belly cutlet with lechon sauce, and shrimp and vegetables in tamarind broth; also daily combos, rice dishes, and chef specials. Closed Sun.-Mon. 7849 Rockford (Millington, TN). 209-8525. L, D, $

MARSHALL STEAKHOUSE—Rustic steakhouse serves premium Angus beef steaks, seafood dishes, rack of lamb, and more. 2379 Highway 178 (Holly Springs, MS). 628-3556. B, L, D, $-$$$

MEMPHIS BARBECUE COMPANY—Offers spare ribs, baby backs, and pulled pork and brisket. 709 Desoto Cove (Horn Lake, MS). 662-536-3762. L, D, $-$$

PIG-N-WHISTLE—Offers pork shoulder sandwiches, wet and dry ribs, catfish, nachos, and stuffed barbecue potatoes. 6084 Kerr-Rosemark Rd. (Millington, TN). 872-2455. L, D, $

SAINT LEO—Offering sophisticated pizzas, pastas, sandwiches, and salads. A James Beard nominee for Best New Restaurant in 2017. 1101 Jackson (Oxford, MS). 662-234-4555. D, L, WB, $-$$

SIMON’S—A unique dining experience situated in a charming small town. Closed Sun./Mon. 201 N. Main St. (Bolivar, TN). 731403-3474. L, D, $$-$$$$

SNACKBAR—An intriguing mix of “French Bistro with North Mississippi Cafe.” Serving a confit duck Croque Monsieur, watermelon-cucumber chaat, pan-fried quail, plus a daily plate special and a raw bar. 721 N. Lamar (Oxford, MS). 662-236-6363. D, $-$$$

TEKILA MODERN MEXICAN—Modern interpretations of classic dishes from all over Mexico. 6343 Getwell Rd. (Southaven, MS). 662-510-5734. B, L, D, $-$$

WILSON CAFE—An impressive culinary destination in the heart of the Arkansas Delta. Serving jambalaya, Waygu flatiron, butternut ravioli, swordfish & shrimp kabobs, burgers. 2 N. Jefferson (Wilson, AR). 870-655-0222. L, D, WB, $-$$$

CASINO TABLES

Missing Elvis

Ninety years after his arrival, the King remains a presence.

BY FRANK MURTAUGH

Imiss Elvis Presley this time of year. The older I get — currently 55 — the younger Elvis was (42) when he died. So yes, Elvis Week — be it January or August — grabs my heartstrings, from the tribute artists to the candlelight vigil, from the random t-shirts (Elvis with Bigfoot?) to the Elvis Presley 5K … a distance I’m rather certain the King never ran himself. ere’s irony, of course, in “missing” Elvis Presley, as his presence — particularly in Memphis, Tennessee — couldn’t be greater, even if he were alive and well at age 90.

Elvis was a meteor. All of 23 years passed between the day he first walked into Sun Studio (in 1954) and the day he died at Graceland (in 1977). Compared with the performing and recording life span of the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, or even my band of choice, KISS, “the Elvis Presley years” were the entertainment equivalent of a novella: just enough of a teaser to make you want more story, more adventure, more thrills.

I grew up with an Elvis story, as my dad met him (in the basement of Katz Drug Store) in September 1956, just a few days after Presley’s appearance on  e Ed Sullivan Show, among the moments that made this particular meteor soar. Dad was but 14 when they shook

hands, Elvis only 21. When I first listened to Elvis songs as a child, I was listening to a King my dad knew. at’s the way I saw things.

August 16, 1977, is among the earliest days of my life I can distinctly remember. I was 8 years old and my family had recently returned to the States after a year in Italy. We were visiting my grandmother — Dad’s mom — at her Central Gardens home when news broke, first that Elvis had been rushed to Baptist Memorial Hospital, then that the most famous man on the planet (maybe second to Muhammad Ali) had died. is was my first experience with death, someone I “knew” … dying. Even at a still-tender age, I knew 42 years was not a long life.

“As long as a man has the strength to dream, he can redeem his soul and fly.”

Elvis, of course, has lived beyond the dates on his famous tombstone. A recent, much-talked-about movie makes that quite clear. My daughter, Elena, is not a moviegoer, but she made time from a busy work schedule in the summer of 2022 to see director Baz Luhrmann’s  Elvis with me. (“Elena, you and Elvis are both from Memphis, and you both have five-letter names that start with E-L.”  Eye roll.) My older daughter, Sofia, took a picture of Elvis with her to New England for four years of college, a photo that can now be found at her apartment in Honolulu. She’s also been spotted in a dress adorned with Elvis imagery from the movie Jailhouse Rock. Aloha from Hawaii, indeed. e point is that Elvis has found life among multiple generations since 1977, and there’s no indication his popularity has plateaued. (Remember, Elvis Presley has now been gone longer than he lived.) e only candlelight vigil I’ve experienced in full — with Sofia in 2016 — was under a Biblical rainstorm.  But nobody went home. The line didn’t move … until the Graceland gates were finally opened. We had our ponchos to stay somewhat dry, and a kind couple from Sweden lit our candles as we walked up the driveway to the meditation garden, to pay our respects. Sure, it was somber strolling past a man’s grave. But it was also, somehow, energizing. is one man, in merely 42 years, left a mark we choose to honor every August … deluge or dry.

I grew up loving “Hound Dog,” “Jailhouse Rock,” and “Burning Love.” But my favorite Elvis song has become “If I Can Dream.” “As long as a man has the strength to dream, he can redeem his soul and fly.”  Elvis famously sang this during his ’68 Comeback Special, and I’m not sure his voice sounds more alive in any other recording. So yes, I miss Elvis this time of year. But when I find myself dreaming, as we all do, I often think of him. And that helps me fly.

Imagine having a transitional living space to enjoy the best of the outdoors in your own backyard. With Phantom Screens, it’s possible. Fully customizable and professionally installed, Phantom Screens appear at the touch of a button and provide fresh air without worrying about bugs, reduce solar heat gain, manage daylight & UV, and create all-season outdoor living spaces. They preserve your home’s design and won’t get in the way of your view by retracting completely out of sight when not in use.

Phantom’s motorized dual roller system with vinyl & mesh.

Shown: vinyl panels are in use, while mesh panels are retracted out of sight.

Shown: mesh panels are in use, while clear vinyl panels are retracted out of sight.

THE X5

THE EVOLUTION OF VERSATILITY HAS ARRIVED.

This isn’t merely about the power packed BMW X5. It’s about the evolution of a vehicle built to conquer everything from everyday excursions to once in a lifetime adventures. With its striking exterior styling, interior enhancements like the innovative curved display, and with three powerful engine options, the BMW X5 is an invitation to begin an exciting new journey. Whether you’re on busy city streets or navigating rugged mountain roads, the BMW X5 delivers.

This is the Ultimate Driving Machine®. Contact a Client Advisor at Roadshow BMW to schedule a test drive today.

The Ultimate Driving Machine®