Memphis Magazine, May 2017 by Contemporary Media

Memphis • THE CITY MAGAZINE • W W W.MEMPHISMAGAZINE.COM

DESTINATION DINING | GRACELAND’S GUEST HOUSE | DISCOVERY PARK | MEMPHIS IN MAY | JOYCE COBB

THE CITY MAGAZINE

VOL XLII NO 2 | M AY 2 01 7

THE STAYCATION ISSUE

USA $4.99

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DISPLAY UNTIL JUNE 10, 2017

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“Your guidance was gentle…the entire process was beautiful. You exceeded all our expectations.” Words from a family who experienced the Memphis Funeral Home difference. In fact, Memphis Funeral Home has been ranked in the top 3% of all funeral homes nationwide for its quality of service. This excellence in service is available at both locations. 5599 Poplar Avenue • 3700 North Germantown Road • 901-725-0100

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VOL XLII NO 2 | MAY 2017

THE STAYCATION ISSUE 58

50 Up Front 12 14 18 20 22 24

in the beginning spotlight fine print city journal front & center out and about

Memphis (ISSN 1622-820x) is published monthly for $15 per year by Contemporary Media, Inc., P.O. Box 1738, Memphis, TN 38101 © 2017. Telephone: 901-521-9000. For subscription info, please call 901521-9000. Subscription customer service mailing address is Memphis magazine, P.O. Box 1738, Memphis, TN 38101. All rights reserved. • Periodicals Postage Paid at Memphis, TN. Postmasters: send address changes to Memphis, P.O. Box 1738, Memphis, TN 38101.

on the cover: The Levitt Shell PHOTOGRAPH BY BRANDON DILL

70 Features

28 What a Wonderful World

Forty years after coming to Memphis, jazz singer Joyce Cobb is still chasing her dreams. ~ by jane schneider

38 One Night With You

The extraordinary Guest House at Graceland is nowhere near Lonely Street. ~ by frank murtaugh

44 Unlikely Discovery

The Discovery Park of America brings the world to Union City. ~ by chris mccoy

50 Off the Beaten Path

Here’s your culinary roadmap to four nearby destinations where road food rules. ~ by pam denney

58 Hog Wild

Redneck Bar-B-Q Express celebrates 40 years of fun at Memphis in May. ~ by shara clark

70 great homes A Perfect Fit

A Hein Park home serves as a showcase for the designs of Rachael Ray.

~ by anne cunningham o’neill

104 Columns

92 pet guide

More Than Man’s Best Friend Service animals are more than pets — they save lives. ~ by shara clark

100 ask vance

Siena College Our trivia expert solves local mysteries of who, what, when, where, why, and why not. ~ by vance lauderdale

102 garden variety

Gate to Gardening The Cooper-Young Garden Walk showcases local gardens with lots of personality.

~ by christine arpe gang

104 city dining

Tidbits: DWJ 2 in Cooper-Young; plus the city’s most extensive dining listings.

112 last stand

The Unexplained A song from a hidden place can fill the heart with longing. ~ by marilyn sadler M AY 20 17 • MEMPHISM AG A ZINE.COM • 7

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BONUS STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE SINCE 1950

In This Issue

CRYE-LEIKE, REALTORS

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

real estate ALL-STARS

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

VICKI BLACKWELL

JERRY LUCIUS

MARK SALLER

GAY YOUNG

YOUR TRUSTED REAL ESTATE ADVISOR. With over 30 years in Real Estate, Vicki is Vice President and Managing Broker with Crye-Leike Realtors. A Lifetime Member of the Multi-Million Dollar Club, Vicki has taken an active role in the real estate industry, serving on the Realtor Political Action Committee, The Grievance Committee, and Past President of the Young Realtors Group. She is a Certified Real Estate Specialist. Vicki received the Lion Heart Award for Volunteer Service for Youth Villages and served as two-term Race Director for the YV5K Run. In 2014 she established BARC, Blackwell Animal Rescue Center, a 501(c)(3) Charitable Organization to rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome abused and abandoned animals. Over 750 dogs and cats rescued since the beginning. In 2016 she was awarded the Rotary-Paul Harris Fellow Award as recognition for exceptional service. Vicki is licensed in Tennessee and Mississippi.

ONE OF MY specific areas of interest, focus and concentration is New Home Sales. Particularly, for Baby Boomers and Empty Nesters, who are Down-sizing or Right-sizing. The Real Estate Market is fast changing for this age group, with new trends, designs, and even subdivision specific, by catering to their needs and wants, especially for this Clientele. Builders and Developers in Shelby County and Fayette County are addressing these needs by building “all on one level” or even adding a grandkids playroom up. More specifically Collierville TN and Oakland TN have subdivisions that are specifically targeted to Baby Boomers. Please call for more details and floorplan specific information. It was not long ago when the news media made a Big Deal out of the youngest Baby Boomers had just turned 50.

A NATIVE MEMPHIAN with 30 years of real estate experience, Mark is currently representing Memphis Invest Group and sales manager for Premier Realty Group. Ranked the number-1 top-selling agent three years in a row with 1,800 sales over the last seven years, averaging 260 sales per year, Mark Saller is ranked as one of the top-selling agents in The Memphis Area Association of Realtors. Licensed in Tennessee and Mississippi, he served on both the ethics committee and professional standards committee and has served as a past chairman of The Realtors Political Action Committee. Call Mark for all your real estate needs.

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GAY YOUNG IS one of the most well-respected and sought-after real estate agents in the Memphis and North Mississippi areas for both buying and selling homes. A resident of Collierville, Gay is involved in both community and church activities and is a Realtor resource for the many clients and contacts she calls “friends.” After a successful 20+ year career in the medical field in marketing, management and sales, Gay went to work fulltime in real estate with Keller Williams Realty, the largest real estate company in the World. Earning the Lifetime Member of the Multi-Million Dollar Club designation in record time, Gay works diligently to serve her clients’ best interests in their home purchase or sale. Energetic, professional and a top-notch negotiator with integrity are words to describe Gay’s style of taking care of clients. REAL Trends recognizes Gay as one of the top Realtors in America.

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RE A L E S TAT E A LL S TA RS page 79 Profiles of the leading realtors in the Memphis area.

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Go Red For Women

Memphis Magazine’s

THE 2017

FACE

THE A MERIC A N HE A RT ASSOCI ATION CONTIN UES TO BAT TLE HE A RT DISE ASE .

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“Eighty percent of cardiovascular disease is preventable through a healthy lifestyle,” says Kim Cherry, senior vice president of communications for First Tennessee and the chair of the 2017 Go Red for Women campaign in Memphis. “It is so important for us to do whatever we can to not only raise awareness of this health threat among women, but also to educate women about the healthy habits necessary to live a heart-healthy life.” Since last summer, Cherry and fellow campaign leaders have been fundraising and planning for the 2017 Go Red for Women

ORIENTAL RUGS

Luncheon, which will take place on Thursday, June 1st, at the Great Hall and Conference Center in Germantown. “Through the Go Red for Women luncheon, the American Heart Association educates female leaders in the Mid-South on risks associated with heart disease and shares simple tips for living a heart-healthy life,” Cherry says. “Our guests are then able to take and share that knowledge with other women in their lives as they return to the workplace and home.” Doors open at 11 a.m. with a Wellness Expo

GO RED F OR WOMEN

2016 Go Red for Women chair Monica Wharton, senior vice president and chief legal counsel for Regional One Health, and 2017 campaign chair Kim Cherry, executive vice president of corporate communications for First Horizon National Corporation.

featuring CPR training, health messaging, and screenings. Makeup artists from Macy’s, a national sponsor of the Go Red for Women campaign, will provide free mini-makeovers. The campaign is also sponsored nationally by CVS Health. Local sponsors include the First Tennessee Foundation, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, Cigna, Caesar’s Entertainment, Regional One Health, Ring Container Technologies, and the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Media sponsors include Local 24 Cares, La Prensa Latina, Entercom and Contemporary Media, Inc. The luncheon program includes education on heart health and culminates with a survivor’s testimony and survivor fashion show, which is presented by Macy’s.

pages 80-88 Our guide to the American Heart Association’s annual campaign.

For more information on the Go Red for Women Luncheon, visit memphisgored.heart. org or call 901-248-7954.

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SELETHA M. TUCKER, BS, MS

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Makeila Clements, Branch Manager at Trojan Labor Memphis, is very familiar with maintaining a healthy heart. Cardiovascular disease runs throughout her family. In and out of the workplace, she is the type of person who is easy to love and a driven professional who has a great personality. As Clements mother would say, “Baby, you never know who is looking at you so always carry yourself in a respectable and beautiful way.”

to others who desire to have a ghostwriter for that special book they have longed to write. She has a master’s degree in education and works as a middle school teacher in Memphis.

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WOMEN EMPOW ERED pages 90-91 Profiles of dynamic businesswomen in the Memphis area.

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Coming in August

The “WOW” Effect - We can create it for you!

CIT Y GUIDE

C E L E BR AT IN G

Memphis • THE CITY MAGA ZINE • W W W.MEMPHISMAGA ZINE.COM

40 YEARS

THE CITY MAGAZINE

The ultimate resource for living in the MidSouth features the widely read “Who’s Who” in Memphis.

VOL XLI NO 5 | AUGUST 2016

CITY GUIDE 2016

USA $4.99

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8 • MEMPHISM AG A ZINE.COM • M AY 20 17

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Memphis T H E CIT Y M AG AZIN E

General Excellence Grand Award Winner City and Regional Magazine Association 2007, 2008, 2010, 2014

PUBLISHER/EDITOR kenneth neill EXECUTIVE EDITOR michael finger MANAGING EDITOR frank murtaugh SENIOR EDITOR shara clark ARTS & LIFESTYLE EDITOR anne cunningham o’neill FASHION EDITOR augusta campbell FOOD EDITOR pamela denney CONTRIBUTING EDITORS john branston,

tom jones, vance lauderdale, amy lawrence EDITORIAL OPERATIONS ASSOCIATE sam cicci

CREATIVE DIRECTOR brian groppe PRODUCTION OPERATIONS DIRECTOR margie neal SENIOR ART DIRECTOR carrie beasley ADVERTISING ART DIRECTOR christopher myers GRAPHIC DESIGNERS jeremiah matthews,

bryan rollins PHOTOGRAPHY brandon dill, justin fox burks,

christy hunter, kim thomas, chip pankey, don perry, andrea zucker

SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES joy bateman,

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published by contemporary media, inc. memphis, tn 901-521-9000 p • 901-521-0129 f subscriptions: 901-521-9000

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER kenneth neill CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER molly willmott CONTROLLER ashley haeger DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT jeffrey a. goldberg EDITORIAL DIRECTOR bruce vanwyngarden DIGITAL MANAGER kevin lipe SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER Matthew Preston DISTRIBUTION MANAGER lynn sparagowski EMAIL MARKETING MANAGER britt ervin IT DIRECTOR joseph carey ACCOUNTING ASSISTANT celeste dixon RECEPTIONIST kalena mckinney

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4/19/17 9:24 AM

IN THE BEGINNING | by kenneth neill

A Mirror for Memphis in May? Why we should also celebrate our city’s blessings in October.

or four decades now, the merry, merry month of May has occupied a central place on Memphians’ annual to-do list, thanks largely to the efforts of untold thousands of our fellow citizens who donate hours and days beyond counting to put together the city’s biggest annual festival.

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Memphis in May has created two key lynch- season, and many locals scurry hither and yon pins of our city’s social calendar — the Beale following their favorite SEC team wherever it Street Music Festival and the World Champion- goes. But really: There are plenty of us who ship Barbecue Cooking Contest — not to men- don’t go anywhere. Why not develop some tion the celebratory events every year honoring kind of “October in Our Own Backyard” fesa particular foreign country (this year it’s Colom- tival (yes, it needs a better name), creating bia, with the international gala the same kind of wonderful on May 12th). And while many weekend events that Memof us miss the Sunset Symphophis in May has been rolling out on our behalf since 1977? ny, the new 901Fest, created to be an annual celebration of Instead, these days we hear ourselves, promises over time weird rumblings, as we go to to become an equally emphatic press, that the city’s powersthat-be intend to take the traexclamation point at the end of the month that Memphis has ditional (and logical) closing made famous. of Riverside Drive during Since most of us stick May’s event-full celebrations around town during May — and extend them through Labor Day. Plans evidently the weather is usually splendid — we at Memphis realize are in place to close large secthat May is an ideal time to tions of the street all through focus our editorial energies the desperately miserable May 1978 upon exploring the Memphis Memphis summer. That makes about as much sense as opening hinterland. In this month’s magazine, therefore, you’ll find lots of information about places an outdoor tanning salon in Siberia in January. you probably don’t know lots about. Who in their right mind wants to play pick-up I bet not all of you are aware of the fact that basketball or roller-skate on Riverside Drive a major $80 million cultural museum attracts in mid-August, when a cool day is in the low a million visitors annually outside Union City, 90s? We have had more than our share of halfTennessee, just two hours away up Highway baked downtown development schemes over 51 (see page 44). Then again, I’m certain that the decades, but this one, Mayor Strickland, hardly anyone reading this is familiar with takes that concept to a whole new level. This all four of the restaurants “out in the country” one’s fully baked. My view of all things in life is that you play that we feature this month as our destination-dining discoveries (see page 50). For that with the cards you’re dealt, as best you can. If matter, you don’t even need to get out of town you’re Memphis, you deal with meteorologito discover something new. Check out the new cal reality. Listen to nature: Accept that the overnight digs at Graceland (see page 38). Or concept of outdoor recreation in Memphis in just hang out around the house, and go listen July and August is something of an oxymoron. to the legendary Joyce Cobb at Boscos at Sun- Closing down Riverside Drive in the summer day brunch in Overton Square (see page 28). to allow folks to frolic outdoors sounds like a May is already special, but grumpy concept someone in a place like Saskatchewan curmudgeon that I am, I have long wondered — or Siberia — might have dreamed up. why we’ve never fully developed the oh-soI’m not opposed whatsoever to the periodic obvious concept of doing an autumnal version closing of Riverside Drive. But I’m also comof Memphis in May, yes, in the merry, merry pletely in favor of developing a parallel festival in month of October. Why do that? The answer is October downtown that mirrors what Memphis obvious. October is autumn’s mirror image of in May does so magnificently. That would give Memphis in May. Generally beautiful, halfway future editors of this magazine another month’s cool, it too is a great month to be outdoors. worth of real local excitement that may well And yet we as a city do very little to make merit two “Stay-Cation” issues every year. Kenneth Neill October a community focal point. Yes, I know, publisher/editor October is the middle of the college football

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4/12/17 9:08 AM

SPOTLIGHT | Nicole Miller at Memphis Fashion Week | April 5-8, 2017 | photography by KIM THOMAS 1

emphis Fashion Week 2017 staged a major coup this year: a personal visit by headlining New York designer, Nicole Miller. The events surrounding her participation started with a Thursday night Preview Party at Chickasaw Oaks Plaza where she mingled with VIP guests at Kittie Kyle. The next day the fashion faithful gathered at the beautiful Hunt and Polo Club for an elegant springtime luncheon honoring the designer. Later that evening, her fashion show was the main event at the newly rejuvenated Crosstown Concourse. All of the activity was in fantastic taste. For an in-depth interview with Nicole Miller, please see page 22. — Augusta Campbell

1 Abby Phillips, director of Memphis Fashion Week, with Nicole Miller at the Hunt and Polo Club. 2 Nicole Miller (center) with this year’s Emerging Memphis Designers. 3 This red stunner from Nicole Miller’s 2017 Spring line steals the show. 4 (from L-R) Kim Perry, Cristina Blesa, Nikki Bickerstaff, Natasha Fizdale, Mary Conley, Faune Randolph, Molly Wexler, Carie McPhail, and Sabine Langer. The two blonde ladies in the back are (L-R) Debbie Wallace and Carol Duffy. 5 (L to R) Lindsey Widick, an Emerging Designer, and Zoe Vu enjoy the first night of fashion shows. Zoe was one of the winners from last year’s Emerging Designer competition. 6 A model floats down the runway in Spring 2017 Nicole Miller. 7 Eric Evans, graphic designer and owner of Sachë on South Main. Eric designs the MFW logo every year, and the T-shirts commemorating the weekend event are always the hottest item. 8 (from L to R) Augusta Campbell, Kelly Lamberson, Kendall Ligon, Stefanie Fisher, Emily Dunn, Lacey Sinnott, and Courtenay McAllister.

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4/20/17 2:47 PM

SPOTLIGHT | Inside Memphis Business Power Players Reception | Folk’s Folly Prime Steak House | April 5, 2017 photography by DON PERRY 1

nside Memphis Business magazine hosted its annual Power Players reception at Folk’s Folly Steak House. The Power Players issue strives to showcase those at the forefront of business achievement in Memphis, representing individuals in industries including banking, finance, law, marketing, philanthropy, and many more. Over 100 successful business people attended the event, sponsored by Travelennium, and were treated to complimentary wine and hors d’oeuvres, while new IMB editor Jon W. Sparks introduced himself to the crowd. If you’re looking to meet the movers and shakers of Memphis, there’s no better place to be than the IMB Power Players reception. – Samuel Cicci

1 Joe Greer, Estella Mayhue-Greer (president and CEO, Mid-South Food Bank), and Steve Ehrhart 2 Robin Colwell (campus director, Memphis campus, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide) and Rob Williams 3 Richard L. Fisher (CEO, Chickasaw Council of the Boy Scouts of America) and Austin Baker (president, HRO Partners) 4 Maurice and Anita Lockridge 5 Christina Babu and Whitney Albert 6 Brian Mounce and Angelo Hamilton 7 Margot Ferster, Chris Byrd, and June West (executive director, Memphis Heritage) 8 Inside Memphis Business editor Jon W. Sparks 9 Randy Noel, Chip Forrester, and Kathleen Mooney

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4/19/17 9:09 AM

FINE PRINT

“Good morning, America, how are you?” Not so hot, if The City of New Orleans gets derailed.

o now President Trump wants to do away with that perennial whipping boy, Amtrak, and times being what they are, there is a good chance that this may finally happen. But it would be a crying shame for Memphis, for practical as well as sentimental reasons. A one-way ticket to New Orleans costs $68, or $152 for a mini-sleeper “roomette” with seats that fold into a kinda comfy cot. The scheduled departure is 6:50 a.m. True, there is likely to be some adjustment there, but if you live in Downtown or Midtown you can wait it out in the comfort of your own place. And if fortune is with you, the train arrives in New Orleans in plenty of time for dinner. There are no security checkpoints, no pat-downs, no takeoff-your-shoes. You can bring booze and food on board plus all the baggage you want, hole up in your roomette, and get pleasantly buzzed. Granted, the trip to New Orleans takes nine to eleven hours, compared to

seven hours driving on Interstate 55. But that’s not too bad compared to a f light that goes through Atlanta, requires you to be at the airport at dawn, endure the lines and indignities, and pay four times the price for a tiny seat. On a recent trip to Hammond — the last stop before New Orleans, and closer to my destination on the Mississippi Coast — I boarded the train at 7:14 after two emails announcing slight schedule changes kept me on my toes. A friendly porter was waiting at Car 5900 and checked off my name. My room was clean and more spacious than a first-class airplane seat, with bottled water and fat pillows. The train lurched out of Memphis a few minutes

hour for no apparent reason. Delater, horn blowing tolerably at every crossing. pending on which schedule you I hustled to the dining car consult and what day you consult for breakfast of coffee, juice, it, the City of New Orleans stops hashbrowns, roll, a cheese omin Jackson for two hours or two elet, and sausage. An attendant minutes. “Either way it leaves at seated me at a table with three 1:20,” the porter shrugged. other passengers. I gripped my Such is train travel. Lunch was served at noon, with a coffee cup and remarked that the train swayed considerably. choice of beef stew or fish in“Try sleeping,” my seatmate cluded in my $142 fare. Next time I will brown-bag it. But said, eyes rolling. He had boardonce again the company was ed back in upstate Illinois. great. The doc and I were But it was a sunny, beautiful morning, and soon we were joined by a Tennessee woman, gabbing away about emergenalso a doctor as we would soon cy medicine (his specialty) and learn, wearing a green shirt empestering people for interviews blazoned with an “H” for Ha(mine). We bonded over shared waii, where she was headed. For tastes in travel, music of the the next hour we talked about Sixties, writer Richard Brautithe Kona Coast, ob-gyn pracgan, and movies about Indiana tice in rural West Tennessee, (Hoosiers and Breaking Away). The the availability of abortions and other passengers excused themopioids, railroad trivia (Fulton, selves, and for nearly an hour Kentucky was once the junction we had the dining car pretty for the banana trade for all of much to ourselves, coffee and North America), and the merits more chow on demand, thank of Jackson and New Orleans. you. Try that on Delta. The porter leaned in to anThe A mtrak swer our quesMy room was clean marketing team tions about and more spacious does the best it train speed (80 mph tops) and can to highlight than a first-class S outher n sp e unexplained airplane seat, with c i a lt ie s a lo ng delays (freight t h e w ay, b ut trains rule). A bottled water and truthfully there couple f rom fat pillows. is not much to Wales came by look at besides green trees, and sang the praises of Membrown f ields where cotton phis and Delta Blues. It was civilized, enlightening, and and soybeans will sprout, and muddy streams. In Greenwood pleasant. Not until 4 p.m. did the train a sign on one of the many battered abandoned buildings said finally roll into the lovely (re“Don’t Bother.” Yazoo City and ally) Hammond train station. I Flora were not much better. could have made it three hours Jackson was the halfway point earlier in my car, but I would to my Hammond destination, have missed something. Something we will all probaand things got a little confusing bly miss, soon enough. here. There was a stop of half an

PHOTOGRAPH BY SGOODWIN4813 | DREAMSTIME

by john branston

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Think of it as a URWell: MethodistHealth.org/PrimaryCare Whether it’s online or at any of the nearly 30 Methodist Medical Group Primary Care offices around Memphis, you’ll find primary care reimagined. Our physicians and supporting care team members serve as guides for all of your health care needs — offering comprehensive care throughout our extensive network of physicians.

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4/19/17 6:04 PM

CITY JOURNAL

Taken for Granted? by tom jones

o one in Memphis hears more ideas and criticisms, and gets more unsolicited advice, than Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland, but Jim Holt is a close second. As the president and CEO of Memphis in May International Festival, he gets second-guessed about the acts booked for the Beale Street Music Festival, listens to complaints about the layout of the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest, handles questions about eliminating the Sunset Symphony in favor of 901Fest, and fields suggestions to eliminate honored countries altogether. Holt accepts all this as a sign of the community’s ownership in the festival, which began 40 years ago with a total budget of $52,000 and modest attendance at a music festival at the corner of Beale and Third and the Sunset Symphony in little-used Tom Lee Park. Today, MIM’s operating budget is $8.5 million and attendance is more than 160,000, with most of that coming during the two behemoth events spotlighting music and barbecue. Today, Memphis in May board members sometimes feel taken for granted. They have often read in the news media about plans for Tom Lee Park or the riverfront

rather than getting a call from the Riverfront Development Commission or City of Memphis. For years, the festival has been portrayed as a villain blocking any improvements. One of these was landscaping “outdoor rooms” to improve Tom Lee Park’s pasture-like setting, and the media reported that Memphis in May opposed any changes there. When Jeff Speck, nationally known author and architect, was hired by the City of Memphis to review the more than 20 plans and reports about the riverfront and issue his recommendations, he backed the changes for Tom Lee Park. He also said that Mem-

phis in May wasn’t opposed, but that pales in comparison to the they were frustrated in not being $40 million budget of the New asked their opinion. Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. All of that is said to be chang(The single-day ticket at the gate for the seven-day Jazzfest is $80, ing now that Mayor Strickland’s office has taken over negoticompared to a single-day ticket ations and communications of $50 for the three-day festival from the RDC as part of the here.) mayor’s “Civic Commons” plan All in all, this creates an orto make the riverfront, from the ganization cautious about new Tennessee Visitors Center to events, because when they’ve Tom Lee Park, more connected added events — one for children at Audubon Park or a and active. Involving Memphis in May more deeply seems the food event downtown — they reasonable thing to do, since have not been money makers. Memphis in May has attracted The same might be said about more than two million people the designation of an honored to rediscover the riverfront in country each year. So far, there the past 15 years. have been 36 honored countries Today, the festival’s events (Japan, Canada, and the Netherproduce over $88 million in ecolands have been honored twice nomic impact each year, with the and the 20th year of the festival average visitor spending $539. honored all that were previousForty-four percent of visitors to ly named) and Colombia will be the barbecue cooking contest, celebrated this year. 42 percent of the music festival Today, there are many cities customers, 11 percent of the Great across the U.S. with internaAmerican River runners, and two tional festivals, but Memphis is percent of 901Fest participants unique in that it concentrates spend the night here. on a single country each year. For people long involved with Other cities have festivals that Memphis in May, are an amalgam history is divided of various culToday, the Memphis into two eras: pretures, food, and in May festival’s Holt and postmusic. Although main events produce Holt. During the spotlighting an honored counfirst half of the fesover $88 million in try here brings tival’s existence, it economic impact each little money to regularly f lirted with financial dithe bottom line, year, with the average saster. When Holt it is a founding visitor spending $539. pr i nciple for was hired in 1998 to save the festival, Memphis in May. its assets were only $10,000. UnForty years ago, beginning with der Holt’s management, Mema salute to Japan, it began as a phis in May spends its money way to encourage Memphis carefully as a result of memories to think globally and connect of pulling the festival from the to the international economy. brink at least three times, notaWhile some have suggested that bly from the disastrous military the country designation should tattoo at The Pyramid patterned be jettisoned, it is now about after the one in Edinburgh, as easy to imagine Memphis in May without barbecue as withScotland. Then, too, although its out its honored country budget is more than $8.5 million,

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY MEMPHIS IN MAY

Memphis in May is the city’s premier festival, but it may be time for a change.

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FRONT AND CENTER

Nicole Miller Talks Fashion with augusta campbell

orld-renowned fashion designer Nicole Miller was in town for the sixth annual Memphis Fashion Week, where her spring line walked the runway at the Crosstown Concourse on Friday night, April 7th. Earlier that day, she had been the guest of honor at a luncheon held at The Hunt & Polo Club to benefit the Memphis Fashion Fund. I was lucky enough to catch up with her there for an interview.

Nicole Miller is herself a timeless classic, with signature long red hair and porcelain skin and armed with a killer sense of style. She is witty, brilliant, and always looking for what’s next that will infuse her line with unique influences. She counts among her clients a lengthy list of celebrities (among them Eva Longoria, Susan Sarandon, Beyoncé, and Sheryl Crow) and her collections are known for their unparalleled fit, excellent construction, and singular use of textiles, pattern, and advanced fabric technology. “The best-dressed girls here in town were the ones that worked at the Nicole Miller boutique.” Those words came straight from Memphis Fashion Week board member Tate Wilson as she greeted me just a few minutes before I was scheduled to sit down with the designer for this interview. Ironically, I had worked there in the 1990s, with a fantastic crew of young women who had the opportunity to travel to New York City for fashion shows in Bryant Park and attend buying meetings in the designer’s showroom. Those days represent the beginning of my career in fashion. So this opportunity of interviewing the woman whom I once worked for was very special indeed. I know that you have been to Memphis several times. What do you particularly like about this town? Well, one thing is that I am a foodie, and Memphis certainly has great food. On past visits, Emily Williams Dunn (owner of former Memphis and Birmingham boutiques) would host great dinner parties for me. On this trip, I went to Catherine & Mary’s, Gus’s Fried Chicken, and Brother Juniper’s and ended up at Raiford’s for dancing. I’ve also been a guest at past Blues Balls and donated guitars with my designs for the auctions.

Nicole Miller PHOTOGRAPH BY KIM THOMAS | KPFUSION

These days you seem to be attending a handful of these smaller-market Fashion Week events. What’s the appeal for you? Yes, I am very busy because I think it is important to get out there and promote my collections across the country. This spring has been especially hectic since I have just visited Ft. Lauderdale and am heading from here to Los Angeles and then Dallas. It’s great for me to be out there regionally where I believe people can often be more receptive and welcoming. Traveling also gives me some downtime to enjoy Instagram, catch up on shows like Girls, and do some reading.

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What’s the biggest selling item in your line right now? We are still huge in cocktail dresses because of the precise fit. But, interestingly, we’ve developed a big following in blouses this year. The one thing we don’t do any more is bridesmaid dresses. We are very good at creating fashions that people will want to hang onto and will become collector’s items down the road. For instance, this year for the spring 2017 line, it’s a Panamanian theme inspired by vintage molas — the embroidered textiles — worn by the tribal Kuna women. Fashion has undergone so much change, and there is the constant question of “retail vs. online” buying. Where do you stand? Everyone’s business model is different. I feel like boutiques are still going to be very strong because people like to shop in them for their personal service and to be able to try clothing on, feel the textiles, and see the sewing details. I do buy things online, especially shoes, like my Kenzo boots I’m wearing. For me, the fit never changes. Tell me about your designers. I design myself, but of course I have assistants. Having young people around me keeps the brand fresh, and I like my clothes to have a youthful edge. I really love the skull pieces of jewelry that you are wearing, and your skirt is fantastic. Well, the skull jewelry is from different artists. Some pieces I have bought and others I have been gifted. I really like Jade Jagger’s work and jewelry by London’s The Great Frog. This skirt is from my collection, and it’s a cotton metallic that really goes with anything. It fits well, makes a woman look slimmer instantly, and is very comfortable. I wear it a lot. What’s coming up next for your line? My pre-fall and fall/winter 2017 collections taken together tell a story, which is something I really like to do. The former collection is inspired by New York City’s St. Mark’s Place and the latter is “gypsy grunge,” influenced by tarot cards and fortune-telling. You can follow Nicole Miller on Instagram @nicolemillernyc and purchase her clothing locally at Kittie Kyle at Chickasaw Oaks Village. M A Y 2 0 1 7 • M E M P H I S M A G A Z I N E . C O M • 23

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OU T A ND A BOU T | MAY

5.5-7

2017 | compiled by samuel cicci

Beale Street Music Festival

MIM Beale Street Music Festival

t’s back: Memphis’ biggest musical celebration returns with yet another stellar lineup. Big names such as Kings of Leon, Snoop Dogg, Death Cab for Cutie, and MGMT are backed up by an eclectic mix of both local and national groups, so prepare for three wild days of excellent live shows from your favorite artists. Tom Lee Park, Memphis Riverfront memphisinmay.org

5.8

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers featuring Joe Walsh

Snoop Dogg

Artwork inspired by the hit video game franchise Street Fighter will be on display, while jazz band Reach will entertain guests with remixes of Street Fighter background music. Walk-in cosplayers are also encouraged to attend. Crosstown Arts, 430 N. Cleveland crosstownarts.org

5.13

Latino Memphis Festival

Celebrating the 40th anniversary of their ﬁrst album, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers bring hits like “Learning to Fly,” “American Girl,” and “Breakdown” to Memphis. The heartland rock icons are joined by special guest and former Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com. FedExForum, 191 S. Beale St. fedexforum.com

Get a taste of Colombia without leaving the 901’s backyard. Hosted at Overton Park, Latino Memphis provides a full array of family-friendly Colombian activities, including arts and crafts, kid’s games, interactive soccer demonstrations, and

salsa dance lessons. Check out the outdoor marketplace to meet vendors and learn ways to connect with community organizations. And, the physically inclined can kick off the festival with the Fiesta 5K. Overton Park, 1914 Poplar Ave. latinomemphis.org

5.13-14

Blue Angels at the Memphis Air Show

The best aviators in the country will grace Memphis with their piloting skills as the U.S. Navy Blue Angels head the Memphis Air Show. Formed in 1946, the Blue Angels are the country’s second oldest ﬂying aerobatic

contin u ed on page 2 6

5.13

Frame Taps: Street Fighter Exhibition

For those interested in art and gaming, don’t miss out on Crosstown Arts’ newest exhibit.

Tom Petty

Levitt Shell 24 • M E M P H I S M A G A Z I N E . C O M • M A Y 2 0 1 7

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OU T A ND A BOU T

EAT

contin u ed from page 24

Blue Angels team and wow crowds with a dazzling selection of aerial maneuvers in the iconic F/A-18 Hornets. The air show also features performances from U.S. Navy Leap Frogs and displays from other aircraft like the P-51 Mustang and the F-4U Corsair. Memphis-Millington Airport, 8101 Hornet Ave. memphisairshow.org

PLAY STAY

BBQ Fest

5.20

Memphis in May Barbecue Fest

What’s one of the things Memphis does better than the rest of the country? Barbecue, obviously, and Memphis in May’s Barbecue Fest brings together the best of the best to delight the city with ribs, pulled pork, and a plethora of delicious goodies. Teams will grill with all their might to claim the Best Barbecue title, and of course, no one wants to miss out on the Ms. Piggie Idol singing contest. Tom Lee Park memphisinmay.org

5.27

901Fest

If giant crowds and mainstream artists aren’t your thing, Memphis in May rounds out the month with a more local selection. 901Fest celebrates performers, artists, and vendors that all ply their trade in the 901 at a familyfriendly event. Come out for great food and witness an air and ﬁreworks show to see off Memphis’ biggest monthlong celebration. Tom Lee Park memphisinmay.org

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6.1

Gedeon Luke & The People

As the merry month of May comes to a close, the Levitt Shell picks up the slack with the return of its summer concert series. Memphis soulman Gedeon Luke calls on inﬂuencers Sly Stone, Curtis Mayﬁeld, and the Rolling Stones to sing and bring love, peace, and soul to the world. Levitt Shell, 1928 Poplar Ave. levittshell.org

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What’s Haute Central BBQ was voted “Best BBQ Ribs, Sandwich & Food Truck” in Memphis magazine’s 2017 restaurant poll. Visit Central BBQ for competitionstyle ribs and BBQ. 4375 Summer Ave., 901.767.4672; 2249 Central Ave., 901.272.9377; 147 Butler Ave., 901.672.7760.

This diamond and platinum estate ring with kiteshaped sapphires was haute in 1920 and still haute today. Van Atkins Jewelers, located in historic downtown New Albany, MS. 1.866.VANATKINS; vanatkins.com.

Celebrate Mother’s Day with an ice-cream cake from Baskin-Robbins! Our special occasions cakes are sure to put a smile on your mom’s face. Visit one of our local locations and pick up a cake today! www.baskinrobbins.com.

VSA Designs exclusively in Germantown at More Than Words. Shown: San Benito Magdelana necklace handcrafted in San Miguel de Allende Mexico. $268. 2123 West St.; 901.755.4388; www.morethanwords.com.

The Art of Dining in Memphis 3 is now available at Make a statement with this ring from the Yellow Fire Collection set with a center row of yellow diamonds the Lucky Duck Gift shop located in the Peabody accented with a white diamond border. The collection Hotel. joysartofdining.com. also includes matching bangle and circle pendant. Jewelers’ Choice, Inc.; 5100 Wheelis Drive #211; 901.763.0195; 800.264.4146; jewelerschoiceinc.com. SPECIAL ADVERT ISING SEC T ION

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WHAT A FORTY YEARS AFTER COMING TO MEMPHIS, JAZZ SINGER JOYCE COBB IS STILL CHASING HER DREAMS. ^6

by ja n e s c h n eider

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Sunday’s at Boscos: (l to r) Hank Sable, violin, Mark Weiss, scat, Joyce Cobb, vocals, Stan Jackson, ﬂute, and Jimmie Arnold, guitar. not pictured: Mike Adams, bass, and Steve Wachtell, sax. PHOTOGRAPHS BY BRANDON DILL

eith and Julie Schap graciously welcome a steady stream of guests into their home as musicians set up amps and guitars in the middle of their living room. The Schaps, who renovated their East Memphis house to accommodate their popular house concerts, feature four jazz sessions a year. A concert pianist, Julie is the artistic director for Concerts International, a chamber music series, and the couple’s living room reflects their passion. Shadowboxes filled with autographed playbills and photographs of Leonard Bernstein, Dave

Brubeck, and Frank Sinatra pepper the walls. The audience, an older East Memphis crowd, sips wine and visits as the band tunes up, many

stopping to say hello to jazz pianist Michael Jefry Stevens, and hug tonight’s featured singer, the legendary Joyce Cobb. The 71-year-old entertainer mixes among fans who clearly love and admire her. She greets some by name, laughing and trading quips. Dressed in a tunic of royal blue, the brilliant hue offsets her neatly cropped afro, now a snow-white halo that frames her familiar, radiant smile. She starts out playfully with Fats Waller’s “Honeysuckle Rose.” Her voice is bright and melodic, scatting against the piano line at times before turning husky and mournful, reflecting an honesty born of heartbreak and redemption. “B.B. King heard me sing once at Bill’s Twilight Lounge and said, ‘You’re a people’s entertainer.’ I didn’t understand what he meant until now,” says Cobb. “People feel they know me. I remember their faces and their stories. They give me their attention and support and love — and I give them my music.”

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ROOTS

hough now known as a jazz singer, Cobb’s musical knowledge runs deep and wide. Born June 2, 1945, in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, Cobb was reared in Nashville, where country music from the Grand Ole Opry often wafted from her grandmother’s

top: A portrait of Joyce around her ﬁrst birthday. above: Trading harmonica licks with a young fan at the Center for Southern Folklore. below: Joyce with Calvin Newborn and Rufus Thomas at the opening of her club, 1991.

PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY JOYCE COBB

COMING HOME

oyce Cobb has been giving Memphis her music for more than four decades now. Her persona is so much a part of the city’s musical fabric that we feel we know her. We listen to her on the radio, we watch her on stage, we celebrate her talent with awards and accolades — and she doesn’t even sing the blues. On this day Joyce is backed by bassist Sylvester Sample, a musician she played with early in her career, back when both were regulars at Bill’s Twilight Lounge on North Parkway. Cobb moved to Memphis from Nashville at a transitional time in the city’s history. In the mid-1970s, Beale Street sat boarded up, forlorn and forgotten; the handful of clubs that catered to the jazz crowd were fading as Lafayette’s in Overton Square declared itself the city’s new musical epicenter. But what Cobb discovered in Memphis that differed from Nashville was its hot buttered soul — music heavily laced with blues and jazz and R&B influences, further spiced by a talented pool of players eager to explore the music she loved. The singer was home.

PHOTOGRAPH BY JUDY PEISER

radio. Thanks to her father, Robert S. Cobb, a college professor at Tennessee State and an avid jazz collector, she grew to love Anita O’Day, Sarah Vaughan, and the Great American Songbook, a collection of pop and jazz standards from the early twentieth century. “Learn those songs and you’ll never be out of work,” her father advised. And so she did. Florence Cobb, her mother, was a passionate dance teacher and college instructor, exposing her children to classical music, piano lessons, and theater training. “God blessed me with some great parents,” says Cobb. She earned her B.A. from Central State University in Ohio and was working on a master’s degree in social work when an opportunity to play rock covers as part of a duo for the Ramada Hotel chain came up. She jumped at the chance. After a two-and-ahalf-year tour, Cobb returned to Nashville, confident that music was her destiny. She started singing country, working in radio and TV and entertaining at Opryland where she fronted a Dixieland jazz band, earning a Best Vocalist award in 1974. But while country music is what brought her to Memphis, jazz remained her soul.

JAZZ IN A TOWN OF BLUES

f blues is the raucous river that flows through Memphis, then jazz has long been a quieter eddy. Many ardent fans find that fact ironic given the many players who have come from Memphis. Such notable musicians as Charles Lloyd (saxophone), Phineas Newborn Jr. (piano), Jimmie Lunceford (piano), George Coleman (saxophone), Donald Brown (saxophone), Frank Strozier (saxophone), and Harold Mabern (piano) — all started here and went on to make a name for themselves nationally. Even keyboardist Charlie Wood, who kept jazz alive on Beale Street during the 1980s and 1990s with his Hammond organ trio at King’s Palace, eventually moved on to London. Bassist Tim Goodwin, an associate professor of jazz studies and commercial music at the University of Memphis who has played internationally, says local jazz musicians frequently must leave if they want to chase their dream. “When you’re looking to rise to that top tier, you must be in that location, like New York, to be available to rehearse and perform with a broader pool of talent.” Yet when Count Basie or Phineas Newborn came through Memphis to perform at Sunbeam Mitchell’s popular Club Paradise during the 1960s and 1970s, they often finished with a jam session at The Sharecropper. Here the finest local players could be heard. Other clubs like the Gay Hawk on Danny Thomas Boulevard and Bill’s Twi-

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light convinced Cobb that the city’s rich musical heritage offered what she needed to pursue her own dream without ever leaving town. Cobb came to Memphis to play country music for Stax. When her contract fell through (she was the last singer to be signed before the studio closed in 1976), she found her way to Shoe Productions, a commercial studio on Broad Avenue. “I was playing at the Holiday Inn on Union and McLean with organ player Jerry Peters when Wayne Crook of Shoe Productions came in one night and said, ‘Come to my studio and start w riting.” There she joined Al Bennett’s Cream Records. It was producer Andy Black who engineered as Cobb wrote and perfor med “Dig the Gold,” a record that reached #42 on Billboard’s Top 100 in 1980. Cobb then worked with Atlantic Records, releasing “Good to Me,” an LP hit that rose to #11 and spent 22 weeks on the charts. “I fell in love with the studio,” says Cobb of the experience. “It was 18 hours or sometimes all night, writing songs. The marketing wasn’t huge but I was learning about the recording world.” She would go on to write for Hi Records, working with record producer Willie Mitchell. It wasn’t long before Joyce added radio hosting to her credits in the mid-1980s, sharing her musical knowledge on WEVLFM 89.9. Station manager Judy Dorsey remembers first encountering Cobb on stage at the Schlitz Music Festival. “When I first heard Joyce, her voice drew me to her. When I finally saw her, she had this incredible energy and a huge voice. I became a fan right there.” When Cobb expressed interest, Dorsey was excited. “It was a big deal to have a star like Joyce working at this little 10-watt station.” But Cobb considered it an extension of doing what she loves to do: Share her music and knowledge with a broader audience. Thirty years later, Cobb continues to volunteer, entertaining listeners with her shows Voices, Songs for My Father, and World Music Dance Party. She also shares her knowledge by educating students at the University of Memphis, where she’s taught jazz vocals as an adjunct instructor for 25 years.

COBB CONTINUES

TO VOLUNTEER FOR

WEVL, ENTERTAINING

LISTENERS WITH HER

above: Touring Europe with pianist Michael Jefry Stevens and bassist Jonathan Wires. below: Joyce’s club on Beale.

SHOWS "VOICES," "SONGS FOR MY

FATHER," AND "WORLD

MUSIC DANCE PARTY."

HER NAME IN LIGHTS

s the 1980s continued, Cobb’s cache grew. She built a loyal local following and toured with Al Jarreau, Muddy Waters, and The Temptations. The 1990s, however, proved to be an emotional juggernaut filled with intense highs and lows. She toured Europe with blues singer Otis Clay, received a coveted brass note on Beale Street’s Walk of Fame as the “Queen of Jazz,” and three times was named Best Female Singer by the Memphis chapter of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. But the high-water mark of her career came April 1, 1992, with the opening of Joyce Cobb’s on Beale. The nightclub was the first to be named for a woman on the historic street and the prospect thrilled her.

“It was my job to run the music and I did a damn good job doing that. I remember packed nights, magical nights,” she recalls. “I remember Alan Balter [the former conductor of the Memphis Symphony] would play clarinet all night. He played a hell of a clarinet, too. He’d play with the Memphis Jazz Orchestra. … It was so wonderful. That was the most wonderful time of my life.” Yet Cobb gradually learned what many in bar management know: It’s a tough business to survive. Johnny Robertson, the owner of Alfred’s, also owned Cobb’s club, located at 209 Beale. While the responsibility for managing entertainment and promotions fell to Cobb, she wasn’t privy to the club’s financials. “It was music and it was selling liquor. That was my wake-up call, my kick in the head. It’s not about the music!” she says. “There were lots of nights I’d be crying, leaving defeated, not understanding how this game worked.” Then, as inexplicably as the club had opened, it closed three years later. Distraught, Cobb felt she’d let everyone down: the city, her fans, even herself. “It killed me. It killed my spirit; it killed my health. It was a terrible thing to be on this dream and then to have it taken away from you. It takes five years minimum to get a club going and I was given three — and then it was gone.” She descended into a deep depression. “I no longer wanted to have anything to do with Beale Street,” she confides. “It broke my heart.” M A Y 2 0 1 7 • M E M P H I S M A G A Z I N E . C O M • 31

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Cobb’s eventual return to music was prompted by a phone call one day from an old friend, record producer Willie Mitchell, who implored her to return to Royal Studios and write again for him. “He saved me,” Cobb admits. “And songwriting became my salvation, because I felt myself going under.” The work provided healing and things began to look up.

BUILDING COMMUNITY

PHOTOGRAPH BY BRANDON DILL

inding another regular place to play materialized in a Sunday job at Boscos in Overton Square in the fall of 2001. Joining Cobb was bass player Mike Adams and guitarist Jimmy Arnold, sidemen who’ve remained part of an ensemble that’s gradually expanded over the years. Arnold remembers “being scared out of my wits” the first time the three played together because Cobb’s musical repertoire was so vast.

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“I never knew what she’d pull out of the air,” says Arnold. “We’d go from playing Fats Waller to Smashing Pumpkins to Coltrane to Dylan — it was crazy. I created a notebook and when she called a song, I’d make a chart so I’d know what I was doing.” The group’s musical variety kept their performance spontaneous and fresh, bringing customers back for more. “Joyce is real and her loyalty to the crowd is extremely strong,” says Boscos co-owner Jerry Feinstone. “Plus, she’s so versatile. She really fit the bill.” As time passed, a community evolved between the band, the restaurant staff, and Sunday regulars. When Cobb was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2015, a fundraising effort was organized and many chipped in to help the singer through another difficult passage. Following several months of chemotherapy, Cobb says she is now cancer-free. Today her performance schedule continues to be varied, playing on a riverboat as an ambassador for Memphis music one day, and a fund-raising gala or retirement home the next. She expanded her repertoire yet again in the mid-2000s, taking to the stage to portray

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blues singer Bessie Smith and Billie Holiday to rave reviews. She also connects with musicians like her long-time pianist John Thomas (J.T.) Page, a collaboration that’s taken them to Europe. “It’s always an adventure playing with Joyce,” says Page. “She’s a free spirit. If she wants to go in another direction, you have to just hang onto her coattails for the ride.” “She’s got what musicians call big ears,” adds Tim Goodwin. “When she hears another player doing something, she’ll make it a part of what she sings, and being sensitive to players enables her to have those musical conversations.” When Cobb met Michael Jefry Stevens, another recording opportunity arose. An accomplished jazz pianist from New York, Stevens moved to Memphis in the mid-2000s and was taken with Cobb’s sultry voice. Ward Archer of Archer Records recorded the session in late 2009 and the CD, Joyce Cobb Trio, was the result. A collection of jazz standards, PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY JOYCE COBB

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Joyce (center, back row) with her mother, sister, and extended family in Minnesota.

it showcases her scat vocals. “That was the best use of Joyce’s voice,” says Archer. “She can sing anything but she’s exceptionally good at that.” The group then toured, sharing their jazz stylings with appreciative audiences in the Czech Republic, Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. “There’s nothing common about Joyce,” says Stevens. “She’s a lover of people — that’s one of her gifts — and it comes out in the music. Not only does she sing great, but she nurtures her audience. They loved her in Europe. It was unbelievable.” Along with Cobb’s generosity as a musician, her magnetic personality as an entertainer has caused other musicians to gravitate to her. When Cobb received a Women of Achievement award in 2002, fellow performer Reba Russell, who sang with Cobb and Wendy Moten as part of the Beale Street Divas, told The Commercial Appeal, “Joyce has always been an encouragement to anybody young or new or just starting out and has been one of my main inspirations in Memphis. I can’t think of enough accolades to lay on her. . . . She’s the Queen.”

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THE FUTURE OF JAZZ

PHOTOGRAPH BY ANDREA ZUCKER

n a Friday night in March, Cobb arrives at a rather unlikely venue for a queen: the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library on Poplar. As part of their “5 Fridays of Jazz,” the Levitt Shell has organized a free concert series and it’s standing room only as a diverse mix of families, young adults, and senior citizens fill the dimly lit rotunda to listen to jazz.

Joyce performs at the “5 Fridays of Jazz” series at Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library.

The music’s future in Memphis is ref lected in the Stax Jazz Ensemble and Rhodes College Jazz Band. As Cobb takes the stage, backed by the Rhodes College faculty players, she invites saxophonist Hope Clayburn and t r u mp ete r S h ayl a Jones to accompany her. Cobb believes in encouraging young players, and the results are magical. At one point, Cobb takes a harmonica solo, much to the delight of the audience. People wave their arms and give her a standing ovation at the end of the number. “Joyce is who I want to be when I grow up,” says Clayburn. “There’s never a time you go see her that you won’t have a good time or be amazed. She’s a big inspiration.” Music has taken Joyce Cobb on a glorious ride. What the future holds is yet to be written, but one thing is certain, she says: “On my tombstone I’ll have, ‘So many songs, so little time.’ But I still believe in chasing dreams.”

JOYCE IS WHO I WANT TO BE WHEN I GROW UP.

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left: Elvis’ gold lamé suit is one of several iconic outﬁts on display at Elvis Presley’s Memphis. above: A suite ﬁt for a king at the Guest House. 38 • M E M P H I S M A G A Z I N E . C O M • M A Y 2 0 1 7

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PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY THE GUEST HOUSE AT GRACELAND

4/14/17 10:51 AM

W T H I T G I H N Y E O N U O THE EXTR AOR DINA RY GUEST HOUSE

AT GR ACEL A ND IS NOWHER E NE A R LONELY STR EET.

by frank murtaugh ears that end in seven are a big deal — and big business — in Memphis, Tennessee. When Elvis Presley died at his Graceland mansion on August 16, 1977, the Mid-South gained “Elvis Week” near the end of every summer. And the biggest tourist week of the year gets a booster shot when another decade is marked since the King of Rock-and-Roll’s passing. Elvis fans commemorating this year’s 40th anniversary can experience Graceland in ways no one else has since the mansion first opened for tours

in 1982. Newly opened (since last October) is the Guest House at Graceland, a 450room resort hotel designed to reflect the famous mansion both architecturally and in terms of the King’s inimitable style. Then across Elvis Presley Boulevard is a new entertainment complex — Elvis Presley’s Memphis — devoted to Elvis’ life, music, cars, movies, and every element of pop culture the icon has come to reflect. At a total cost of $137 million ($92 million for the Guest House alone), the renovations have transformed the Graceland experience. My family made the Guest House a destination for one night to culminate Spring Break in March. And we couldn’t help falling in love.

M A Y 2 0 1 7 • M E M P H I S M A G A Z I N E . C O M • 39

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4/14/17 10:56 AM

PHOTOGRAPH BY JEFFREY JACOBS

above: The exterior view of the Guest House reﬂects the architectural style of the Graceland mansion (right). inset: Visitors take a selﬁe in the plaza of Elvis Presley’s Memphis.

he Guest House is distinctly Elvis — distinctly Graceland, by a few measures — but not “in-your-face Elvis” as Mike Pramshafer notes. The Guest House’s vice president of sales and marketing says, “Elvis fans will appreciate the Guest House, and there are subtleties in every room that reflect Elvis. But you don’t have to be an Elvis fan to be comfortable here.” Priscilla Presley, the singer’s former wife, has long claimed Elvis planned to build a guest house on the Graceland estate; he simply died before the vision could be realized. Today, that vision can be summarized in mammoth terms: two six-floor wings flanking a seven-floor central tower, 450 rooms altogether. The Guest House features 20 top-floor suites, including four King Suites that each measure 1,500 square feet (and feature a flat-screen television in the ceiling above the bed). From the outside, the hotel looks like a dramatically inflated version of the mansion, with faux stone columns extending to the roof and a grand portico receiving cars and shuttles carrying guests. (Hnedak Bobo Group designed the facility.) The grand lobby offers chairs and couches with oversized, tapered backs (a stylistic nod to the oversized collars Elvis favored in the 1970s). The ceiling is mirrored, but in a

symmetrical array borrowed directly from one of Elvis’ Vegas-era jumpsuits. Distinctly Elvis, yes. But not overpowering. An adjoining piano bar serves as a lounge between visits to your room, complete with charging stations and a purse hook at each barstool. After checking into our sixth-floor room, we took in the view of the backyard Lawn, an expanse of grass that connects the hotel’s “back porch” (heaters in the winter, misters during the warm-weather months) with the resort’s swimming pool and hot tub. Those draws would have to wait, though. Camera-phones in hand, the four of us headed for our first adventure in Elvis Presley’s Memphis. If you’ve seen an Elvis jumpsuit, it was likely in what can best be described as a luxury storage unit behind the Graceland mansion. Movie posters and gold records dressed

up the late entertainer’s gallery of glitz, but it was a tiny fraction of the memorabilia housed by Elvis Presley Enterprises, and but a tease when you consider the insatiable curiosity of Graceland’s pilgrims for anything — big, small, with rhinestones or without — that once touched the King. There is no more storage unit. A mini-village has been created across Elvis Presley Boulevard from Graceland, one with no fewer than 11 distinct galleries, two restaurants, a soundstage, and an exhibit lounge exclusively for tourists who purchase a VIP experience. The largest of the galleries is called “Elvis The Entertainer Career Museum.” Here the jumpsuits and performance gear have new room to breathe, and Elvis’ music honors shine, quite literally, in new light. Each of his three Grammy awards (for gospel performances, mind you) has its own display case. The three primary outfits Elvis made famous on his ’68 Comeback Special stand side-by-side: white, crimson, and black leather that still makes a certain generation of fans weak in the knees.

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A mini-village has been created across Elvis Presley Boulevard from Graceland, one with no fewer than 11 distinct galleries, two restaurants, a soundstage, and an exhibit lounge exclusively for tourists who purchase a

PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY THE GUESTHOUSE AT GRACELAND

VIP experience.

top to bottom: The jumpsuit gallery, auto museum, and a piano played by John Lennon in the Icons gallery.

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Those rumors that generations of Elvis

fans will die off, and PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY THE GUESTHOUSE AT GRACELAND

Graceland with them,

were strictly that: rumors.

The “Tupelo” gallery takes you back to the mid-twentieth century, when musical acts often found their biggest audience at carnivals. My teenage daughters looked skeptically at games like Goblet Toss (“$3 for 3 tries”) or “Bottle Up” (in which you try and lift a soda bottle into standing position with a fishing pole and plastic hook). Another visitor slammed a mallet mightily at a platform in an attempt to ring a bell 15 feet above the ground. Yes, a cliché image. But if you want Tupelo, Mississippi, in the 1950s — Elvis was there! — here you have it. Elvis was a profligate spender on auto-

PHOTOGRAPH BY JEFFREY JACOBS

top: Elton John and Jimi Hendrix are among the superstars inﬂuenced by Elvis, with memorabilia on display in the Icons gallery. above: The piano lounge at the Guest House. left: Priscilla Presley and Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam admire one of Elvis’ three Grammy awards — all for gospel music.

mobiles, and his collection now has its own expansive, well, garage. There’s the pink Cadillac you see on countless trinkets, but also his Dino Ferrari and the sports car Elvis shot — with a gun, twice — because it wouldn’t start properly: a 1971 canary yellow DeTomaso Pantera. Adjacent to the auto museum is a gallery with Elvis’ motorcycles. The man liked machines. 42 • M E M P H I S M A G A Z I N E . C O M • M A Y 2 0 1 7

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4/21/17 1:42 PM

The Guest House lobby area features chairs that echo the collar shape of Elvis’ Las Vegas jumpsuits. inset: The heart-shaped “Burning Love” ﬁre pit on the Guest House lawn.

PHOTOGRAPH BY JEFFREY JACOBS

My daughters found themselves a bit more engaged in the “Icons” exhibit. This is a gallery created to share and promote the influence Elvis has, to this day, on entertainment around the world. I liked the Bruce Springsteen display, with one of the Boss’ leather jackets. My wife pointed out the singular connection between Elvis and Dolly Parton’s display: blue sequins. Jimi Hendrix is there. Joan Jett. Even a piano played by John Lennon, with a note: “If there hadn’t been an Elvis, there wouldn’t have been the Beatles.” Elvis Presley’s Memphis is included in a tour package that starts with the mansion ($57.50), but can be toured separately ($28.75) by arranging over the phone or in person at the welcome center.

INSET PHOTOGRAPH BY FRANK MURTAUGH

e returned to the Guest House for an early dinner at Delta’s Kitchen. (Tip: You can save 20 percent when seated between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.) The resort’s fine-dining venue offers indoor and outdoor seating (for up to 120 people) with minimal, if any, Elvis imagery. The music softly accompanying our dinner included some Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, and a little Stax. I enjoyed the Norwegian salmon ($25), seasoned with citrus tarragon butter on a bed of roasted carrots. Two of my companions raved about the porcini and truffle ravioli ($23), a veggie dish served with asparagus, walnuts, and parmesan cream. A 14-ounce rib-eye steak ($38) and shrimp-and-grits ($26) are among other menu highlights. Delta’s Kitchen offers a distinctly Southern breakfast buffet ($16) with sausage gravy and johnnycakes in addition to omelets made to order. With the hotel’s nearby fitness room — featuring a stack of medicine balls, no less

— mocking us, we chose to visit the cinema for a 7 p.m. screening of Love Me Tender, the 1956 western that introduced Elvis to the silver screen. The 464-seat theater shows films nightly (no cost to guests, and not always an Elvis flick) and includes a stage for live performances. (Did Clint Reno fire the shot that wounded his brother? I left my seat still wondering.) Near the cinema in the north wing of the hotel is an 11,000-square-foot ball room, one that has already hosted conferences for the likes of AutoZone and International Paper. Four breakout rooms are named for each of the halls of fame where Elvis has been honored: Rock, Gospel, Blues, and Country. While the girls enjoyed an hour in the outdoor hot tub, my wife and I did some channel-swapping on the f latscreen in our room. One closed-circuit channel runs a continuous loop of Elvis’s ’68 Comeback Special while another features his 1973 concert, Aloha From Hawaii, a broadcast said to have been watched by more people than the moon landing four years earlier. Back out on the Lawn, we resisted the temptation of lounging in the hot tub, but were drawn to the “Burning Love Fire Pit.” With temperatures in the upper 50s, the gas flames — in the shape of a heart — made for a pleasant spell under the stars. The swimming pool, it should be noted, is less than four feet deep. It’s there for cooling down during the sweltering tourist season, but no cannonballs or swan dives. Plans are in place to add games — from table tennis to cornhole

— to the Lawn for additional outdoor fun at the Guest House. We wrapped up our evening at EP’s Bar and Grill, basketball (the NCAA tournament and a Grizzlies-Spurs tilt) on all 11 TVs, the pool table occupied by two men who may or may not have appreciated Elvis’ devotion to the game. While the girls nibbled on macand-cheese bites, my wife and I enjoyed the local draft selection (she chose Ghost River’s Golden Ale while I went with a Tiny Bomb by Wiseacre). Open daily for lunch and dinner, the pub offers signature cocktails that will tease Elvis fans: Kid Galahad Punch (Pritchard’s Rum, Graceland Punch, bitters) and the Bossa Nova Baby (Avion Tequila, orgeat, and ginger beer). A grilled peanut butter-and-banana sandwich with fries can be had for $13. In a word, our night at the Guest House was comfortable. We felt a part of Elvis Presley’s world, but on our own terms. (There are TV channels without Elvis concerts.) The pool, pub, and restaurant are going to be packed come peak season in August, but isn’t that the point? Those rumors that generations of Elvis fans will die off, and Graceland with them, were strictly that: rumors. My daughters (again, teenagers) wouldn’t end their staycation without a late-morning milkshake from Gladys’ Diner (on the grounds of Elvis Presley’s Memphis). Young, old, and in-between, Graceland’s pilgrims have new reasons to make their way down Elvis Presley Boulevard. With a hotel that leaves heartbreak well behind. M A Y 2 0 1 7 • M E M P H I S M A G A Z I N E . C O M • 43

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4/14/17 10:52 AM

ROAD TRIP

UNLIKELY DISCOVERY

THE DISCOVERY PARK OF AMERICA BRINGS THE WORLD TO UNION CITY.

by chris mccoy

iscovery Park of America is a crazy idea. “When Mr. Kirkland decided he wanted to do this, he came to

me. I was the first one who heard it,” says CEO Jim Rippy. “Still, to this day, I can’t believe it.”

Robert Kirkland is the Union City entrepreneur behind the Kirkland’s chain

of home furnishing stores. He and his wife Jenny are semi-retired philan-

above: The Discovery Center, the 100,000square-foot museum designed by Boston architecture ﬁrm Vernon Johnson, sits at the heart of the Discovery Park of America.

thropists still living in the same small Obion County community — 120 miles straight up Highway 51 from downtown Memphis, just south of the Kentucky border — where Robert grew up. One day, almost a decade ago, Kirkland called up his old friend Rippy to run a notion by him. PHOTOGR APHS BY CHRIS MCCOY AND BRIAN GROPPE 44 • M E M P H I S M A G A Z I N E . C O M • M A Y 2 0 1 7

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“ROBERT KIRKLAND WANTED TO LET PEOPLE IN THIS PART OF THE WORLD SEE THINGS THEY WOULD NEVER GET TO SEE.” “Basically, his idea was that he wanted to bring to West Tennessee what people would not get an opportunity to directly see somewhere else, like New York or Washington,” Rippy says. “He wanted to let people in this part of the world see things they would never get to see, to increase their k nowledge of what the world really is like, not just what you are here. To travel without traveling, not have to go so far, and have it not be so expensive.” Kirkland thought they could get it done for about $20 million. “He didn’t want to call it a museum,” explains Rippy. “We’re kind of a hybrid. Education first, entertainment second, and tourism third. So whatever we do, I don’t want it to be a stuffy place. I want it to be a place where people can touch it, get in it, feel it. I don’t want it to just be stuff on the wall.” To ensure it would be a true community project, Kirkland and Libby called for volunteers to help flesh out the idea. To their surprise, more than 250 people attended the meeting. He said, “Think outside the box! Tell us anything you would like to see,” recalls Rippy.

Before the Discovery Park of America opened on November 1, 2013, the cost ballooned from $20 million to more than $80 million. Museum and theme park experts they consulted all cautioned against locating the attraction in Union C i t y. “ R u r a l West Tennessee is not that heavily populated,” says Rippy. “Neither is Arkansas o r Kent uck y. Everybody said we’d be lucky if we hit 100,000 [annual visitors].” The experts were wrong. By the end of 2014, more than 270,000 people had visited Discovery Park. “We’ll hit a million before this November,” says Rippy.” I’ll be truthful. I don’t know how it ended up being so good. I know we had the best people, but we had no experience.”

W IDE NING T HE MIND

he Discovery Park of America sits on the outskirts of Union City. The 120-foot Observation Tower of the central Discovery Center is easily the most prominent structure in this town of 13,000. The Center was designed by Verner Johnson, Inc., an architecture firm based out

above left: Dinosaur skeletons dominate the Discovery Center’s biggest gallery. above right: The Children’s Exploration Gallery features hands-on experiments for all ages.

of Boston, Massachusetts, that specializes in museums. The flowing structure boasts more than 70,000 square feet of exhibit space in nine galleries. “It’s very interactive, says marketing director Mary Nita Bondurant. “In every gallery, there’s something you can do that’s hands-on.” Like the CEO, Bondurant has been with Discovery Park since the inception. “I was a volunteer chairman of the marketing committee,” she says. “I planned the original groundbreaking, when we turned over the first shovel of dirt.” The nine permanent gallery exhibits inside the Center each had their own development committees. “We’re 10 miles from UT Martin. Where we didn’t have expertise, we borrowed professors. Mr. Kirkland sent people all over the place to get information and find out things for their gallery. My husband was on the natural history committee with two professors from UT Martin. We went out West to buy dinosaurs. Who gets to do that?” says Bondurant. The thunder lizards occupy the largest open space inside the center, and form the backbone of the ground-floor Natural History gallery. A mastodon skeleton guards the entrance to the interactive exhibits, designed by New York museum designers Thinc. The Natural History gallery traces the entire history of the planet, with an extensive gems and minerals collection, and a giant interactive globe that can display maps of not only our planet, but all of the planets in the Solar System. M A Y 2 0 1 7 • M E M P H I S M A G A Z I N E . C O M • 45

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ROAD TRIP

DI S C O V E R Y PA R K OF A ME R IC A A wall-sized bookshelf with a “secret” door beacons towards the Enlightenment Gallery. A sign over the door reads, “Culture is the widening of the mind and of the spirit.” Inside are a variety of artifacts, including a reclining Thai Buddha statue and replicas of the Rosetta Stone and the Ark of the Covenant. “We call this our cabinet of curiosities,” says Bondurant. “Things that don’t really fit into the themes of any of our other galleries end up here.”

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The Transportation Gallery traces the twentieth-century history of automotive evolution.

926 E. McLemore Avenue | 901.261.6338 | StaxMuseum.com Beyond that is the Transportation Gallery, which tells the story of the evolution of the car with pristine artifacts from automotive history. “We wanted to give the history of cars, not just 10 Corvettes,” says Rippy. Visitors are free to meander through the interconnected curving galleries at their own pace. “There are no halls; there are no straight lines. You just kind of migrate from one gallery to another,” says Rippy.

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L OC A L S T OR Y

he most significant events in the history of northwestern Tennessee were the series of earthquakes that hit the area in 1811-1812. Peaking at 7.5 on the Richter scale, that earthquake swarm remains the most powerful seismic event to hit the eastern United States. Most famously, the final earthquake, which took place on February 7, 1812, blocked streams and subsided a large area, leading to the formation of Reelfoot Lake 20 miles west of Union City. There weren’t very many people in the area two centuries ago — just tribes of native Americans and a handful of white farmers and traders — but one of the Discovery Center’s most popular attractions gives you an idea of what it was like. The Earthquake Simulator is a bone-rattling, 15-minute experience that provides thrills while teaching visitors about all the geophysics behind the shake, rattle, and roll.

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curved wall. It includes several Clovis points, 13,000-year-old artifacts that archeologists say represent one of North America’s earliest native technological cultures. One cachet of

“WE WENT OUT WEST TO BUY DINOSAURS. WHO GETS TO DO THAT?” A mastodon skeleton guards the entrance to the Earthquake Simulator, which gives visitors a vivid lesson on the creation of Reelfoot Lake.

A wooly mammoth skeleton guards the entrance to the Regional History gallery. An aquarium full of local species includes a tunnel to a glass dome, so visitors can get up close and personal with the fish without getting wet. Nearby is one of the crowns of the Discovery Center’s exhibits. “One of our biggest finds was the Native American collection,” says Rippy. “We have over 18,000 artifacts. We got really lucky. We found a guy who had been picking up that stuff for years and years. He was getting real old, and we bought the whole collection.” The awe-inspiring array takes up an entire,

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ancient artifacts was found by a boy in Hickman County, Kentucky, only 16 miles away from the Discovery Center.

A World War I-era English tank sits in front of a Vietnam-era helicopter in the Military Gallery.

A collection of restored Hominid skulls is on display in the Natural History Gallery.

he Military Gallery uses artifacts to tell the history of America’s wars, from the American Revolution to the present. Civil War history is, of course, a major emphasis here on the border between the Confederacy and the Union, but the most impressive sights to be seen are in the soaring Lower Level gallery, stuffed with mechanized artifacts from the twentieth century. An early English tank, now a hundred years old, shows the beginnings of mechanized warfare. Its crude camouflage and wood-

TA L E S OF VA L OR

4/18/17 1:05 PM

ROAD TRIP Memphis Magazine’s

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DI S C O V E R Y PA R K OF A ME R IC A framed, barbed-wire crown are a far cry from the advanced armor of today. There are also jeeps from World War II and a Vietnam-era helicopter, all open to exploration. Next to the stairs squats a sinister pair of objects: Scale models of Little Boy and Fat Man, the first two atomic bombs developed by the United States and dropped on the Japanese in 1945. Bondurant says the sheer size of the collection can be daunting. “People who are inter-

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This two-story, human-shaped slide was recently voted as one of the best in the world by Rough Guides magazine.

ested in reading, seeing, and learning from everything will often come up to the ticket counter asking to upgrade to a two-day pass. They’ll stay another night to get to see it all.”

T HE BIG SL IDE

alf of the third floor is devoted to the Science, Space, and Technology gallery. The development of information technology is well-represented, with an original Apple I circuit board and cameras from the expensive and rare to the everyday. The Starship Theater is a hybrid planetarium show that takes guests on a light-speed tour of the deepest regions of space using Hubble Space Telescope images. The Energy Gallery explores the future of technologies that will power our children’s world, and right next door, the kids take interactivity to a new level with hands-on science experiments. The 45-minute show is directed by the guests, which means it’s different every time. But the biggest attraction for the kids in this area is the jumping-off point for the

chu rc h h e a l t h . o rg / d o n a t e

contin u ed on page 91 48 Memphis.Ad.HelpUs.Ad.2.7.17.indd • M E M P H I S M A G A Z I N E . C O M1 • M A Y 2 0 1 7

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Eat. See. Do. Love.

All Things Authentically Memphis.

Be a tourist in your own hometown.

Rediscover: Soul-stirring live music. Legendary artists. One-of-a-kind sightseeing attractions. Vibrant nightlife. Award-winning cuisine (and â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Que). Energizing bike trails. Fall in love with Memphis all over again.

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presents

Off T he Beaten Path edited by pa mel a den ney | ph otographs by j us t i n f ox bu r k s

he promise of summer bliss can be a fleeting romance, especially when you find yourself faced with unexpected expenses or antsy kids. So why not shift gears? That’s exactly what we did, fanning out from Memphis to discover — and rediscover — small towns and big meals all around the greater Mid-South, just an hour or so from Memphis. All four of our featured food finds are guaranteed to provide a perfect excuse for a half-day holiday.

B��O��’S� S�� K For thr ee gener ations, the Tack e r fa m ily h a s dishe d u p griddle burgers a nd home-m a de pies, as well as a generous side of A merica na. by ana alford and collins peeples Marion, Arkansas — Forty years ago, John Tacker

and his wife Loretta drove from West Memphis to Marion to see a development of new houses. During the ride, John talked about his dream of owning a restaurant, which is where the story of Big John’s Shake Shack begins. Although the restaurant’s proper name is “Tacker’s Shake Shack,” the popular local moniker Big John’s pays tribute to John, who passed away in February of 2005. “Everyone knew who John was,” Loretta Tacker recalls. “He kept eating and eating, and so the name Big John’s just stuck.” These days, Mrs. Loretta, as she is affectionately called, hands off many duties to son and general manager, Jeff Tacker, who operates the restaurant with the help of left: Visitors from across the country — and beyond — leave push pins in a large map hanging on the wall at Tacker’s Shake Shack, a testimony to the diner’s widespread appeal and Americana menu of burgers, shakes, and catﬁsh dinners. 50 • M E M P H I S M A G A Z I N E . C O M • M A Y 2 0 1 7

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HERE’S YOUR CULINARY ROAD MAP TO FOUR NEARBY DESTINATIONS WHERE ROAD FOOD RULES.

his sister, Lisa Taylor. “I had thought about selling the restaurant after Big John passed away, but my kids made it clear I couldn’t do that,” Mrs. Loretta explains. Now that her children help run the restaurant, Mrs. Loretta can focus on interacting with longtime customers like Terry Ammonds, who makes dinner at Big John’s part of his weekly routine. “The only time I’m not here on a Tuesday night is if I’m out of town, or they are closed, which isn’t often,” Ammonds says. While customers can order breakfast, plate lunches, catfish dinners, and a variety of burgers unique to Big John’s, the restaurant is best known for Mrs. Loretta’s made-from-scratch desserts such as fried pies (Cherry! Peach! Apple! Caramel!), chocolate fudge pie (the most popular), and bread pudding. In fact, the bread pudding is so popular with the members of the U.P. Steam Crew,

A PE R F E C T PA IR : BUR GE R A ND P IE

MAC & CHEESE BURGER ($7.60): It’s

easy to understand why this burger on a warmly toasted bun is Mrs. Loretta’s favorite: Bacon and house-made mac & cheese top Certified Angus Beef patties, hand-pressed and fresh off the griddle. PECAN PIE

($3 a slice/ $15 per pie): Mrs. Loretta picks the pecans herself for her pecan pies, best eaten with a glass of the diner’s sweet tea. “We sell whole pies by the cases around the holidays,” she says. “And sometimes it’s just slices.”

above: Tacker’s Shake Shack, started 40 years ago by the late John Tacker, is still owned and operated by family members, including John’s wife Loretta Tacker, son Jeff Tacker, grandson and chef Mark Tacker, and daughter Lisa Taylor. above right: The John Wayne Burger combines beef patties and barbecue sauce, while the restaurant’s assortment of pies, both traditional and fried, are made in-house.

who travel nationally to showcase historic trains for Union Pacific, that they left Mrs. Loretta a note that explained that they “travel the country for work eating bread pudding in many different states, and Big John’s has THE BEST!” Along with scrumptious homemade desserts, the Shake Shack offers a variety of hamburgers unique to the restaurant. Chef Mark Tacker, who is Mrs. Loretta’s grandson, creates and names all the burgers, such as the John Wayne Burger served with barbecue sauce. Second-generation general manager Jeff Tacker remembers the day Mark invented the combination, named in honor of his grandfather Big John. “One day, I said to my son, go fix me something to eat, and he said he didn’t know what I wanted,” Jeff says. “I told him I’ve been eating this food for almost 40 years, just make me something. He brought me out this burger with two patties, pork barbecue, barbecue sauce, some cheddar cheese, bacon, and two onion rings.” Although residents of Crittenden County shape the restaurant’s customer core, international visitors also find their way to the mom-and-pop diner, where the Tackers ask them to pin their home country on a large world map hanging on the restaurant’s wall. The map is covered with push pins from such places as France, Germany, and Canada, proving that the Shake Shack is a worldwide ambassador for Southern hospitality. Located at 409 E. Military Road in Marion, Arkansas, Tacker’s Shake Shack is open Monday through Saturday from 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. (870-739-3943). M A Y 2 0 1 7 • M E M P H I S M A G A Z I N E . C O M • 51

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Off T he Beaten Path A PE R F E C T PA IR : F IL E T MIG NON A ND MU S HR OOM S

12-OUNCE FILET MIGNON ($34): An

8-ounce filet is also on the menu, but don’t debate too long. Both are wrapped with bacon, but the larger cut only costs $5 more. “I always tell people to go for it,” says general manager Mandy Sanders. “It’s just as good tomorrow as it is today.” MISS CHARLENE’S SAUTÉED MUSHROOMS ($7): Cook Char-

HEART AND SOUL

lene Renix has kept the recipe for her signature mushrooms a secret for 30 years, but here’s a guess: White baby buttons with stems intact are sautéed in Chardonnay and butter with a spicy touch of Worcestershire sauce.

drop through the center of town for picnic tables and crepe myrtle trees. Out-of-town visitors will adjust quickly to the languid pace of Como’s Main Street, with its brick storefronts shaded by sidewalk awnings. But don’t get too comfortable. As dinnertime approaches, so do the people: Couples on dates, Ole Miss football fans, and fishing buddies from nearby Sardis Lake all come with the singular purpose of getting to Como Steakhouse before the lines get too long. For many people, Como Steakhouse is almost legendary, but for me, the story is all new. I arrive an hour or so before the start of dinner on a spring-filled Friday to meet Mandy Sanders, the restaurant’s general manager, who explains the restaurant’s history and success. Started in 1988 by a former owner of The Butcher Shop in Memphis, it was purchased by Rick King and Gary May, the current owners, and built on serving dryaged steaks, hand-cut and cooked over charcoal on open-pit grills. Heartfelt service is another main ingredient in the Como Steakhouse mix. “We can have a table of 20 people and know everyone who is sitting there,” Sanders says. “Our customers might be coming from miles around, but we are still one big family.” By the time Sanders ushers me around the restaurant for a tour, I already feel like family, too. The coals, fired up at 3 p.m., are hot and snapping. Head cook Donnell Lewers tosses a couple of bacon-wrapped filet mignons on the grill, and the sizzle and smell and the restaurant’s soulful playlist makes the downstairs bar feel like a spontaneous campground party. For 15 years, Lewers has cooked the steaks at Como, and he is calm and confident, even when 30 different entrees — each cooked to order — cover the grill. “You get the temperature real hot, and you keep flipping,” he explains, turning a bone-in ribeye with aluminum tongs. “I might flip a medium five or six times, so the good hot pink stays right in the center.” I am, quite frankly, mesmerized by Lewers’ skill.

Como Ste a khouse a nd a secret c o u r t ya r d g e taway a n c ho r t h is Mississippi M a in Str eet with his t or y a n d ho spi ta l i t y. by pamela denney Como, Mississippi — On a blue damask loveseat

near the Como Courtyard’s screen door rests a pillow with the inscription, “American by Birth (Southern by the Grace of God),” a Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash song that visitors will likely be humming after an overnight stay in Como, a town on the cusp of the Delta in Panola County, Mississippi. Founded in the 1830s and sustained by cotton and farming for the next 100 years, the town today feels faded but cozy, like a worn chenille bedspread in an extra room for guests. Plantation-style homes, refined and peaceful, still flank the town’s train tracks, built in the 1850s to connect cotton crops with markets in Memphis. Once busy with passengers and freight, the tracks these days are mostly quiet, an elevated back-

above: Don’t let a possible wait for a table keep you away from Como Steakhouse, where head cook Donnell Lewers, pictured at top left, expertly prepares steaks to order on open-pit charcoal grills. “A steak needs the flavor and the heat that comes from charcoal,” Lewers says. “And you can’t just walk away from it. You’ve got to pay attention.”

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Salmon, catfish filets, thick center-cut pork chops, and a lovely rack of lamb join the steak lineup. He tends to each one, with a touch or a prod or a squirt of water from his customized Powerade bottle. The water, he explains, cools the fire and keeps the moisture in the meat, while the charcoal (only Kingsford briquettes) builds flavor. “I also sprinkle some garlic powder and a little Worcestershire sauce on the steak right before it’s done,” he says. Plating is straightforward: platters, swirled with whipped butter, sprinkled with Willingham’s seasoning, and topped with a steak and a slice of Texas toast also buttered and grilled. “Every steak comes with a salad, house-made dressing, a baked potato, and Texas toast,” Sanders says. “We do not have a lot of vegetables. This is a meat-and-potato kind of place.” Little wonder the wait for tables can be an hour or so, except for parties of eight or more who can make

A above: The Oyster Bar, located on the second floor of Como Steakhouse, is open Thursday through Saturday evenings. Along with drinks, the bar serves fried shrimp and catfish, freshly ground steak burgers, and oysters on the half shell.

reservations ahead. Large celebrations are commonplace at Como Steakhouse, but there is still plenty of room for smaller groups in the restaurant’s main dining room or in the Magnolia Room, where framed portraits of Como’s long-gone ladies recall the Victorian age. Head upstairs to the Oyster Bar, as my husband and I do, for drinks and a dozen raw oysters from the Gulf Coast. We sit at an outdoor table on the bar’s balcony, and I watch the twilight silhouette of a busy carpenter bee. Across Main Street, I see Four Oaks, a mansion built in 1919 which, I am later told, only has one oak still standing. My reverie is broken by a server who passes by with a glorious plate of shaved pecans, chocolate pudding, cream cheese, and whipped cream piled high on a shortbread pie crust. Clearly the restaurant’s signature dessert, I ask for its name. “Como Delight,” she replies, a description I am by now certain will apply to our dinner, soon to come. Located at 203 Main Street in Como, Mississippi, Como Steakhouse is open Monday through Thursday from 5 to 10 p.m. and 4:30 to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday (662-526-9529).

A F T E R DINNE R , S PE ND T HE NIGH T AT C OMO C OUR T YA R D F OR O V E R NIGH T DE S S E R T.

number of years ago, after proprietor Kay King purchased Como Courtyard, a guest needed to check in after hours. King didn’t want to drop off the key that late, so she turned for help to Holy Innocents’ Episcopal Church, located just a few doors down the street from her bed-andbreakfast. King, who is a parishioner, knew the church built in 1873 was never locked, so she asked to leave the key inside. Father Sam Godfrey obliged. “He said that picking up that key might be the only time he’ll get that person inside a church,” King recalls. I found this story particularly charming after seeing the church’s Tiffany glass windows (they are original) and spending the night at Como Courtyard, where history and modern-day amenities happily co-exist. Constructed as a nineteenth-century mercantile store, the building’s adaptive reuse showcases original wood flooring, brick walls, and 18-foot ceilings covered with tin tiles. Furnishings and decorative accents are eclectic and vintage. Located an easy walk away from the Como Steakhouse, the Courtyard is both respite and destination. We are intrigued from the start by the street’s slanted parking and the long, narrow hall off the Courtyard’s front entrance. By the time I walk into a sprawling great room, I am thrilled by both building and proprietor. King gives new meaning to thoughtful accoutrements. In the bedroom, a small footstool stands guard near the high bed, deep with pillows. On the counter, individual boxes of cereal line up next to a platter of cupcakes, cinnamon buns, and an almond Danish pastry from Hernando’s Ladybug Bakery. Inside the refrigerator, more breakfast awaits: milk, juice, fresh strawberries, Greek yogurt, butter, and jam. In a wicker basket are cookbooks, including a

1963 edition of The Joy of Cooking with a recipe for Tennessee eggnog tucked inside. The best, however, is yet to come, waiting outside the picture windows and double screen doors. First a back porch, with cushioned chairs and candles. Step down the stairs, and a walled

courtyard awaits, outlined by ivy. The sun slips toward dusk, and red-throated finches fly from a pot of white pansies to the top of the two-story walls. I find a hot tub, and dip in my hand. The water is warm and inviting. Simply put, we’d found a private paradise, ours for the evening, along with a guesthouse for family or friends, if we had thought to bring them all along. — PD The Como Courtyard, 235 Main Street, Como, Mississippi (662-526-5494) M A Y 2 0 1 7 • M E M P H I S M A G A Z I N E . C O M • 53

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Off T he Beaten Path A PE R F E C T PA IR : C HIC K E N A ND E G G S

CHICKEN, SUCCOTASH & ROASTED GARLIC MASH ($16) Mindful of

manners, I try to eat my chicken with a knife and fork, but soon give up, using my fingers to dip the meat into warm green tomato gravy. Love me tender. Love me true.

DEVILED EGGS ($6)

A WORLD AWAY Ta l e n t e d c h e f s a t Wi l s o n C a f é a d d e l e va t e d h o m e c o o k i n g t o a s m a ll Delta t ow n ’s moder n r ena issa nce.

Smooth and creamy, the deviled eggs at Wilson change every day, mixing up ingredients like pesto, cilantro, chipotle, and jalapeno. At Easter, Chef Jonathan Sawrie’s secret technique turns deviled eggs blue.

when, as if on cue, the answer appears: a single word — Wilson— scrawled in stylized script across the roof of what I now know was a cotton seed storage house. Soon we come to town and the intersection of a railroad crossing. To our right, a five-story flour mill dominates the night sky. There’s a cotton gin, no longer used, and a row of grain silos line up like gigantic pipes for a sacred church organ. To our left is a town square — post office, bank, supermarket, and the Wilson Café — built in Tudor Revival architecture during the 1920s. Wilson itself is even older, a company town founded in 1886 by Robert E. Lee Wilson to support his cotton empire. In 1959, the town was incorporated, and in 2010, the Wilson heirs sold the family’s fertile farmland and the town’s commercial buildings to farming magnate Gaylon Lawrence Jr., a benefactor committed to the town’s rebirth. Owner/chefs Joe Cartwright and Sheri Haley are key players in Wilson’s renaissance, a trajectory far different from most forgotten Delta towns. Three years ago, town planner John Faulkner recruited the couple to reopen the shuttered Wilson Café, a project they embraced with little reservation. “The real risk was missing out,” says Cartwright, who grew up in Crittenden County. “If we had passed on the restaurant, I don’t think we could bear coming to Wilson today.” At the time, both Cartwright and Haley were chefs at popular Memphis restaurants — Cartwright at The

by pamela denney Wilson, Arkansas — In May, when the magnolias smell sweet and heavy, a 50-mile drive in a late winter snowstorm sounds a bit far-fetched. But let’s stick with my story of how the promise of dinner and an unexpected snow led me to Wilson, an enchanting kind of place. To start, my husband and I have lived in Memphis long enough to know that the threat of snow should keep us home. Still, we stick with our mid-March plan to eat at the Wilson Café, heading west on I-40 to Exit 36 in Mississippi County, where we soon find ourselves on U.S. Highway 61, the Great River Road that parallels the Mississippi. By now, we are deep in the heartland of the Arkansas Delta. The unplowed fields are still, and I can feel the full moon, hiding behind the snow clouds. “Where in the world are we going?” I ask, laughing,

above: Proprietors Joe Cartwright and Sheri Haley re-opened the Wilson Café three years ago, bringing chef-driven home cooking to Wilson’s town square. top: A popular dish is scampistyle shrimp plated with sautéed kale salad and Parmesan and basil grits.

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W HE N V I S I T ING W IL S ON C A F É , S AV E T IME F OR A S IDE OF JOHNN Y C A S H.

ohnny Cash’s mother, Carrie Cash, cooked for a family with seven children on a wood stove in a kitchen with no electricity. A door in the kitchen led to a back porch. The kitchen’s ceramic sink had two tubs, and windows over the sink looked out on cotton

ﬁelds and a neighbor’s house, long gone. In the dining room, an aqua ice box with heavy white doors sat near a mahogany table with ornate pedestal legs carved into lion heads. The table was one of Mrs. Cash’s treasured possessions. At the windows, she hung lace. I know these details because I visited Cash’s boyhood home in Dyess, Arkansas — 13 miles west of Wilson — restored by Arkansas State University and opened to the public in 2014. The ﬁve-room wood frame house (No. 266, Road 3) was purchased by the Cash family in 1938 for

$2,183, but they had moved there three years earlier as part of a federal public works project. Called Dyess Colony, the project relocated 500 Arkansas families during the Great Depression to help farmers build more prosperous lives. Along with the house, each family received 20 acres of drained swamp land (three acres were cleared, the rest was up to them), a smokehouse, an outhouse, a barn, and a mule. Johnny was 3 years old when he moved to Dyess, and his family lived on the farm until 1954, the same year Johnny moved to Memphis to find work. The following year, Cash released “Hey, Porter” and “Cry, Cry, Cry,” his first two songs on Sun Records. Renovated with drawings and direction from Cash’s younger siblings, Joanne and Tommy, the house includes artifacts from the family, including photos, Mrs. Cash’s piano reclaimed from a local community center, and original floral linoleum, uncovered intact under several layers of old carpet. Visitors interested in touring the house, located a dozen or so miles from Wilson, need to purchase tickets in Dyess at the colony’s original administration building, which now houses a museum on the Cash family and the New Deal resettlement of the Arkansas farmers. - PD Historic Dyess Colony: Boyhood home of Johnny Cash, 110 Center Drive, Dyess, Arkansas (870-764-2274)

Elegant Farmer and Haley at Interim — and like many young chefs, they favored New American cuisine. “We came to Wilson with the idea that we know food, and we are going to show you what we know,” Cartwright says. “We had to adapt pretty quickly.” The couple’s pivot toward more comfortable Southern food appealed to locals who come for lunch every day, and to the many out-of-town guests who travel to Wilson Café from three different states. “When I worked at McEwen’s, we would blanch green beans, sautée them, and add a little garlic and sea salt so they were nice and crispy,” Cartwright says. “But honestly: don’t green beans cooked with bacon and smoked peppers just taste better?”

I am certainly ready to find out as we settle into a window booth in the café’s cozy bar, renovated along with the rest of the restaurant with style and detail. Outside, the snow is still falling in big fluff y flakes. Inside, Memphis songstress Amy LaVere eats at a nearby table before performing in the dining room for a private birthday bash. (Memphis realtor Joshua Spotts and a busload of revelers braved the bad weather, too.) The café menu, we discover, is home cooking, elevated by the know-how of professional chefs. Haley’s chocolate chess pie and donut bread pudding are mainstays for both lunch and dinner. Other Southern favorites also dance across the menu, like steak and eggs, fried catfish, and a Good ‘Ol Burger made with Certified Angus Beef. Although the menu feels familiar, chef de cuisine Jonathan Sawrie sneaks in unexpected trills like griddle-fried cornbread with a side of collard dip. The flavors are layered in with premium ingredients and organic produce, sourced from Wilson Farms, conveniently located down the street. Pleased with the menu, we dig in, sharing an excellent Caesar salad and pesto deviled eggs topped with

Chef Jon Sawrie

Parmesan and Italian parsley. Our entrees come next: for me, half a roasted chicken, finished in a skillet and topped with green tomato gravy, and for Tony, scampi and grits. The scampi dish is colorful and three-dimensional and reminds me of an animated character from a Disney film: curly kale and sliced peppers — red, yellow, and green, a mound of grits made with basil and Parmesan, and a circle of colossal shrimp on top. For dessert, we share buttermilk pie and a square of banana cake with icing. Both are exceptionally good. Throughout dinner, we are impressed with the café’s service and the friendliness of everyone we meet. As we gather up our things to leave, Johnny and Ronda Worsham, longtime Wilson residents, start a conversation so genuine that we sit back down to share their booth. They tell us about the Native American artifacts at the town’s Hampson Museum and the restoration of the long-vacant movie theater into a venue for music and plays. They are buoyant with good cheer. “You’ve got to come back in April for the Phil Vassar concert,” Ronda insists, “because it’s so nice to see new people here in Wilson.” Located at 2 N. Jefferson Street, Wilson, Arkansas, the Wilson Café is open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday through Tuesday and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday (870-655-0222). M A Y 2 0 1 7 • M E M P H I S M A G A Z I N E . C O M • 55

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Off T he Beaten Path A PE R F E C T PA IR : B A R - B - Q PL AT E A ND L E MON ME R INGUE P IE BAR-B-Q PLATE

($9.95) I am nothing if not a creature of (bad) habit, so I can’t remember when I last had anything at Bozo’s other than the Plate, which gives you the pork and cole slaw to make two modest sandwiches rather than the monster one on the menu; ask for an extra bun. I’m also partial to the “brown meat,” which brings out the flavors best. And don’t forget the classic onion rings with that.

LEMON ICEBOX MERINGUE PIE

NO CLOWNING AROUND

($3 a slice; $15 a pie, ordered in advance) Like many country restaurants, Bozo’s has its very own “Pie Lady.” She’s Catherine Perry from Somerville, and delivers her goodies daily. If lemon icebox is not your style, check out the egg custard or the German chocolate. Yes, that’s pie, not cake. Pretty terrific.

gold standard of the genre — then that place must be Mason, Tennessee, a small Tipton County town 43 miles to our northeast, the very place where Thomas Jefferson “Bozo” Williams founded his eponymous restaurant in January of 1923. Now mind you, Mason in 1923 was not exactly a booming metropolis, although today it has quadrupled its 1920 census population of 387. But Bozo Williams was nobody’s fool; he opened his restaurant in the early automobile age on what was then Tennessee Highway One, the first paved road that ran from Memphis to Nashville, then all the way to Bristol. His restaurant became one of America’s first truck stops, even before there were trucks. In fact, buses stopped at Bozo’s for decades, until I-40 opened nearby in 1968. Nevertheless, Bozo’s continued to prosper, then and to this day. As current owner John Papageorgeon explains, “This is just a very special place, and I feel honored to be its custodian.” A native Memphian and a

B ozo’s Hot Pit B a r-B - Q in M ason is mor e tha n a W e s t Te n n e s s e e i n s t i t u t i o n . It j us t m ig h t be t he l ong e s t ru nning r e a l ba r becue experience in A merica. by john o’leary Mason, Tennessee — Okay, so there’s a place in

Texas (Southside Market in Elgin) that claims to be the nation’s oldest continuous BBQ joint. So check it out at texasbarbecueforum.com, and you’ll find comments like “tourist trap” or “I have nothing good to report about this stuff” or “I did not even finish my lunch; it’s in the trash.” That’s not even allowing for the fact that Texans, in the first place, have no idea of how to make barbecue. Say what you will about Texas. If there is a holy site for Memphis-style barbecue — after all, by now the whole world knows that ours is the international

above: Owner John Papageorgeon with manager Brittany Clifford plans to be still operating Bozo’s in 2023, when the much-loved barbecue restaurant will celebrate its centennial.

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proud graduate of Memphis Catholic, John worked for Wendy’s and was involved with the Backyard Burger start-up. After retiring from the fast-food business, he bought Bozo’s nine years ago, after the lineage of the Williams family had finally ended. The most telling part of the excellent historical brochure you can pick up when you dine at Bozo’s is that John’s name does not appear in it, not even once. He wants the place, the food, and the service at Bozo’s to speak for itself. I first visited Bozo’s (gulp) 40 years ago this fall, and my three daughters, now beyond grown, have as fond memories of the place as I do. The décor hardly has changed from that first day that we walked into this pink building in the Memphis hinterland, back when the last surviving Williamses — Miss Helen and Miss Rubye — were still running the show. I can remember many a fine family gathering at Bozo’s on Saturday afternoons, after which we’d wander around the back roads of Tipton and Fayette Counties until we finally figured out how to get home. Great times.

PHOTOGRAPH BY CHRIST Y HUNTER

Pitmaster Buddy Hodge prepares barbecue plates at Bozo’s.

C O V ING T ON T O W N S Q U A R E

f barbecue puts you in the mood for shopping — or perhaps you’d prefer to go shopping before moving on to Bozo’s for lunch or dinner — you might want to save an hour or two for the easy 10-mile jaunt between Mason and Covington. Most Memphians only know Covington as that town that they fly by while driving north along Highway 51, but they should stop and see what a splendid job leaders of this city of 10,000 have done, restoring both its South Main Historic District and its bustling town square that’s now a hive of business activity. The Tipton County Court House at the center of the square dates from 1889, while the square itself is filled with a variety of local businesses, including more than a few restaurants, cafes, antique shops, and boutiques, along with the Historic Ruffin Theatre, an Art Deco classic that dates from 1936 and is now operated by the Tipton Arts Council, hosting monthly theatrical

and musical events of all kinds. The shops on the Square come in all shapes and sizes. Patina, just to pick one, offers custom framing and sells home accessories and assorted gifts, but also features exclusive collections of pottery and paintings by several local and regional artists, including Eleanor Whitesides, V. Thomas, and Janet Beaver. “I believe showcasing the work of our finest, most talented people benefits the community,” says owner Marty Simmons. Like her business peers, she’s a devout Covington fan. “And when you shop local and small, you’re always going to make discoveries that you wouldn’t find in malls or big-box stores.” — Ellie Simmons For more information, contact the Covington-Tipton County Chamber of Commerce at 901-476-9727 or covington-tiptoncochamber.com

Bozo’s has been in its exact current location since 1950, and not much has changed since then. The Sixties-style wood paneling and the gingham curtains are still there, just as they were when our family first stumbled in. The swarm of newspaper clippings is still on the walls (though these have been modified with each passing generation’s comments, and there are now even Bozo’s T-shirts and coffee mugs for sale). Nevertheless, there’s a strange sense that time has actually stood still in this place. Maybe the barbecue has something to do with that. Oh yes, the barbecue. To me it’s the same as ever. For whatever reason, it has, for me, a certain simplicity, sans bells and whistles, but then, I’m a sauce freak. John does tell me about the evolution of the sauces in the little bottles on the tables. At first, all Bozo Williams allowed was hot sauce, but at some point in the last half-century, the restaurant bowed to transforming public opinion and did a medium, and then a mild, though the owners thankfully never countenanced a sweet. Good call; to me, the sauce is indispensable to the barbecue here, which seems timeless and utterly traditional, in the best sense of both words. The menu now does include all kinds of salads along with the usual country restaurant staples, so don’t be afraid to bring your vegetarian friends along for the ride; the green beans in particular are excellent. And when you get to Bozo’s, be sure to have someone tell you how the family of Mason, Tennessee’s own Bozo Williams won a lawsuit against America’s own Bozo the Clown. Decided by the Supreme Court in 1991, this particular trademark case is still studied at law schools to this day. As the restaurant’s current patriarch, John Papageorgeon tells me that he’s determined to stick around for Bozo’s 2023 centennial, something few barbecue joints get to enjoy. So am I. So should you. Located at 342 Highway 70 W. in Mason, Tennessee, Bozo’s Hot Pit Bar-B-Q is open Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and ’til 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday (901-294-3400). M A Y 2 0 1 7 • M E M P H I S M A G A Z I N E . C O M • 57

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PHOTOGRAPH BY JUSTIN FOX BURKS

4/14/17 10:59 AM

Redneck Bar-B-Q Express celebrates forty years of fun at Memphis in May.

by shara clark s the smell of smoked pork fills Tom Lee Park this month during the 40th annual World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest, nearly 250 teams from around the globe will vie for the competition’s top

prize. But a couple of rednecks who’ve been around since the very beginning mostly just want to have a

opposite page: Pete Gross (left) and Woody Coleman (right) hold their winners’ ribbons from the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest’s early days. The Redneck’s branding iron was crafted by friends at the Metal Musuem in 2004. right: A newspaper clipping from 1978 shows team members holding up their ﬁrst competition hog.

good time. Woody Coleman and Pete Gross were 23 and 30 years old, respectively, when their team — Redneck Bar-B-Q Express — became the first official team to enter the first-ever Memphis in May barbecue contest in 1978. Their crew showed up on a Friday afternoon — with a 10-foot grill, a whole hog, some booze, and a party van — in the parking lot across from The Orpheum, where that first cook-off was held, for a contest scheduled for the next day. “If you’re cooking ribs and need to serve them at 4 o’clock, you’ve just got to get them on the grill by 8 in the morning. A whole hog — you’ve got to get it on the night before,” Pete says. “That Friday night, the organizers were all touring around the parking lot and not really expecting anybody to be there yet, and we were

PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY REDNECK BAR-B-Q EXPRESS

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No one knew what to expect for the first annual Memphis in May barbecue contest. There were no set rules — no specific categories, no strict protocol for judging.

top to bottom: Woody’s wife, Regina, wears the ﬁrst-ever Redneck Bar-B-Q T-shirt at a later Memphis in May shindig; The Redneck crew stands behind a homemade, hand-painted grill in 1981; The team has won awards for ribs but has stuck with the whole hog competition since “Year One”; Woody, in his cowboy hat, and friends enjoying alcoholic beverages at Barbecue Fest in 1981.

all there with this van and a grill. They came over to us going, ‘Who are you guys? Do y’all own a restaurant or something?’ Because we were somewhat organized. We said, ‘Naw, we’re just a bunch of rednecks here to have a large time.’ We started drinking, turned the stereo on, and we were going all night long.” Woody recalls, “There were five of us [team members] and our dates or wives, and then we invited other people, so it was about 20 people down there partying … rednecks in cowboy hats.”

IN THE BEGINNING

orty years of memories can blur when they’re doused with as much beer and barbecue sauce as a Redneck Memphis in May party, but in late March, over drinks at Lafayette’s Music Room, Woody and Pete — increasingly intoxicated as the time slips by — conjure up some of the event’s more memorable moments. Although specifics aren’t always agreed upon. Before the bar fills with the Friday evening dinner crowd, backed by Tom Petty on the jukebox, the two bicker — as a married couple might — over the date of a newspaper clipping that shows Gross and teammates Mike Stalls and Ray Nolen, donned in cowboy hats, in front of a grill. “I think that was Year Two,” Woody says with a Tennessee twang, peering through thin-rimmed glasses to get a better look. “No it’s not; it’s Year One,” contends Pete, who’s slight in stature but sure of himself, sipping a bourbon and water across the table. “I’m holding up the hog! I’ve got the [expletive deleted] picture!” A quick review of the photo caption reveals it was, in fact, taken “Year One,” when the barbecue battle was held at Main and Beale and featured just one team and 18 other individual contestants. “OK, I guess you’re right for once,” Woody concedes, then takes a swig of his Michelob Ultra. That first Memphis in May barbecue contest — then called the International Barbecue Cooking Contest; today, known simply as the Barbecue to long-timers — wasn’t the Rednecks’ first stab at cooking contests. They’d previously participated in regional chili cook-offs, as — you guessed it — Redneck Chili Express. The “Express” part of the name was a nod to the then-up-and-coming Memphis startup, Federal Express. “FedEx was just getting a good foothold, and they were growing like crazy,” Pete says. “I really admired FedEx.” A Memphis transplant who grew up in Forrest City, Arkansas, Pete worked on a farm in his younger years. Driving a tractor under the summer sun gave him the appropriate complexion for the other part of the team’s name. Those days, chili cook-offs were tons of fun, says Pete, “because all you had to have was a table this big and a little Coleman stove and that’s it, you were cooking.” Even the first of those contests he attended in Little Rock, Arkansas, was more about the party than winning. “I showed up in my cowboy boots, and everybody had coolers full of beer and Bloody Mary makings all over the table. They were cooking, the band was playing, and people were dancing, and I went, shoot, this thing is a hit!” Outside of the contest circuit, the Rednecks were familiar with pork. “We were already cooking hogs,” Woody explains. One of the guys on the team knew the owners of a local farm. “We’d take the trailer out there and have 20, 30, 50 people and cook a hog. So we knew what we were doing.” But no one knew what to expect for the first annual Memphis in May barbecue contest. There were no set rules — no specific categories, no strict protocol for judging. “The organizers, the cooks — everybody was flying by the seat of their pants. The judges didn’t go sit in a tent and eat the barbecue like they do now; there were no scorecards,” Pete says. “We just knew we had to have a hog, we needed to have sauce, and we needed to have firewood.” “And T-shirts,” Woody adds. “Woody got us some T-shirts made literally at the last minute,” says Pete.

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Throughout the day of that first contest, friends of the Redneck grillmaster, Mike Stalls, stopped to see how the hog was coming. “He’d pull a piece of meat off and give it to them, and by the time the judges got there, there wasn’t much left,” Pete laughs. “And Woody was passed out in the van.” “I was taking a nap!” Woody interjects. “The grill was here, the van was right there, the judges were standing here, and here’s Woody passed out,” laughs Pete. “There wasn’t a whole lot of organization.” But the team, the only entrants to tackle a whole hog, still took home a finalist ribbon that year. The following year, the contest moved to Tom Lee Park — where everyone cooked under one big, smoky tent — and became a bit more structured, with set categories into

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Since stickers were “outlawed,” Redneck BarB-Q Express has had these custom, Redneckappropriate drink tags made for guests.

which participants could enter. In 1979, the Rednecks took home a 1st-place win in the shoulder category and a 2nd-place win in whole hog. The wins came with a combined total of $550 in prize money, which they donated to St. Jude, a charitable tradition they’ve carried on with subsequent wins. But over the next few years, as the festival grew and entrants became more serious about the competition, the Rednecks didn’t see many more top prizes. (“We’re more dedicated to the fun than we are to winning,” Pete says.) When teams were allowed to cook in all three main categories — shoulder, ribs, and whole hog — they took home a few wins for ribs, and one year, Woody says, they claimed another honor for whole hog. But the Rednecks, having a bit too much fun per usual, missed the announcement. “I believe it was

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7th place,” he recalls. “We weren’t even down in the audience. They called Redneck BarB-Q Express, and the ambassador got the trophy and brought it down. We were all in the booth partying.”

ALL IN GOOD FUN

egardless of mishaps with the cooking part of the competition — including a grass-covered hog dropped on the ground as it was being flipped mid-cook (they still won “8th or 9th place” that year, they say), and another ruined because of a failed attempt at brining — partying is something they’ve always managed to get right. In the early days, drunken shenanigans in the Redneck tent could be compared to a wild college bash. One year, a Redneck named Tommy passed out in a fold-out aluminum lawn chair after

The team, in yellow T-shirts, along with family and friends, gather for food, fun, and booze at the Redneck booth during the May 2000 contest.

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a long night of drinking. Pete remembers the moment, laughing until his eyes begin to water. “About 4 o’clock in the morning some friends of ours come walking through the park … and duct-taped his arms and legs to the chair. When he woke up, he was so mad everybody was scared to undo the duct tape.” “The more they laughed, the madder he got,” Woody chuckles. “He finally pulled the arm off where it’s riveted, and then everybody went poof. He was the only person in the tent for probably 45 minutes before anybody would come back.” Another year, shirtless women danced on top of a relocated Memphis in May-owned fiberglass pig, many of which, back then, were scattered around the park. “We decided we needed one of them. So we took our two-wheeler and went and got one and put it right in front of our booth,” Woody says. “[Memphis in May representatives] came by, and we got in trouble for getting the pig, so they took the pig and left. “And we went and got us another pig,” he laughs, and asks Pete, “Was that our first probation?” As one might imagine, the rowdy Red-

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necks have had their fair share of trouble at Memphis in May, including, as they call it, being put on “double secret probation.” This happened after the short-lived Porker Promenade, which was once held to kick off the contest. Participating Barbecue teams lined up on the southern end of Riverside Drive and paraded down to Beale. Pete remembers the promenade’s second year, when the Rednecks pulled a trailer — hauling a jug band and four coolers of beer — behind a 1960 custom-painted red Cadillac hearse. “There were probably 10 people on this trailer,” he says. “And when the parade comes down by the reviewing stand, it’s like Mardi Gras, and they throw beads and doubloons, and we didn’t have anything to throw.” As the parade progressed toward Beale — with the old hearse overheating and dying, having to be jumped off along the way — the

The Porker Promenade was once held to kick off the contest. Participating Barbecue teams lined up on the southern end of Riverside Drive and paraded down to Beale.

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Rednecks drank their beers, and empty cans began to pile up on the trailer. “When we got in front of the review stand, we threw beer cans at the judges, and they did not like that,” Pete laughs. “That was our first double secret probation. And that was the last year they had the Porker Promenade.” The Rednecks have experienced a lot of firsts, and lasts, at the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest. They were the first to create team T-shirts and were even asked to be the official T-shirt concessionaires the second year, though they turned down the offer because, as Woody says, “That’s like work. How are you going to party and do that, too?” They say they were the first team to move out of the gigantic group tent, under which (during the event’s second and third years) all participants cooked, enveloped in an eye-burning cloud of smoke. Being veterans, the Rednecks were given permission to set up on its outskirts in their own tent. And they claim to have been the first to create team stickers with which to tag passersby, a practice that became a huge hit with the Barbecue crowd but has since been “outlawed.” Any stickers spotted in the Redneck tent these days aren’t exactly stickers. “Those are zipper repair devices,” laughs Woody. M A Y 2 0 1 7 • M E M P H I S M A G A Z I N E . C O M • 65

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n its 40-year history, over a thousand different teams have participated in the barbecue contest here in Memphis, and 108 members have graced the Redneck team. Lawyers, accountants, construction workers, private detectives. Some have stuck around for the long haul, though Woody says, “some got married and their wives didn’t want them to be Rednecks.” A handful have gotten the boot. “Some didn’t last very long,” Pete says. “We’ve actually kicked a couple of people out. We had one guy on the team years ago, and he cussed so bad that the wives said, ‘Get this guy out of here!’ You’d think a bunch of rednecks, you wouldn’t really care, but …” Entrance into team Redneck Bar-B-Q Express now requires a $550 membership fee, which goes toward the team’s $12,000 event budget, much less than the tens of thousands some more serious competitors spend. Members must attend planning meetings and be willing to do the work — hauling,

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Woody Coleman (left) and Pete Gross (middle) talk with the Today show’s Al Roker in their tent at an early 2000s Memphis in May Barbecue Contest.

loading, unloading, set-up, and take-down — to enjoy the party. This year’s team includes 19 members, ranging in age from early-30s to mid-70s. Pete, who will be 70 by the time the 40th annual contest rolls around, has now retired from active participation (“I didn’t want to do all the work!” he insists), though meetings are still hosted at his home on the edge of Central Gardens. More than 100 guests and friends stop by the Redneck tent on any given event night. Having been featured on the Food Network, they’ve hosted curious visitors from across the United States and as far away as Ireland. They’ve even hung out with the Today show’s Al Roker. “At one point he was there, relaxing, and I walked over and put my arm around him,” Pete recalls, “and I said, ‘Al, tell me something, how are you going to go back to New York City and tell all your friends you hung out with a bunch of rednecks?’ He goes, ‘How do you know I don’t do that in New York?’”

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Shout-out to the

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We leave you with the wisdom of Scout: “Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read. One does not love breathing.”

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For a team of guys who are in it for the fun, they still cook some good barbecue and have been asked to cater for Beale Street Music Festival entertainers (which they did, in 1996). For competition, they’ve stuck with whole hog, which they inject and rub with a secret blend of seasonings, but it’s a hard category to win. Unlike ribs or pork shoulders, it’s essentially a one-shot deal. “You’ve got to get every aspect of [the hog] done at the same time, and there’s different thicknesses, so it’s really tough,” Pete explains. And the competition is fierce these days, with barbecue heavyweights from around the world eyeing the grand prize. While the Rednecks aren’t expecting a big win, they have stepped up their game to keep up with the changing times. “Until three years ago we cooked on a homemade grill,” Woody recalls. “You had to stay up all night and fan it and keep the rain off of it, tend the fire. [Today] they can just come in and set the temperature and go to sleep.” Pete agrees. “The grill that first year, the way we checked the temperature was, well, you’d put your hand on the grill and count how long you could hold it, and say, ok, a little more fire on this end, a little less fire on that end. When you bring all these fancy, sophisticated computer controls into it, it doesn’t create the same level playing field for everybody. It takes the romance out of it.” “So we gave in and bought a Backwoods Smoker,” referencing a commercial competition grill; an upgrade, but one that still only has space for a single whole hog. “That was a big step,” Woody admits. Even though their team is first in seniority among those who have competed in Memphis’ biggest cooking contest, Redneck Bar-B-Q Express has never taken home the grand prize. But they do have a one-of-a-kind prized trophy: “The Grand Champion Old Dog,” made for them by friends at the Metal Museum, a place they’d once used as a staging area — and maybe stored their gear. Again with the bickering spurred by blurred memories, and fueled by another round of drinks, Woody says, “One year we kept it in that building …” “We never kept anything there,” Pete retorts. Woody comes back, “We did because …” “OK, I’ll let you have that one,” Pete says, leveling the score for the day’s minor Redneck arguments. “The Metal Museum guys would always come down and visit us at Memphis in May, and they really got irritated at the fact that we never won, so they made us our own trophy,” Pete continues. “It says Grand Champion Old Dog.” And that just might be the best measure of the Rednecks’ Barbecue success.

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ONWARD AND UPWARD!

t an early April planning meeting, with just over a month before the big event, the Rednecks, minus a couple, gathered around Pete’s kitchen island, drinking their chosen potion — beer, gin, vodka, bourbon — as they, surprisingly, rolled through an agenda with much more organization than a bystander may have anticipated. Old-timers who’ve been on the team 20 or 30 years chime in on logistics. Should they buy a brand-new tent? What about the flooring? But the team’s younger members have, for the most part, taken the reins. A sponsor night has been added. A new T-shirt design is unveiled. Votes are taken. Decisions are made. While the notoriously party-hearty longtime Rednecks may have gained a bit of a reputation for goofing off, the new blood is

The competition is fierce these days, with barbecue heavyweights from around the world eyeing the grand prize. While the Rednecks aren’t expecting a big win, they have stepped up their game to keep up with the changing times. more interested in a win. A shift in competition cooks and tactics afforded them an upward climb in last year’s competition, moving them up about a dozen spots. Of the 37 teams competing in the whole hog category this year, they hope to at least crack the top 10, a feat the Rednecks haven’t accomplished in quite a while. For the new generation of Rednecks, being part of a team with 40 years of Memphis in May history has its perks, but progress is key. Perhaps the Redneck parties aren’t quite as wild as they were in the 1980s or 1990s, but two Old Dogs are still looking forward to their 40th year out at Tom Lee Park. “All I want to do is cook the best barbecue we can for our friends and hope we win,” Woody says. “We’ve got second generation, and one day we’ll have third generation on the team. Nobody else does. I’ll be at the 50th.” “Keep in mind, it wasn’t our goal Year One to do this for 40 years. It was our goal just to have fun,” Pete adds. “It just so happened that we’ve created a team — an ongoing friendship, camaraderie — that everybody enjoys.” So when you’re down in Tom Lee Park this Barbecue season, listen for the Redneck cheer — “Give me an R! Give me an E!” It will certainly lead you right to the real party.

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A Feast for the Eyes

200 Years of American Still-Life Painting from the Hevrdejs Collection

April 22 - July 30, 2017 Memphis Brooks Museum of Art ORGANIZED BY THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, HOUSTON Featuring rarely seen works by major American artists—including Raphaelle Peale, John F. Peto, Thomas Hart Benton, Georgia O’Keeffe and Andrew Wyeth—this exhibition celebrates the history of still-life painting in the United States. Drawn from a private collection, these pictures represent an extraordinary range of subject matter, from fruit and flowers to images of guns and game. Among the major works in the exhibition Raphaelle Peale, Orange and Book, c. 1817, oil on canvas, the Frank and Michelle Hevrdejs Collection. Thomas R. Dubrock, photographer. are John F. Peto’s vibrant and haunting trompe l’oeil painting, The Writer’s Table—A Precarious Moment (1892) and Andrew Wyeth’s strikingly somber Christina’s Teapot (1968).

brooksmuseum.org

Art from everywhere. An experience for everyone.

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GREAT MEMPHIS HOMES

A PERFECT FIT

by a n n e cu n n ingh a m o ’ n eill | photography by c hip pa n k ey

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A Hein Park home serves as a showcase for the designs of Rachael Ray.

his is a “great” Memphis home on so many levels that I hardly know where to begin. Located in the beautiful Hein Park neighborhood off North Parkway (near Rhodes College)

and built in 1910, the house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Its stellar provenance is that until last year, it was the home of the late D’Army Bailey, famed civil rights activist, judge, and attorney, and his wife Adrienne. Today, it is being extensively renovated by new owner, Tom Crissey, a FedEx pilot, whose previous homes have been in Cooper-Young and Chickasaw Gardens. To add to all this, the exciting news is that the gorgeous furniture throughout the house is from Rachael Ray’s new home furnishings collection.

above: This long view through the living room to the new media room encapsulates Rachael Ray's light, bright, and affordably luxurious style.

inset: The classically designed red brick façade belies all the extensive modern updates within and outside the home.

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great memphis homes

Out with the old dining room and in with a highly functional, streamlined kitchen. (Is it really a surprise that in Rachael Ray’s world, the kitchen takes pride of place in the home?)

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The back story is this. Crissey’s good friend, Michael Murray, is General Manager of Rachael Ray Home, and he enthusiastically jumped at the chance to be in charge of reimagining the house. Of course, we all know that the multitalented, 48-year-old Rachael Ray is famous for her syndicated daytime television program, her 22 cookbooks and

various cookware, Rachael Ray Every Day magazine, and her Nutrish line of dog and cat foods. But, she’s been more shy about sharing her longstanding passion for all things home design, having designed her own homes in Upstate New York and Greenwich Village. So, it was a very natural extension of her brand when she launched Rachael Ray Home

Michael Murray is a self-taught designer/builder whose mantra is “re-use, repurpose, and restore.”

top: Multitalented Rachael Ray with her designer, home collection general manager, and very good friend Michael Murray.

center: Framed with windows, the light-ﬁlled new media room is elegant but cozy and a welcome addition to the home's living spaces.

bottom: One wall of the modern new kitchen with gleaming ﬂoor-to-ceiling cabinets, stove, and cooktop.

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great memphis homes

Rachael Ray fell in love with Jack Robinson’s amazing celebrity studio portraits, several of which are in the house. in the spring of 2016. Crissey will live in the home, although at the same time, in Murray’s words, it will serve as “a design lab” where he experiments with new concepts for Ray’s home furnishing collections, and as an event venue for major fundraisers. Murray tells me that Ray loves travel and she is also a self-described “music fanatic.” She is an advocate for children everywhere and, in fact, the home will be the site for an event

in November to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. All of this makes Memphis a perfect fit for Rachael Ray. Ray gave a shout-out to Murray in a recent cover story in USA Today Home Magazine as her “design partner.” He clearly loves his work, seeing himself as her “translator” — turning her design ideas into realities, although he admits that the pace is insane and that he basically lives in airport lounges.

top: The stylish living room positively sparkles with its mix of rustic textures and metallic details, all incorporating Rachael Ray’s favorite unifying “greige” color scheme.

above: A self-declared “music fanatic,” Ray just had to have the incredible photograph of Tina Turner in action, which certainly livens up the stairway leading to the top ﬂoor.

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Murray was in Memphis recently and kindly gave us a wonderful personal tour of the home, which is nearing completion. He told me he fell in love with renovating houses at an early age, and that he is a self-taught designer/builder whose mantra is “re-use, repurpose, and restore.” The extensive renovations to this vintage great home that he reeled off include turning the old porte-cochere (too narrow for today’s vehicles) into a sunporch/breakfast room and transforming the old dining room into a new modern kitchen. With a nod to the importance of aging in place, the former kitchen is now a downstairs bedroom. The old sunroom has been reborn as the media room, and the basement boiler room is a guest suite.

The cool tones of the entry hall are enlivened by the pop of color provided by the blue glass bowl.

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The driveway was moved to the opposite side of the home, a pool is being added, and the coach house has become a guest house. All I can say is, “Whew!” The expert work on the house is being done by those whom Murray calls “his buddies,” including Aguilar Construction and Kaiser Flooring, among many others. In the course of the project, he is partnering with Memphis’ own Worlds Away and Worlds Apart to accessorize the home. Also, I was told that Rachael Ray fell in love with Jack Robinson’s amazing celebrity studio portraits, several of which are in the house. These are available through the Jack Robinson Gallery on South Front Street, where Dan Oppenheimer is president. Murray explained how the furnishings of the home will tell Ray’s design story, as every piece is a part of Rachael Ray Home and is manufactured by Legacy Classic Furniture and Craftmaster Furniture. Murray used three collections from Ray’s line, Highline, Soho, and Upstate, curating from a total of 130 pieces. To these will soon be added Rachael’s newest whole home collec-

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tion, Cinema, youth furniture, and casual dining, as well as lighting and rugs. Ray’s furniture is available at Sensational Sofas in Germantown. In total, her furnishings are currently in more than 400 stores nationwide — with more to come — and are aimed at a middle-market price point and represent great values. The historic old home is now so light and airy that it positively sparkles. The dark walnut f loors were stained a light “greige color,” which is a favorite of Ray’s. The furniture is light as well, and the rooms seem to glow. Murray put quartzite on the fireplace surround, and he tells me he likes to mix contrasting colors and materials, such as “the metallic with the rough.” He always has three to five accessories on a table (a

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design tip!), and is an ardent advocate for the transformative powers of paint. His “go to” colors are Revere Pewter and Pure White by Benjamin Moore. As he likes to say, “Paint it and if it moves, paint it again.” He also believes strongly (as does Rachael Ray) that you don’t have to be rich to live well or have a home that welcomes you the moment you walk in. Despite the home’s high taste levels, details such as unlined linen draperies and light fixtures available at typical big box retailers still abound. I cannot resist using one of Ray’s most famous expressions to describe this beautiful great home: “Yum-o!” By the way, this is also the name of Rachael Ray’s nonprofit organization that empowers kids and their families to develop healthy relationships with food and cooking. She is an entrepreneur, a philanthropist, and now, I am happy to say, a friend of Memphis.

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Pyramid Stone is happy to have been selected as a local design partner to the Home Project here in Memphis.

Pyramid Stone is your local family owned source for a curated collection of directly imported marble, and quartzite. Our Midtown location showcases equally amazing choices for cabinetry, tile, and plumbing fixtures. We would love to be your partner for your next remodeling adventure!

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Go Red For Women ^6

THE A MER IC A N HE A RT ASSOCI ATION CONTIN UES TO BAT TLE HE A RT DISE ASE .

very 80 seconds, a woman dies of cardiovascular disease, which is a statistic the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women campaign is striving to change. The campaign launched in 2004 with a simple goal: increase women’s awareness of their leading killer — heart disease. Since then, around 280 fewer women die each day of heart disease and stroke, and more women are aware of their risk factors. “Eighty percent of cardiovascular disease is preventable through a healthy lifestyle,” says Kim Cherry, senior vice president of communications for First Tennessee and the chair of the 2017 Go Red for Women campaign in Memphis. “It is so important for us to do whatever we can to not only raise awareness of this health threat among women, but also to educate women about the healthy habits necessary to live a heart-healthy life.” Since last summer, Cherry and fellow campaign leaders have been fundraising and planning for the 2017 Go Red for Women

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Eat the Rainbow ^6 THE SECR ET WAYS FOOD COLOR A FFECTS YOUR HE A LTH. by a n ge l a s ta n c i l r egister ed dietiti a n

PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY GO RED FOR WOMEN

above: Katina Rankin, evening news anchor with Local 24, has served as emcee of the Go Red for Women Luncheon since 2015. top right: Nikki Culver modeling in the 2016 Go Red for Women Survivor Fashion Show, held during the Go Red for Women Luncheon. above right: Henry Grimes, 4, struts his stuff during the Go Red for Women Survivor Fashion Show at the 2016 Go Red for Women Luncheon. Grimes was diagnosed with tetralogy of fallot at just two days old and underwent open heart surgery at three months old. He is one of the many local survivors who participates in the annual fashion show, a highlight of the Go Red for Women Luncheon.

Local AHA Events 2017 Go Red for Women Luncheon Thursday, June 1, 2017 The Great Hall & Conference Center 1900 S. Germantown Rd., Germantown, TN For more information, contact Mary.Jenkins@heart.org

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2018 Mid-South Heart Walk

Saturday, April 28, 2018 Court Square Park For more information, contact Mary.Jenkins@heart.org

ne of the best things you can do for your body is to make healthier food choices. Research has shown that filling up on fruits and vegetables can reduce the risk of chronic diseases including heart disease, obesity, and even some forms of cancer. At the same time, choosing whole grains, low-fat dairy, and lean proteins helps your body get the vital nutrients such as calcium, fiber, and vitamins it needs to stay or become strong and healthy. But did you know the color of food makes a difference? You’ve probably heard that choosing different colored foods at each meal promotes variety. This is important not only because certain foods are better sources of a particular nutrient than others, but also because foods work together to deliver nutrients they can’t provide alone. For example, foods rich in vitamin C such as tomatoes, bell peppers, or oranges help with absorption of iron, which is found in whole grains and leafy greens. Meals containing mostly hues of white, tan, or brown tend to include more starches and fried foods and not as many vegetables or fruits. They are also more likely to be higher in added sugars, sodium, and calories. Having a variety of colors on your plate suggests more food groups are represented and in turn that the meal is better balanced. Read on to learn more about the colors to include at every meal and how each color could impact your health.

Red, Orange, Blue, and Violet

These colors are produced by molecules called anthocyanins and anthocyanidids and are commonly found in berries, eggplant, red and purple grapes, red cabbage, red wine, and sweet cherries. Anthocyanins belong to a class of substances called flavonoids that are thought to help enhance memory and prevent age-related decline in mental function. Research has also suggested that foods rich in these pigments may be associated with lower risks of cancer and cardiovascular disease.

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Bright Yellow, Red, Green, and Orange

Pigments called carotenoids give foods bright red, yellow, orange, and green coloring. Some carotenoids are converted to retinol (vitamin A) which has important roles in proper immune function, growth and development, and maintaining eye health. Carotenoids also function as an antioxidant in the body, protecting cells from damage. Sources of dietary carotenoids include cantaloupe, sweet potatoes, carrots, broccoli, kale, and squash.

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Dr. Lee is a general dentist in East Memphis. She and her team are friendly, caring, experienced, and ready to give you the smile you’ve always wanted. They keep up with new innovations and technology in dentistry to be certain the best service is offered to every guest. Dr. Lee is also certiﬁed to do Six Month Smiles which is short term braces for adults and provides implants to replace missing teeth. She has studied bite problems extensively and is an expert in smile design and delivering optimal oral function and comfort to her patients. Call us now so you can have your Beautiful Smile for Life.

Green

The green coloring of plants is produced by chlorophyll. This pigment is very common in cruciferous vegetables and is found in plants such as broccoli, spinach, kale, brussels sprouts, and cabbage. In addition to being good sources of vitamins, minerals, and fiber, cruciferous vegetables produce compounds (indoles and isothiocyanates) during cooking, chewing, and digestion that are thought to inhibit the development of cancer cells. As if that isn’t enough, they may also help to decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease through their abilities to decrease inflammation.

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Colorless

Flavonoids are actually mostly colorless but they are an important nutrient for good health. There are more than 5,000 flavonoids that have been grouped into six categories: flavanols (found in grapes, apples, onions, and cranberries); flavones (celery, lettuce, and brussels sprouts); flavanones (citrus fruits); flavan-3-ols (white wine, chocolate, teas, and legumes); isoflavones (soybeans and soy products); and anthocyanodins (red and purple fruits and vegetables). These compounds help to prevent cell damage, decrease inflammation, and play a role in regulating blood sugar. Using color as a guide is a great way to ensure your family is meeting nutrition recommendations for a healthy lifestyle. Not only does color add excitement to an otherwise boring plate, it also provides useful information about the health benefits of your favorite foods. Choosing a variety of fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables can be a simple way to balance your plate, make a meal more interesting, and improve your health overall.

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Nikki with husband, Brian.

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^6 Nikki Culver

n a seemingly normal spring day in 2015 at the age of 33, Nikki Culver suffered a massive heart attack. While walking to her car on her lunch break, she felt an immense pressure on her chest, and she knew something wasn’t right. After calling her husband to pick her up, she went back into her office to lie down. “It felt to me like I was having an anxiety attack,” Culver recalls. “By the time my husband arrived, I had thrown up and just felt awful. But it never crossed my mind that I could be having a heart attack.” Culver’s husband, Brian, drove her to her doctor’s office, where she described her symptoms to her primary physician and how she thought it was just bad indigestion. Her doctor tested her for acid reflux, which came back negative. “He decided the next step was to do an electrocardiogram [EKG],” Culver says. “After the first one, he came back in and ran the test again. At that point, I really began to get nervous.” After the second test, her doctor and staff left Culver and her husband in the exam room, where they were both puzzled at the staff’s reaction and exit after the test. Within moments, they learned why. “My doctor came back in and told me an ambulance was on its way to take me to the emergency room,” she says. “I don’t think it ever hit me that I was having a heart attack until I heard the word spoken by a paramedic in the ambulance.” Culver was in good health, didn’t smoke, and had no significant family history of heart disease. She was still in shock at the news when she arrived at Methodist Hospital-Germantown, where she was taken to the catheterization lab for additional testing. It was there doctors discovered the cause of her heart attack. Her left anterior descending artery — which is often referred to as the “widow-maker” because survival rates are so low when it becomes blocked — was nearly 100 percent blocked. The only treatment option was emergency bypass surgery. “I still didn’t realize how serious it was,” she says. “In my mind, I had no idea I was about to

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Drs. Darrell and Kathryn Sneed of Collierville â&#x20AC;&#x153;Wear Redâ&#x20AC;? in February in recognition of Heart Health month as well as Dental Health month. Drs. Sneed dedicate their lives to both heart health and dental health in both their lifestyle and their careers. Dr. Darrell Sneed, an interventional cardiologist, has committed himself to helping educate patients on ways to prevent and recover from cardiac disease. He works for Stern Cardiovascular Foundation in Germantown and Southaven. His wife, Dr. Kathryn Sneed, a general and cosmetic dentist, provides dental care for children and adults in her practice Sneed Dental Arts, which has locations in Collierville and Cordova. Together they recognize and emphasize the impact that every day choices such as nutrition, exercise, and overall wellness has on the entire body. From the mouth to the heart, our health is impacted by routine care and maintenance. Drs. Darrell and Kathryn Sneed understand the importance of heart and dental health, and hope that they share their passion with their Collierville community and beyond.

Kathryn A. Sneed DMD, MBA, FAGpO, FMii

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go back for a major surgery.” The procedure did not go as smoothly as doctors hoped. The left side of Culver’s heart stopped beating, and she was placed on a ventilator while they waited to see if she would require additional surgery to get it beating again. After a few days, her heart began to pump on its own. “My blood pressure was so low that they couldn’t keep me fully sedated,” she says. “Every time someone would come into my room, I would wake up.” After two weeks, Culver was finally able to go home, but things didn’t return to normal for the Somerville, Tennessee, native. “I spent the first two months sleeping in the recliner, and even when I did return to my bed, my husband had to lift me up when I got up each morning,” she says. “My whole lifestyle had to change, which was definitely an adjustment.” Culver had to adopt a heart-healthy lifestyle, which included omitting salt from her diet and limiting her fluid intake. In June 2015, she had an implantable defibrillator placed in her chest as she was at a high risk for cardiac arrest due to heart failure. “I’m also living with congestive heart failure and a leaky heart valve,” she says. “I also have low blood pressure from all the medication, which is the most difficult thing to deal with. I get dizzy walking or standing up sometimes, but I can’t really do anything about it because I can’t go on any additional medication.” Through it all, Culver has maintained a positive outlook. “After surgery, doctors told my family that if I had waited even 45 more minutes to go to the doctor, I wouldn’t have made it,” she says. “I refuse to let my heart disease stop me from doing the things I love with the people I love.”

AHA offers support with Rise Above Heart Failure initiative

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More than 6 million Americans are living with heart failure, a chronic, progressive condition in which the heart is unable to pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs. That number is expected to increase by 40 percent over the next 15 years. In response to this public health issue, the American Heart Association launched Rise Above Heart Failure, a national initiative aimed at changing the course of the disease through awareness, education, and support. The initiative plans to increase awareness of heart failure and its symptoms and treatments, promote a heart failure dialogue, inspire people living with heart failure and their loved ones to take a more active role in their care, encourage all people to make small changes that can lead to healthier lifestyles, and bring together an alliance of influential organizations to collectively support the goal of reducing the impact of heart failure. For more information, visit riseabovehf.org

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Recognizing heart-healthy success in the Mid-South

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icah Peterson was just 15 when he made the decision to change his life forever. “I was about 15 years old, and I was with my mom at her appointment with her gastric surgeon,” he recalls. “I remember seeing this man who had to be 900 pounds taking up a whole row of chairs and struggling so hard to get up that he nearly passed out. Something just clicked in my brain; from that day forward and after my mom’s gastric bypass surgery, I committed to drastically changing my lifestyle.” Over the course of the next 10 years, Peterson dropped more than 100 pounds through diet and an active lifestyle. His success led to him being recognized with the American Heart Association’s Lifestyle Change Award at the 2016 Mid-South Heart Walk and Red Dress Dash. The Lifestyle Change Award, which is sponThe sored locally by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee, is awarded to individuals who have made positive changes to improve their quality of life and health. Each quarter, the American Heart Association accepts nominations for the award, and a committee picks the winner after reviewing the nomination. Rachel Riley was awarded the Lifestyle Change Award for the third quarter. Riley was nominated by Krista Robinson, owner of PT Squared, a physical therapy and personal training center in Collierville. “Rachel came to us for physical therapy after rotator cuff surgery,” Robinson wrote in her nomination. “She enjoyed the exercise so much that she began working out with one of our personal trainers.” In the year and a half Riley has been working with the trainers at PT Squared, her cholesterol, body mass index, and blood pressure have also dropped significantly. significantly. “She has changed her eating hab its and looks totally different,” Robinson wrote. “Except for her smile!” Thee American Heart Association is accepting nominaTh tions for the fourth-quarter Lifestyle Change Award. Thenomination The nominationform form cancan be downloaded be downloaded directly directly from from the organization’s the organization’s blog at heartmemphis.wordblog at heartmemphis. wordpress.com press.com or can beorprovided can be provided by e-mailing by e-mailing lori. lori.pope@heart.org. pope@heart.org. The deadline for nominations The deadline is May for31st. nominations is May 31st.

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DI S C O V E R Y PA R K OF A ME R IC A

three-story Human Slide. A vast metal sculpture of a jovial figure in a cap holding a globe forms the exterior support for the slide, which takes visitors back down to the lower level in a big hurry. The slide, which was fabricated in Germany and assembled in Chicago, was named number two in the world by the Rough Guides travel website. It sees near constant use by children of all ages.

Maine, and had to get them shipped here and restored. That was a big problem,” says Rippy. “It cost more to get the trains from Maine to Discovery Park than it did to buy the

KIRKLAND STAYED TRUE TO HIS PEOPLE AND COMMUNITY, AND DISCOVERY PARK OF AMERICA IS HIS WAY OF GIVING BACK.

E C L E C T IC C OL L E C T ION

f the interior of the Discovery Center is filled with an eclectic assortment of exhibits and artifacts, that goes double for the 50-acre Discovery Park. In the shadow of the Space Age metal tower is a collection of pioneer-era log cabins saved from decay in the surrounding area. “We started out with two or three log cabins. They were picked up and moved here. We ended up with 14 log cabins given to us. But when you are given a log cabin, you need to get ready to spend some money,” says Rippy.

The statue of Davy Crockett stands among the 14 authentic log cabins that have been transported to the Discovery Park from their original sites.

Extensive steps were taken to find and preserve all of the outdoor artifacts. “We had this theory: If we’re going to put it out there, we’re going to make it the best. If we’re not, we’re not going to do it,” says Rippy. “We don’t bring anything out that we don’t recondition.” Beyond the cabins, a cavernous barn houses a collection of rare tractors, some dating back more than a century. All of them have been fully restored to running condition. On the other side of the North Lake is an old grist mill that began its life in Virginia before being moved to Pigeon Forge before the Discovery Park staff found it. “We tore it down and brought it back. We had two old men actually rebuild the building from scratch. There are no nails in it. It took two years,” says Rippy. On the other side of the Center is a geodesic dome filled with historic items from the

trains,” says Bonderant. “But then we had them completely restored, and they’re beautiful. When you go out there, there are five full-sized cars that you can go through to experience what it was like to travel on train cars back in the day.”

Each one of the park’s extensive collection of vintage tractors has been restored to running order.

Space Race, including a rare test model of the Lunar Orbiter spacecraft, which paved the way for the Apollo moon landings. By the South Lake is an actual nineteenth-century church that was reconstructed on the property. Bondurant says the chapel is an example of Kirkland’s attention to detail. “He micromanaged all this. He got so particular that, when they put the chapel up, he changed the paint over a door with stained glass from one color white to another color white.”

A collection of vintage railway cars, imported from Europe by way of Maine, is among the Discovery Park’s most popular attractions.

One of the most impressive sights in the park is the extensive collection of restored trains that surround a recreated depot by the South Lake. In the middle of the last century, European travelers went in style in these now-restored passenger cars. “The trains were made in Sweden, and they were shipped to Maine,” says Rippy. “We bought them in

GI V ING B A C K

aken as a whole, the park is a look inside the minds, interests, and fascinations of an entire community,

This 1960s-vintage Lunar Orbiter spacecraft, actually used by NASA, is located in a geodesic dome with other rare space travel artifacts.

filtered through the coordinating influence of Kirkland. “I still go out and read stuff I have never seen before, and I’ve been here since Day One,” says Rippy. Through good fortune and hard work, Kirkland was able to amass a fortune. But he still stayed true to his people and community, and Discovery Park of America is his way of giving back, says Bondurant. “He is a world traveller. But he knows people in Obion County aren’t. Kids stand there and stare at the escalator because they’ve never seen one. We’re in a very rural, not-wealthy area. He wanted people to get to see and experience some things he has been able to see and experience.” Discovery Park of America 830 Everett Blvd. Union City, TN 38261 731-885-5455 discoveryparkofamerica.com M A Y 2 0 1 7 • M E M P H I S M A G A Z I N E . C O M • 91

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PET GUIDE

More than Man’s Best Friend Service animals are more than pets — they save lives.

by shara clark

nox’s best friend has already saved his life twice. Seven-year-old Knox was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of 2, and with the deadly risk of his blood sugar dipping too low, his mother, Ashley Bittick, knew she had to have a plan. “I do a blood glucose check on him 10 to 12 times a day, and he gets a minimum of four shots a day,” Bittick says. “Every time he eats, he has to get insulin, but if his sugar is low, he would have liquid sugar — a juice box or something of that nature — to immediately bring up his blood sugar.” several options and let the dogs interact with Knox. When Nellie went up to him, they immediately bonded.” Much of the training for service dogs includes standard obedience training, as service dog recipients often take their animals into public places. For diabetic alert dogs, the process also involves scent work. In the early phases of Nellie’s training, while she was housed at the Senatobia facility, Bittick would watch at home for Knox’s sugar to drop. “When he would drop to 70 or under, I would have to put a cotton ball in his mouth

Knox and Nellie stand with Charles Dwyer at the Mississippi-based nonproﬁt Retrieving Freedom, where service dogs are trained for placement.

After 18 months of rigorous training, a portion of which was done in public spaces to address possible distractions, Nellie came home with Knox.

Nellie and Knox bonded immediately and have since grown inseparable. Knox knows his best friend is by his side if an emergency arises.

PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY ASHLEY BITTICK

While a sudden change in Knox’s behavior is typically a good indicator of a blood-sugar dip, “One low blood sugar can kill,” Bittick says, so she sought out another tool — a diabetic alert dog. Through the Senatobia, Mississippi-based nonprofit organization Retrieving Freedom, Knox met Nellie, a yellow lab who, over the course of 18 months, has grown to be much more than a pet. “Knox actually picked her out,” Bittick, a mother of three who lives in Arlington, says. “When we went down there, they gave him

and saturate it,” she says. “I couldn’t touch it; he would spit it into a glass vial, we’d double-Ziploc it, and freeze it.” The package would be dated and marked with Knox’s blood sugar level. After collecting several saturated cotton balls during each low-sugar episode, the Bitticks would pass them off to the trainer, who’d thaw out the samples and work with Nellie to recognize the scent. Since the thawed cotton balls didn’t always retain a strong odor, the next phase of training involved “live alerts,” where Knox and Nellie worked one-on-one to teach Nellie that the cotton ball and Knox’s low-sugar scent were one and the same. “Of course, we wouldn’t always know when his sugar was going to drop, but there were times we were training [in person] and it would drop, and we would work with her in a short period of time to identify the low sugar,” says Bittick. Nellie has been taught to paw at Knox or his mother when she senses a low-sugar episode. She has responded to two live alerts

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since coming home with the Bitticks last October. The next step in Nellie’s ongoing training will involve a push-button alarm system that she can set off if Knox’s sugar drops too low during the night. Working “Their relationship with Nellie, Bittick has gained is on another level a greater sense because it’s so much of assurance that her son more personal. It’s won’t be impedbigger than just ed by his diaghaving a dog. They’re nosis. And Knox has gained a inseparable. They’re life-saving budbest friends.” dy. “Their relationship is on — Ashley Bittick another level because it’s so much more personal,” says Bittick. “It’s bigger than just having a dog. They’re inseparable. They’re best friends.” “It’s incredible — the bonds that these dogs form with their people,” says Charles Dwyer, co-president and co-founder of Retrieving Freedom. Dwyer has trained dogs since 1999, originally for hunting and competition, but moved to training service dogs a few years later. “I started meeting veterans who had been affected by IEDs and saw how these dogs were able to help them get through the day,” Dwyer says, “and helped save their lives in a number of instances. So I shifted gears from training dogs for sport to training dogs to save people’s lives.” Opened in 2010, Retrieving Freedom, the only facility of its kind in the Mid-South, first worked to place service dogs with disabled veterans and veterans suffering with PTSD. Today, they also train diabetic alert dogs, like Nellie, as well as dogs that assist autistic children. For autistic children and veterans, the aim is not only to teach the dogs to provide much-needed services, but also to act as a social bridge. “We want these dogs to take the focus off the individual and draw that attention to themselves,” says Dwyer. While

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“For cases of meltdown or tantrum, these dogs are taught a ‘snuggle’ command, where they get up close to their human and provide pressure. ” — Charles Dwyer autistic children might be bullied in school, While Dwyer says “fake service dogs” — “Now he’s the cool kid with the dog. And that have not been properly trained — have [classmates] are not focusing on the screambecome an issue, if you see a service dog ing that the child might do; they’re focused on a plane, in a restaurant, or anywhere in public, respect the dog and its owner. And on the dog and say, ‘Oh cool, what’s your dog’s name?’ So they get little bits and pieces of keep in mind that the dog is there for an normal conversation that they might not othimportant reason. A dog’s service vest will often be marked with “Do not pet” or “Ask erwise get.” to pet.” When working with autistic children, If it says “Ask to pet,” Dwyer says, “That’s dogs are also taught to be an “anchor” via a the person saying, ‘It’s OK to engage me. But “tethering” training procedure. The child is tethered to the dog’s service vest and holds if it says ‘Do not pet’ or ‘Medical alert dog’ onto a handle while walking with the dog. If — like Knox’s dog — those you don’t want the child moves too far away and drops the to interrupt at all because they’re doing a job handle, that’s a cue and they don’t need for the dog to sit and to be distracted.” Part of Retrieving become an anchor. “That gives mom or Freedom’s mission is dad a chance to get to educate the pubthe child before he lic about the need for runs out into the service dogs, as well parking lot or into as provide an untraffic or possibly derstanding of what they do. gets lost in a department store,” Dwyer “A lot of the men says. and women that we For cases of meltwork with, espedown or tantrum, cially veterans, have t he s e d o g s a r e invisible wounds — taught a “snuggle” post-traumatic stress command, where or a traumatic brain they get up close injury, or you can’t to their human and see that they’ve got provide pressure. a prosthetic leg un“We can temper der a pair of pants,” that pressure based says Dwyer. “These on the child’s need,” dogs are trained to Knox’s mother has gained a greater sense of he says. “If they like a provide a service, assurance that her son won’t be impeded by his and that’s where lot of pressure, we’ll diagnosis. Knox has gained a life-saving buddy. actually teach the [the dogs] get their dog to lay on the child.” This type of presfulfillment — actually being of service.” sure comforts many autistic kids and helps But the owners of service dogs reap the alleviate the severity and length of a tantrum. benefits, too — of the service, and the companionship, their furry friends provide. For disabled veterans who’ve lost one or even all four limbs, Dwyer says, service dogs “These dogs are not judgmental, they’ve can be trained to do as many as 85 different always got your back, they are constantly tasks. They can open and close doors, push monitoring your behavior, alerting for anxand pull a wheelchair, find and pick up car iety or blood-sugar events or any number of things that might cause someone issues over keys and wallets, retrieve items from a rethe course of the day,” Dwyer says. frigerator, and close the fridge behind them. “If someone has a mobility issue, the dog Since its inception, Retrieving Freedom is there to fill in for the person, so that he has placed nearly 100 dogs with people in doesn’t have to bend over, possibly fall, or need through its two locations in Missisfeel vulnerable,” says Dwyer. “We can teach sippi and Iowa. From the Mississippi facilthem to alert, so if someone falls and they ity, dogs have been placed as far north as Minnesota and as far west as Texas. “We can’t get up, the dog can go push a panic place dogs wherever the need is,” says button, which either can alert someone in the house or it can dial [an emergency conDwyer, “based on the person’s commitment to tact] on a cell phone.” making a service dog a part of their life.”

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Siena College Our trivia expert solves local questions of who, what, when, where, why, and why not. Well, sometimes.

by vance lauderdale

top: The Siena College graduating class of 1962. above: Mary Angela Meagher, Miss Christmas Belle of 1961, and Barry Hall, the college’s administration building.

DEAR VANCE: My aunt graduated from Siena College, but there is no trace of such a school in Memphis today. Where was it, and what happened to it? — j.b., memphis.

Anyone seeking a higher education in Memphis has a selection of fine schools: The University of Memphis, Christian Brothers College, Le Moyne-Owen College, and Rhodes College come to mind. But over the years, we have lost a few institutions of higher learning. Space (and heartbreak) prevent me from telling about the sad demise of the Lauderdale University and School of Harvesting, closed by a court order, but another one that has vanished from the local landscape is Siena College, and I don’t mind talking about it, if you pay attention. It has a long and rather complicated history. DE AR J.B.:

The school’s origins actually go all the way back to 1851, when a Catholic order called the Sisters of St. Dominic of the Community of St. Catherine of Siena — did you get all that? — established St. Agnes Female Academy in an impressive building downtown at Vance and Orleans. As the name indicates, this was an all-girls school that quickly established a reputation as one of the finest institutions in the South. Opened with just 35 students, St. Agnes grew and prospered, and though it suffered terrible fires in 1878 and again in 1900, the campus expanded to include a chapel, auditorium, and even a school of music. St. Agnes College opened next to the school in 1922, initially offering a bachelor’s degree (an odd title for a diploma presented to women, don’t you think?) in music, but later expanded Architects abandoned to a more traditional curthe Williamsburg riculum. It was the first Catholic women’s college design, and in Tennessee, Arkansas, dormitories such and Mississippi, and to avoid confusion with the as Xavier Hall were Academy, St. Agnes Colconstructed in a stark lege became Siena College modern style that, in 1939. With all these students, to my eye, clashed from grades one through with the other the senior year of college, space became cramped structures. It’s sad at Vance and Orleans. nobody consulted the In 1947, newspapers announced that Siena ColLauderdales about lege would move to a large such matters. new campus on Poplar, just east of Cherry, on roughly 25 acres of land St. Agnes had owned since 1925. According to the Memphis Press-Scimitar, “Arrangements are being pressed to erect the first new unit, a $500,000 central building, in time for the 1947 school year. However, the ultimate outlook, over the years, is for a completely cloistered women’s college, having several buildings and second to none in quality in the South.” The newspaper explained that the new campus was “in a fashionable district” and “no expense is being spared to design a physical plant architecturally equal or superior to the finest homes nearby.” The school would incorporate the Abe Scharff residence, a large private home that would ultimately house classrooms. But the main administration building, Barry Hall, would be brand-new, following “the design motif of Tidewater Virginia, more commonly known as Williamsburg.” Other buildings would include dormitories, a sisters’ home, library, auditorium, and dining hall. Newspapers announced, “Many prominent Memphians of all faiths have been working diligently for months with Sister Remunda, president of the college, in bringing to fruition plans for an institution from which all institutional feeling has been removed.” From the beginning, Siena College was never

PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY SIENA COLLEGE YEARBOOKS

ASK VANCE

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planned to be a large school; enrollment was planned for only 250 students. Even so, old yearbooks show a thriving college campus, with Greek societies, annual festivities like Miss Siena’s Court, a weekly newspaper, basketball and volleyball teams, fashion shows, May Day processions, faculty/student tea parties, Cap and Gown Day, sophomore picnics, the Siena College Choir, and all sorts of clubs and events. Siena also established links with Christian Brothers College, with its Footlights Club co-producing and performing plays together, and Siena women served as cheerleaders for the various CBC teams. The campus expanded, with the addition of the Benincasa Faculty Residence, Shea Hall, and Sansbury Dining Hall. Along the way, for some reason the architects abandoned the Williamsburg design, and dormitories such as Xavier Hall were constructed in a stark modern style that, to my eye, clashed with the other structures. It’s sad nobody consulted the Lauderdales about such matters. Students earned a bachelor of arts or bachelor of science degree in such traditional subjects as English, Spanish, chemistry, mathematics, biology, and social studies. But the school really never grew as planned. An Echoes yearbook from 1964 shows only 27 seniors. The year before, the school had 30 seniors — and 30 members on the faculty. I’m not an expert on these matters, but I suspect that a student faculty ratio of 1:1 — though good for the student, I suppose — is probably not sustainable, from a money-making viewpoint. By 1970, the little school was losing $50,000 a year. And so it came to pass that readers of the Press-Scimitar noticed the headline on March 4, 1971: “Siena Sadly Gets Order to Close.” The Dominican Order in Louisville, Kentucky, which had taken over the operations of the college, said “financial difficulties” were the main reason for the closing. Classes would continue until December, but the last degrees would be handed out in May 1972, which would allow current juniors and seniors to graduate. Freshmen and sophomores would have to transfer to other schools. Rita Foster, a senior, told a reporter, “It’s a shame. It is a fine liberal arts college, and the blow will not be felt until the school is gone and it is too late to do anything about it.” The buildings remained standing for several years, looking empty and forlorn, but they were finally bulldozed in the mid-1970s. Developers, eager for the prime Poplar Avenue location, transformed the former campus into Oak Court Mall, and an adjacent building houses executive offices for First Tennessee Bank.

Gilmore Seafood Cafe

DEAR VANCE: I turned up an old menu for the Gilmore Seafood Cafe. I know it was located at 1901 Madison, but what happened to it? — g.h., memphis.

It actually became a Memphis landmark, probably admired as much for its architecture as its food. And now? A vacant lot. In 1934, Mary Berryhill opened the Madison Beauty DEAR G.H.:

Shop at the corner of Madison and Barksdale. By the 1940s, the Fashion Beauty Shop moved to that location, remaining in business until 1952, when a father and son, Jack Dorsey Peeples Sr. and Jr., purchased the property and opened the Gilmore Seafood Cafe there. They had established their restaurant in 1944, just down the street on the ground floor of the Gilmore Apartments. I really like the artwork on your old menu, with the antennae of a giant lobster framing a salmon snagged on a hook. “Seafood Is Our Specialty” was the cafe’s motto, and it was a good place for Memphians to find it. But the cafe stayed open for only four more years. In 1956, well-known Memphis restaurateur Herb Anderton purchased the Gilmore and converted it into the pink-and-green showplace it remained for years. Newspapers described the interior design as having “an air of quiet elegance.” That’s not what I would have called it, but I guess they really didn’t know how to describe a place that had a pirate ship as a bar, modernistic cloudlike blobs floating over diners, and a blue-glass panel etched with sea creatures. Anderton’s East remained one of the city’s most popular restaurants until it closed in 2005. The building was pulled down after it was damaged during a storm.

Got a question for vance? EMAIL: askvance@memphismagazine.com

MAIL: Vance Lauderdale, Memphis magazine,

460 Tennessee Street #200, Memphis, TN 38103 ONLINE: memphismagazine.com/ask-vance

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G A R D E N VA R I E T Y

Gate to Gardening The Cooper-Young Garden Walk showcases local gardens with lots of personality.

by christine arpe gang

Gardens in front and back of the 1912 house owned by Becky Frost and Gina Sweat will be open for touring at the Cooper-Young Garden Walk May 20-21. PHOTOGRAPH BY BECKY FROST

love visiting beautiful gardens, learning about them from successful gardeners, going to horticultural lectures and programs, and writing about my observations. Actual weeding, digging, and planting thrill me far less. I began my quest for plant knowledge in 1986 when I joined about 30 others in launching the Memphis Herb Society. It was a heady time when interest in these aromatic and tasty plants was high, but availability of them in their fresh form was sadly lacking unless you grew your own, so I became a gardener. Enthusiasm for this new hobby, I had hoped, would make up for my complete lack of experience in growing anything except a few houseplants. It did not. Unlike many truly great gardeners, I did not learn about plants at the elbow of a parent or grandparent. My mother’s favorite plants were the indestructible plastic geraniums that occupied pots near the front porch until years in the sun bleached the color from their bright red petals. I was 31 when I boldly swung open the gate to the fascinating and complex world of horticulture. I began by soaking up sage advice from my herb buddies, whose gardening knowledge

reached far deeper than a bed of basil at the kitchen door. I marveled at how they could identify wildflowers growing on the side of the road as easily as they selected the rosemary varieties most likely to survive our winters and clay soil. (The educational me has to tell you to look for Salem, Hill Hardy, and Arp — no relation to me, and no typo — rosemary.) As my passion for herbs and gardening grew, I began eagerly volunteering to write articles for the spring planting guides published by The Commercial Appeal. While these extra assignments were typically turned out with little enthusiasm by others on the features staff, I reveled in the opportunity to mine gardening information from local experts and get paid for it, too. What a deal! I should, by now, have a great garden. Sadly it’s not the case. Knowledge doesn’t make up for my laziness on the physical aspects of gardening and absence of the esthetic instinct that guides those who excel at it. My

older sister, by contrast, grew up with the same non-gardening family and has not spent many hours in lecture halls or chatting with experts. But she has always had gardens where individual plants come together in a symphony of colors and textures. Is there, I wondered, a gene that makes some people innately good at gardening? I consulted with Google, my guru on all things, and was not surprised to find abundant information on the genetic manipulation of plants but nothing on a genetic proclivity in some humans that gives them understanding of how to make a garden truly blossom. What I have observed is that artistically talented people like my sister are better at creating gorgeous gardens than those of us who lack those genes. They would never put a pink clematis on a trellis with red honeysuckle like I did. I still don’t know what I was thinking that day. So how can novice, unsatisfied, and yes, untalented gardeners achieve success? Several hours spent snooping in other people’s gardens coupled with stealing some of their ideas is a path worth taking. Luckily there are numerous opportunities to do that starting with the 70 gardens on the second Cooper-Young Garden Walk held May 20-21, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. These are not necessarily perfect gardens, says Kim Halyak, president of the Cooper-Young Garden Club, the organization presenting the event. “These are gardens with personality.” Halyak became smitten with the open garden idea after twice experiencing the country’s largest, the Buffalo (New York) Garden Walk. On a late July weekend a couple of years ago, she and her sister visited 75 or so of the 350 gardens open in that northern city. Most were in neighborhoods similar to Cooper-Young. “The gardens were not like the big professionally landscaped gardens featured on most garden tours,” she says. “They were small and funky.” She and 33 members of her garden club embraced the concept for their neighborhood and last year presented the first Cooper-Young Garden Walk featuring 28 gardens. It was a hit. “One of the participants told me she had the best time of her life showing visitors her garden,” Halyak says. This year’s event offers more than twice as many gardens. “Some people think everything has to be perfect before they commit to opening their gardens,” she says. “But I’m interested in celebrating their energy and creativity no matter where they are in their gardening experience. It’s all about making your space enjoyable.” Numerous restaurants and cafes in the area will offer walkers discounts; artists will open

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their studios; vendors will sell vintage garden items and other wares; educational booths will be manned by master gardeners and representatives of the Memphis Botanic Garden, The Dixon Gallery and Gardens, Lichterman Nature Center, the Memphis Urban Forestry Council, and the Memphis Storm Water Management Program. Lisa Orgler, a garden designer and blogger in Iowa, will speak on “Creating an Out-ofthe-Ordinary Theme Garden.” Other talks will focus on rain barrels and rain gardens. Cooper-Young, a neighborhood of 1,800 bungalows, cottages, shotgun houses, and other examples of early-twentieth-century architecture, is perfect for walkers and bike riders. During the garden walk, riders may safely park their bikes at a dozen or so bicycle valet stations featuring racks and the watchful eyes of volunteers. Lots of ideas can be gleaned at the home and garden of Becky Frost and Gina Sweat beginning with an inviting front porch featuring colorful plants in containers paired with a collection of birdhouses. Sweat, director of Memphis Fire Services, fills vintage fire buckets with verbenas and calibrachoas and hangs them from columns supporting an outbuilding turned “She Shack” in the backyard. The garden of Halyak , a retired school teacher, and her husband, Bill Schosser, begins at the sidewalk with a unique design featuring raised beds so well integrated into the enclosed space you barely notice the structural “boxes.” Halyak’s goal is for the Cooper-Young Garden Walk to continue to grow. “I’d like it be like the Buffalo of the South,” she says, which is attended each year by some 60,000 people. “And I’d really like to see other neighborhoods like Central Gardens, Vollintine-Evergreen, and Buntyn do their own garden walks.” Tickets for the CY garden walk include two-day admission and cost $15 if purchased by May 5; $20 after. Go to cygardenwalk.eventsmart.com Two other upcoming garden tours: Memphis Area Master Gardeners present seven gardens in East Memphis and Germantown on June 3rd at their eighth annual “Behind Our Garden Gates” tour held June 3rd from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. memphisareamastergardeners.org Mid-South Hydrangea Society’s Garden Tour will be held June 11th from noon to 4 p.m. Tickets are $10. Go to dixon.org and click on “news and events.” Christine Arpe Gang has been writing about gardening in Memphis for more than 30 years, primarily for the commercial appeal. She seeks out the best plants and growing techniques to share with her readers and use in her own garden.

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Lauren Harkins Wiuff (901) 682-1868 (901) 859-3565 www.laurenharkinswiuff.com M A Y 2 0 1 7 • M E M P H I S M A G A Z I N E . C O M • 103

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OUR IN-DEPTH GUIDE TO MEMPHIS-AREA RESTAURANTS

PHOTOGRAPHS BY JUSTIN FOX BURKS

CITY DINING

clockwise from left: DWJ 2’s dolsot bibimbap, made up of vegetables, rice, and an egg with a choice of protein, is a highlight of the menu; it’s one of those rare combinations that’s greater than the sum of its parts. The dish arrives to the table in a smoking-hot stone bowl with a spicy gochujang sauce. Customers can also BBQ their own meats at specially designed grill tables. Jun Lee, co-owner of DWJ 2, helps new customers navigate the extensive menu.

TIDBITS

DWJ 2 in Cooper-Young by amy lawrence

always want to find the latest cool but unassuming place with amazing food, and lately, DWJ 2 is it. The original DWJ is on Hacks Cross and was started by the Lee family. Now, brothers Jun Lee and Hwan Lee are partners in DWJ 2, which opened in Cooper-Young in late 2016. The letters in the name reflect the first-name initials of Du (dad), Won (mom), and Jung, which means friendly relationship in Korean. (Son Jun also appreciates that the word starts with the first letter of his own name.) Jun Lee’s mom was always the chef in the house, and while watching her at work in the kitchen, he thought, “I’m really interested in food, so I might as well learn how to cook.”

At DWJ 2, small side dishes are only 50 cents apiece. The three different varieties of kimchi are perfect, and we also love the seasoned zucchini, bean sprouts, and potato salad (seriously!). Goonmandu — pan-fried, oversized half-moon dumplings filled with tofu, cabbage, and green onions — are savory bombs of flavor. We also can’t pass up what is simply called Sizzling Butter Cheese Corn, an apt name for the cast-iron skillet dish. I also recommend ordering the total-comfort-food dolsot bibimbap. It’s served in a stone bowl, which ensures the rice dish forms a sought-after crispy crust at the bottom. It’s topped with lettuce, nori strips, carrots, zucchini, mushrooms, and a

We celebrate our city’s community table and the people who grow, cook, and eat the best Memphis food at

fried egg and is served with beef, chicken, or tofu. Beer, hot and cold sake, and a house red and white are available, but desserts aren’t on the menu yet. A Korean sweet pancake, however, is currently in the works. Before finding DWJ 2, I’d never had a meal at a Korean restaurant. I loved the fast, efficient service, the low-lit, no-fuss atmosphere, and the confidence and expertise inherent in the cooking and presentation of each dish. I also like watching customers use the Korean BBQ grill tables, and those who are up for cooking their own orders are having a blast. DWJ 2, 2156 Young Avenue (901-207-6204) $-$$

MEMPHISMAGAZINE.COM/FOOD-DINING

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CIT Y DINING LIST

emphis magazine offers this restaurant listing as a service 753-2220; 4680 Merchants Park Circle, Carriage Crossing 854-5822. L (Fri.-Sat.), D, SB, X, MRA, $-$$$ to its readers. The directory is not intended as a recommendation of the estab- (Collierville). BONNE TERRE—This inn’s cafe features American cuisine with a lishments included, nor does it list every restaurant in town. It does, however, Southern flair, and a seasonal menu that changes monthly. Offers Angus include most of the city’s finer restaurants, many specialty restaurants, and a representative steaks, duck, pasta, and seafood. Closed Sun.-Wed. 4715 Church Rd. (Nesbit, MS). 662-781-5100. D, X, $-$$$ sampling of other Bluff City eating establishments. No fast-food facilities or cafeterias W. BOSCOS—Tennessee’s first craft brewery serves a variety of freshly are listed, nor have we included establishments that rely heavily on take-out business. brewed beers as well as wood-fired oven pizzas, pasta, seafood, steaks, and sandwiches. 2120 Madison. 432-2222. L, D, SB (with live jazz), Restaurants are included regardless of whether they advertise in Memphis magazine. X, MRA, $-$$ The guide is updated regularly, but we recommend that you call ahead to check on hours, BOUNTY ON BROAD—Offering family-style dining, Bounty prices, and other details. Suggestions from readers are welcome; please contact us. serves small plates and family-sized platters, with such specialties as chicken fried quail and braised pork shank. Closed Mon. 2519 Broad. Email dining@memphismagazine.com. 410-8131. D (Tues.-Sat.), SB, X, $-$$ BOZO’S HOT PIT BAR-B-Q—Barbecue, burgers, sandwiches, specialty cocktails. Closed Sun.-Mon. 964 S. Cooper. 272-0830. D, 148 NORTH—French cuisine meets Southern comfort food here and subs. 342 Hwy 70, Mason, TN. 901-294-3400. L, D, $-$$ X, $ with menu items such as chicken and waffles, duck confit, and Ke’s BRASS DOOR IRISH PUB—Irish and New-American cuisine BAR LOUIE—Serves small plates, flatbreads, sandwiches, burgers, Knuckle Sandwich, made with lobster knuckle and puff pastry. 148 N. includes such entrees as fish and chips burgers, sandwiches, salads, and salads, and such large plate entrees as blackened fish tacos and baked Main (Collierville). 569-0761. L, D, WB, X, $-$$ daily specials. 152 Madison. 572-1813. L, D, SB, MRA, $ mac-and-cheese. 2125 Madison. 207-1436. L, D, WB, X, $-$$ 901 GRILLE & MARKET—Neighborhood market and eatery BROADWAY PIZZA—Serving a variety of pizzas,including the BAR-B-Q SHOP—Dishes up barbecued ribs, spaghetti, bologna; serves burgers, gyros, falafel pitas, hot wings, and more. 711 E. Broadway Special, as well as sandwiches, salads, wings, and “soul-food also pulled pork shoulder, Texas toast barbecue sandwich, chicken Parkway S. 512-6171. B, L, D, $ specials.” 2581 Broad. 454-7930; 627 S. Mendenhall. 207-1546. L, sandwich, and salads. Closed Sun. 1782 Madison. 272-1277. L, D, X, ABUELO’S MEXICAN FOOD EMBASSY—Mejores de la D, X, $-$$ MRA, $-$$ casa — beef and stuffed shrimp — is a specialty here, along with tilapia BROOKLYN BRIDGE ITALIAN RESTAURANT— BARDOG TAVERN—Classic American grill with Italian influence, Veracruz, quesadillas, chili rellenos, and chicken medallions. 8274 Specializing in such homemade entrees as spinach lasagna and lobster Bardog offers pasta specialties such as Grandma’s NJ Meatballs, as well as Highway 64 (Bartlett). 672-0769. L, D, X, $-$$ ravioli; a seafood specialty is horseradish-crusted salmon. Closed salads, sliders, sandwiches, and daily specials. 73 Monroe. 275-8752. B ABYSSINIA RESTAURANT—Ethiopian/Mediterranean menu Sun. 1779 Kirby Pkwy. 755-7413. D, X, MRA, $-$$$ (Mon.-Fri.), L, D, WB, X, $-$$ includes beef, chicken, lamb, fish entrees, and vegetarian dishes; also a BROOKS PHARM2FORK—Serving BARI RISTORANTE lunch buffet. 2600 Poplar. 321-0082. L, D, X, $-$$ fresh vegetables and meats responsibly grown ENOTECA—Authentic Southeastern D I N I N G S Y M B O L S ACRE—Features seasonal modern American cuisine in a stylish setting by area farmers. Entrees include Marmilu Farms Italian cuisine (Puglia) emphasizes lighter using locally sourced products; also small-plates/bar. Closed for lunch Pork Triangle Steak, Old School Salmon Patties, entrees. Serves fresh fish and beef dishes B — breakfast Sat. and all day Sun. 690 S. Perkins. 818-2273. L, D, X, $$-$$$ and Pan Seared Lake’s Catfish. 120 Mulberry. and a homemade soup of the day. L — lunch AGAVE MARIA—Menu items at this Mexican eatery include short (Collierville). 853-7511. D, X, $-$$ 22 S. Cooper. 722-2244. D, SB, X, MRA, rib stuffed poblanos, shrimp and crab enchiladas, and grilled lamb D — dinner BROTHER JUNIPER’S—Breakfast is the $-$$$ chops. 83 Union. 341-2096. L, D, X, $-$$ focus here, with specialty omelets, including BARKSDALE RESTAURANT— SB — Sunday brunch AGAVOS COCINA & TEQUILA—Camaron de Tequila, the open-faced San Diegan omelet; also daily Old-school diner serving breakfast and WB — weekend brunch tamales, kabobs, and burgers made with a blend of beef and chorizo are specials, and homemade breads and pastries. Southern plate lunches. 237 Cooper. X — wheelchair accessible among the offerings at this tequila-centric restaurant and bar. 2924 Closed Mon. 3519 Walker. 324-0144. B, X, 722-2193. B, L, D, X, MRA, $ MRA — member, Memphis Walnut Grove. 433-9345. L, D, X, $-$$ MRA, $ BAYOU BAR & GRILL—New ALCHEMY—Southern fusion, locally grown cuisine features small BRYANT’S BREAKFAST—Three-egg Restaurant Association Orleans fare at this Overton Square eatery and large plates; among the offerings is the pan-seared hanger steak omelets, pancakes, and The Sampler Platter are includes jambalaya, gumbo, catfish $ — under $15 per person without with duck-fat-roasted fingerling potatoes; also handcrafted cocktails among the popular entrees here. Closed Acadian, shrimp dishes, red beans and drinks or desserts and local craft beers. Closed for dinner Sun. 940 S. Cooper. Tuesday. 3965 Summer. 324-7494. B, L, X, $ rice, and muffalettas; also serves some $$ — under $25 726-4444. D, SB, X, $-$$ BUCKLEY’S FINE FILET GRILL— favorites from the former Le $$$ — $26-$50 ALDO’S PIZZA PIES—Serving gourmet pizzas — including Mr. T Specializes in steaks, seafood, and pasta. Chardonnay. 2094 Madison. 278-8626. Rex — salads, and more. Also 30 beers, bottled or on tap. 100 S. Main. (Lunchbox serves entree salads, burgers, and L, D, WB, X, MRA, $-$$ $$$$ — over $50 more.) 5355 Poplar. 683-4538; 919 S. Yates 577-7743; 752 S. Cooper. 725-7437. L, D, X, $-$$ BEAUTY SHOP—Modern American SHADED — new listing (Buckley’s Lunchbox), 682-0570. L (Yates AMERIGO—Traditional and contemporary Italian cuisine includes cuisine with international flair served in a only, M-F), D, X, MRA, $-$$ pasta, wood-fired pizza, steaks, and cedarwood-roasted fish. 1239 former beauty shop. Serves steaks salads, BUNTYN CORNER CAFE—Serving favorites from Buntyn Ridgeway, Park Place Mall. 761-4000. L, D, SB, X, MRA, $-$$$ pasta, and seafood, including pecan-crusted golden sea bass. Closed for Restaurant, including chicken and dressing, cobbler, and yeast dinner Sunday. 966 S. Cooper. 272-7111. L, D, SB, X, $-$$$ ANDREW MICHAEL ITALIAN KITCHEN—Traditional rolls. 5050 Poplar, Suite 107. 424-3286. B, L, X, $ Italian cuisine with a menu that changes seasonally with such entrees as BEDROCK EATS & SWEETS—Memphis’ only Paleo-centric Maw Maw’s ravioli. Closed Sun.-Mon. 712 W. Brookhaven Cl. 347-3569. THE BUTCHER SHOP—Serves steaks ranging from 8-oz. fillets restaurant offering such dishes as pot roast, waffles, enchiladas, chicken to a 20-oz. porterhouse; also chicken, pork chops, fresh seafood. 107 D, X, MRA, $$-$$$ salad, omelets, and more. Closed Sun. 327 S. Main. 409-6433. B, L, D, S. Germantown Rd. (Cordova). 757-4244. L (Fri. and Sun.), D, X, X, $-$$ ANOTHER BROKEN EGG CAFE—Offering several varieties of MRA, $$-$$$ eggs benedict, waffles, omelets, pancakes, beignets, and other breakfast BELLE: A SOUTHERN BISTRO—Brisket in a bourbon brown fare; also burgers,sandwiches, and salads. 6063 Park Ave. 729-7020; 65 CAFE 1912—French/American bistro serving such seafood entrees as sugar glaze, and chicken with basmati rice are among the specialties; grouper and steamed mussels: also crepes, salads, and French onion soup. S. Highland. 623-7122. B, L, WB, X, $ also seafood entrees and such vegetables as blackened green tomatoes. 243 S. Cooper. 722-2700. D, SB, X, MRA, $-$$ Closed for dinner Sun. and all day Mon. 117 Union Ave. 433-9851. L, THE ARCADE—Possibly Memphis’ oldest cafe. Specialties include D, WB, X, $-$$$ sweet potato pancakes, a fried peanut butter and banana sandwich, CAFE 7/24—Specialties at this Southern eatery include Mr. Charles’s and breakfast served all day. 540 S. Main. 526-5757. B, L, D (Thurs.Fried Catfish and slow smoked barbecue ribs. Closed Sun. 94 S. Front. BENIHANA—This Japanese steakhouse serves beef, chicken, and Sat.), X, MRA, $ 590-3360. L, D, X, $ seafood grilled at the table; some menu items change monthly; sushi bar also featured. 912 Ridge Lake. 767-8980. L, D, X, $$-$$$ ASIAN PALACE—Chinese eatery serves seafood, vegetarian items, dim CAFE BROOKS BY PARADOX—Serving grab-and-go pastries, as well as lunch items. Menu includes soups, salads, and sandwiches, such sum, and more. 5266 Summer Ave. 766-0831. L, D, X, $-$$ BHAN THAI—Authentic Thai cuisine includes curries, pad Thai as the Modern Reuben and Grown Up Grilled Cheese. 1934 Poplar noodles, and vegetarian dishes, as well as seafood, pork, and duck A-TAN—Serves Chinese and Japanese hibachi cuisine, complete with (Memphis Brooks Museum of Art). 544-6200. B, L, X, $ entrees. Closed for lunch Sat.-Sun. and all day Mon. 1324 Peabody. sushi bar. A specialty is Four Treasures with garlic sauce. 3445 Poplar, 272-1538. L, D, X, MRA, $-$$ CAFE ECLECTIC—Spanish omelets, and chicken and waffles are Suite 17, University Center. 452-4477. L, D, X, $-$$$ among menu items, along with sandwiches, wraps, and burgers. 603 BLEU—This eclectic restaurant features American food with global AUTOMATIC SLIM’S—Longtime downtown favorite specializes in N. McLean. 725-1718; 111 Harbor Town Square. 590-4645; 510 S. influences and local ingredients. Among the specialties are a 14-oz. contemporary American cuisine emphasizing local ingredients; also Highland. 410-0765. B, L, D, SB, X, MRA, $ bone-in rib-eye and several seafood dishes. 221 S. Third, in the extensive martini list. 83 S. Second. 525-7948. L, D, WB, X, MRA, $-$$$ Westin Memphis Beale St. Hotel. 334-5950. B, L, D, WB, X, $$-$$$ CAFE KEOUGH—European-style cafe serving quiche, paninis, BABALU TACOS & TAPAS—This Overton Square eatery dishes salads, and more. 12 S. Main. 509-2469. B, L, D, X, $ BLUE NILE ETHIOPIAN—Kabobs, flavorful chicken and lamb up Spanish-style tapas with Southern flair; also taco and enchilada of stew, and injera (flatbread) are traditional items on the menu, along the day; specials change daily. 2115 Madison. 274-0100; 6450 Poplar, CAFE OLE—This eatery specializes in authentic Mexican cuisine; one with vegetarian options. 1788 Madison. 474-7214. L, D, X, $-$$ specialty is the build-your-own quesadilla. 959 S. Cooper. 343-0103. 410-8909. L, D, SB, X, $-$$ L, D, WB, X, MRA, $-$$ BLUEFIN RESTAURANT & SUSHI LOUNGE—Serves BAHAMA BREEZE—Baby back ribs, Jamaican chicken wings, and Japanese fusion cuisine featuring seafood, duck, and steaks, with coconut shrimp are among the entrees at this Caribbean-fusion CAFE PALLADIO—Serves gourmet salads, soups, sandwiches, seasonally changing menu; also, a sushi bar and flatbread pizza. Closed and desserts in a tea room inside the antiques shop. Closed Sun. 2169 restaurant. 2830 N. Germantown Pkwy. (Cordova). 385-8744. L, D, for lunch Sat.-Sun. 135 S. Main. 528-1010. L, D, X, MRA, $-$$ Central. 278-0129. L, X, $ X, MRA, $-$$ THE BLUFF—New Orleans-inspired menu includes alligator bites, CAFE PIAZZA BY PAT LUCCHESI—Specializes in gourmet BANGKOK ALLEY—Thai fusion cuisine includes noodle and curry nachos topped with crawfish and andouille, gumbo, po’boys, and fried pizzas (including create-your-own), panini sandwiches, and pasta. dishes, chef-specialty sushi rolls, coconut soup, and duck and seafood seafood platters. 535 S. Highland. 454-7771. L, D, X, $-$$ entrees. Closed for lunch Sat. and all day Sun. at Brookhaven location; Closed Sun. 139 S. Rowlett St. (Collierville). 861-1999. L, D, X, $-$$ call for hours. 121 Union Ave. 522-2010; 2150 W. Poplar at Houston BOMBAY HOUSE—Indian fare includes lamb korma and chicken CAFE PONTOTOC—Serves a variety of internationally inspired Levee (Collierville). 854-8748; 715 W. Brookhaven Cl. 590-2585. L, tikka; also, a daily luncheon buffet. 1727 N. Germantown Pkwy. small plates, as well as salads and sandwiches. Closed Mon. 314 S. D, X, MRA, $-$$ (Cordova). 755-4114. L, D, X, $-$$ Main. 249-7955. L, D, WB, X, $-$$ BAR DKDC—Features an ever-changing menu of international BONEFISH GRILL—Serves wood-grilled fish,as well as steaks, CAFE SOCIETY—With Belgian and classic French influences, “street food,” from Thai to Mexican, Israeli to Indian, along with chicken and pork entrees. 1250 N. Germantown Pkwy. (Cordova). serves Wagyu beef, chicken, and seafood dishes, including baconM A Y 2 0 1 7 • M E M P H I S M A G A Z I N E . C O M • 105

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CIT Y DINING LIST CLUBS/PUBS/SPORTS BARS PRESENTED BY

L AT I N O M E M P H I S

Colombia FESTIVAL 2017

SATURDAY, MAY 13 / OVERTON PARK Grab a partner and Salsa Colombian style!

See a dynamic performance of Colombian style Salsa or “Salsa Caleña”, recognized for its high energy, fast footwork and spectacular lifts and tricks Presented by Cali Salsa Pal Mundo, 2017 World Salsa Summit Champions

Experience a Colombian Zumbathon and much more...

Did you know Zumba was born in Colombia? Join the Zumbathon as a family, see a breathtaking performance by Colombian Folkloric Ballet of Houston, shops arts & crafts, bring your appetite and don’t miss the Colombian Passion Fruit Mojito

Join Futboleros, the Harlem Globetrotters of Soccer See an action-packed interactive freestyle soccer show and learn extraordinary juggling skills

Shop for all things local at the outdoor marketplace Run, jog or walk for unity at the Fiesta 5K Vote for your favorite recipe at the Salsa-Making Championship

$5 suggested donation at the entrance / latinomemphis.org

Grand Season Finale

W H A T B E T T E R WA Y T O E N D O U R 2 8 T H S E A S O N T H A N A C O N C E R T of piano trios performed by master musicians: violinist Soh-Hyun Altino, cellist Leonardo Altino, and pianist Jeannie Yu! We’ll hear Beethoven’s Trio No. 3 in C minor, Cafe Music by Paul Schoenfield, and Brahms’ Trio No. 2 in C Major. Bring your mom for a special treat, or treat yourself to an afternoon of glorious music. JOIN US

Sunday, May 14, 2017 • 3pm

621 SOUTH WILLET, MEMPHIS, TN 38104

for ticket information and directions call 901.758.0150

From Beale Street night spots to neighborhood bars/grills, these places dish out a variety of food. Many offer live entertainment, and patrons can’t miss the large-screen TVs. ALEX’S TAVERN—1445 Jackson. 278-9086. ALFRED’S—197 Beale. 525-3711. MRA. B.B. KING’S BLUES CLUB—143 Beale. 524-5464. MRA. BEALE STREET TAP ROOM—168 Beale. 576-2220. BELMONT GRILL—4970 Poplar. 767-0305; 9102 Poplar Pike (Germantown). 624-6001. MRA. BLIND BEAR SPEAKEASY—119 S. Main, Pembroke Square. 417-8435. MRA. BLUE MONKEY—2012 Madison. 272-2583; 513 S. Front. 5276665. BLUES CITY CAFE—138 Beale. 526-3637. MRA. BROOKHAVEN PUB & GRILL—695 W. Brookhaven Circle. 680-8118. MRA. BUFFALO WILD WINGS—3770 Hacks Cross Rd. 737-9463; 7188 Airways (Southaven). 662-349-7776; 8385 Highway 64. 3809294. DOUBLE J SMOKEHOUSE & SALOON—124 G.E. Patterson. 347-2648. EARNESTINE & HAZEL’S—531 S. Main. 523-9754. MRA. EAST END GRILL—7547 Highway 64. 937-1392; 7956 Winchester Rd. 432-4256. MRA. FLYING SAUCER DRAUGHT EMPORIUM—130 Peabody Place. 523-7468; 1400 Germantown Pkwy. 755-5530. MRA. FOX AND HOUND ENGLISH PUB & GRILL—847 Exocet Dr. 624-9060; 5101 Sanderlin Ave. 763-2013; 6565 Towne Center Crossing (Southaven). 662-536-2200. GREEN BEETLE—325 S. Main. 527-7337. MRA. HADLEY’S PUB—2779 Whitten Rd. 266-5006. HARD ROCK CAFE—126 Beale. 529-0007. HICKORY TAVERN—4600 Merchants Park Cir. 861-0196. HIGH POINT PUB—477 High Point Terrace. 452-9203. HUEY’S—1927 Madison. 726-4372; 1771 N. Germantown Pkwy. (Cordova). 754-3885; 77 S. Second. 527-2700; 2130 W. Poplar (Collierville). 854-4455; 7090 Malco Blvd. (Southaven). 662-3497097; 7825 Winchester. 624-8911; 4872 Poplar. 682-7729; 7677 Farmington Blvd. (Germantown). 318-3030. MRA. JERRY LEE LEWIS’ CAFE & HONKY TONK—310 Beale. 654-5171. KING JERRY LAWLER’S HALL OF FAME BAR & GRILLE—159 Beale. 523-1940. KING’S PALACE CAFE—162 Beale. 521-1851. MRA. MAX’S SPORTS BAR—115 G.E. Patterson. 528-8367. MRA. MEMPHIS SPORTS PUB—5012 Park Ave. 767-8632. MIDTOWN CROSSING GRILLE—394 N. Watkins. 443-0502. MURPHY’S—1589 Madison. 726-4193. MRA. NEIL’S MUSIC ROOM—5727 Quince Rd. 682-2300. NEWBY’S—539 S. Highland. 730-0520. OLD ZINNIE’S—1688 Madison. 726-5004. PATRICK’S—4972 Park Ave. 682-2852. MRA. P & H CAFE—1532 Madison. 726-0906. PIG ON BEALE—167 Beale. 529-1544 ROCKHOUSELIVE—2586 Poplar. 324-6300. 5709 Raleigh LaGrange. 386-7222. R.P. TRACKS—3547 Walker. 327-1471. MRA. RUM BOOGIE CAFE—182 Beale. 528-0150. SAMMY HAGAR’S RED ROCKER BAR & GRILL— Southland Park, 1550 North Ingram Blvd. (West Memphis). 872-7353670. SILKY O’SULLIVAN’S—183 Beale. 522-9596. MRA. THE SILLY GOOSE—100 Peabody Place. 435-6915. THE SLIDER INN—2117 Peabody. 725-1155. SOUTH OF BEALE—361 S. Main. 526-0388. T J MULLIGAN’S—8071 Trinity Rd. (Cordova). 756-4480; 1817 Kirby Pkwy. (Germantown). 755-2481; 2821 N. Houston Levee Rd. 377-9997. UBEE’S—521 S. Highland. 323-0900. WESTY’S—346 N. Main. 543-3278. MRA. THE WINDJAMMER—786 E. Brookhaven Cl. 683-9044. MRA.

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CIT Y DINING LIST wrapped shrimp, along with daily specials and vegetarian entrees. Closed for lunch Sat.-Sun. 212 N. Evergreen. 722-2177. L, D, X, MRA, $$-$$$ CANVAS—An “interactive art bar” serving salads, sandwiches, and flatbreads. 1737 Madison. 619-5303. L, D, $ 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, X, $$$-$$$$ CAPRICCIO GRILL ITALIAN STEAKHOUSE—Offers prime steaks, fresh seafood (lobster tails, grouper, mahi mahi), pasta, and several northern Italian specialties. 149 Union, The Peabody. 529-4199. B, L, D, SB, X, MRA, $-$$$$ CARRABBA’S ITALIAN GRILL—Serves chicken Bryan, calamari, various pastas, and other “old-world” Italian entrees. 4600 Merchants Park Cl., Carriage Crossing (Collierville). 854-0200; 5110 Poplar. 685-9900. L (Sat.-Sun.), D, X, $-$$$ CASABLANCA—Lamb shawarma is one of the fresh, homemade specialties served at this Mediterranean/Moroccan restaurant; fish entrees and vegetarian options also available. 1707 Madison. 4216949; 5030 Poplar. 725-8557. L, D, X, MRA, $-$$ CATFISH BLUES—Serving Delta-raised catfish and Cajun- and Southern-inspired dishes, including gumbo and fried green tomatoes. 210 E. Commerce (Hernando). 662-298-3814. L, D, $ CATHERINE & MARY’S—A variety of pastas, grilled quail, pâté, razor clams, and monkfish are among the dishes served at this Italian restaurant in the Chisca. 2 72 S. Main. 254-8600. D, X, $-$$$ 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, X, MRA, $-$$ CENTRAL BBQ—Serves ribs, smoked hot wings, pulled pork sandwiches, chicken, turkey, nachos, and portobello sandwiches. Offers both pork and beef barbecue. 2249 Central Ave. 272-9377; 4375 Summer Ave. 767-4672; 147 E. Butler. 672-7760. L, D, X, MRA, $-$$ CHAR—Specializing in modern Southern cuisine, this eatery offers homestyle sides, char-broiled steaks, and fresh seafood. 431 S. Highland, #120. 249-3533. L, D, WB, X, $-$$$ CHEF TAM’S UNDERGROUND CAFE—Serves Southern staples with a Cajun twist. Menu items include “totchos,” jerk wings, fried chicken, and “muddy” mac and cheese. Closed Sun. and Mon. 2299 Young. 207-6182. L, D, $ CHEZ PHILIPPE—Classical/contemporary French cuisine presented in a luxurious atmosphere with a seasonal menu focused on local/ regional cuisine. Afternoon tea served Wed.-Sat., 1-3 p.m. (reservations required). Closed Sun.-Tues. T he Peabody, 149 Union. 529-4188. D, X, MRA, $$$$ CIAO BABY—Specializing in Neapolitan-style pizza made in a wood-fired oven. Also serves house-made mozzarella, pasta, appetizers, and salads. 890 W. Poplar, Suite 1. 457-7457. L, D, X, $ CIAO BELLA—Among the Italian and Greek specialties are lasagna, seafood pasta, eggplant rolotini, gourmet pizzas, and vegetarian options. Closed for lunch Sat.-Sun. 565 Erin Dr., Erin Way Shopping Center. 205-2500. L, D, X, MRA, $-$$$ CITY GROCERY—Southern eclectic cuisine; shrimp and grits is a specialty. Closed for dinner Sunday. 152 Courthouse Square (Oxford, MS). 662-232-8080. L, D, SB, X, $$-$$$ CITY SILO TABLE + PANTRY—With a focus on clean eating, this establishment offers fresh juices, as well as comfort foods reimagined with wholesome ingredients. 5101 Sanderlin. 729-7687. B, L, D, X, $ COLETTA’S—Longtime eatery serves such specialties as homemade ravioli, lasagna, and pizza with barbecue or traditional toppings. 2850 Appling Rd. (Bartlett). 383-1122; 1063 S. Parkway E. 948-7652. L, D, X, MRA, $-$$ CORKY’S—Popular barbecue emporium offers both wet and dry ribs, plus a full menu of other barbecue entrees. Wed. lunch buffets, Cordova and Collierville. 5259 Poplar. 685-9744; 1740 N. Germantown Pkwy. (Cordova). 737-1911; 743 W. Poplar (Collierville). 405-4999; 6434 Goodman Rd., Olive Branch. 662-893-3663. L, D, X, MRA, $-$$ COZY CORNER—Serving up ribs, pork sandwiches, chicken, spaghetti, and more; also homemade banana pudding. Closed Sun.Mon. 7 35 N. Parkway. 527-9158. 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, X, $ CURRY BOWL— Specializes in Southern Indian cuisine, serving Tandoori chicken, biryani, tikka masala, and more. Weekend buffet. 4 141 Hacks Cross. 207-6051. L, D, $ DEJAVU—Serves Creole, soul, and vegetarian cuisine, including po-boys, jambalaya, and shrimp and grits. 51 S. Main. 505-0212. L, D, X, MRA, $-$$ DELTA’S KITCHEN—The premier restaurant at The Guest House at Graceland serves Elvis-inspired dishes — like Nutella and Peanut

CASUAL DINING

These establishments offer American cuisine in a relaxed atmosphere. While some serve ethnic entrees, the emphasis is on steaks, salads, sandwiches, pasta, fish and seafood. Also some soul-food and homestyle cooking. J. ALEXANDER’S—2670 N. Germantown Pkwy. (Cordova). 381-9670. APPLEBEE’S—2114 Union Ave. 725-7136; 2890 Bartlett Blvd. (Bartlett). 213-5034; 710 DeSoto Cove (Horn Lake, MS). 662-7725914; 7515 Goodman Rd. (Olive Branch, MS). 662-893-7555. AJAX DINER—118 Courthouse Sq., Oxford, MS. 662-232-8880. BELLY ACRES—2102 Trimble Pl, 5297017. BLUE AND WHITE RESTAURANT—1355 U.S. 61 N., Tunica, MS. 662-363-1371. BLUE PLATE CAFE—5469 Poplar. 761-9696; 113 S. Court. 523-2050. BLUE SHOE BAR & GRILL—Hotel Memphis, 2625 Thousand Oaks Blvd. 362-6200. CAJUN CATFISH COMPANY—336 New Byhalia Rd. Collierville. 861-0122. MRA. CHEDDAR’S—2147 N. Germantown Pkwy. 380-1119. THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY—2760 N. Germantown Pkwy, Suite 193 (Wolfchase). 937-1613. CHILI’S—7810 Poplar (Germantown). 756-5203; 4609 Poplar. 685-2257; 8100 Giacosa Pl. 372-3132; 287 W. Goodman Rd.

(Southaven). 662-349-7002; 237 Market Blvd. (Collierville). 853-7520; 1260 N. Germantown Pkwy. (Cordova). 756-7771; 8526 Highway 51 (Millington). 872-0555. COLTON’S STEAKHOUSE—8030 Highway 64 (Bartlett). 383-8445; 8051 Goodman Rd. (Olive Branch). 662-890-4142. COMO STEAKHOUSE—203 Main St. Como, MS. 662-526-9529. THE COVE—2559 Broad Ave. 730-0719. THE CUPBOARD—1400 Union. 276-8015. MRA. ELWOOD’S SHACK—4523 Summer. 761-9898. MRA. T.G.I. FRIDAY’S—185 Union, Double Tree Hotel. 523-8500; 176 E. Goodman Rd. (Southaven). 662-349-4223; 7733 Winchester Rd. 752-1369; 8325 Highway 64. 372-2539. KEM’S RESTAURANT—2751 New Brunswick Rd., Holiday Inn & Suites. 2661952. LOGAN’S ROADHOUSE—2710 N. Germantown Parkway. 381-5254; 5901 Poplar. 684-2272; 7755 Winchester Rd. 759-1430; 6685 Airways Blvd. (Southaven). 662-772-5015. MAC’S BURGERS—4698 Spottswood. 512-4604. MIDTOWN CROSSING GRILLE—394 N. Watkins. 443-0502. O’CHARLEY’S—6045 Stage Rd., #74 (Bartlett). 373-5602; 1040 N. Germantown Pkw. 754-6201; 357 W. Goodman Rd. (Southaven). 662-349-6663; 656 W. Poplar (Collierville). 861-5811. THE OLIVE GARDEN—7778 Winchester. 624-2003; 8405 Highway 64,

Butter Crepes for breakfast — and upscale Southern cuisine — including lamb chops and shrimp and grits — for dinner. 3 600 Elvis Presley Blvd. 443-3000. B, D, X, $-$$$ DERAE RESTAURANT—Ethiopian and Mediterranean fare includes fuul, or fava beans in spices and yoghurt, goat meat and rice, and garlic chicken over basmati rice with cilantro chutney; also salmon and tilapia. Closed Monday. 9 23 S. Highland. 552-3992. B, L, D, $-$$ DIRTY CROW INN—Serving elevated bar food, including poutine fries, fried catfish, and the Chicken Debris, a sandwich with smoked chicken, melted cheddar, and gravy. 855 Kentucky. 207-5111. L, D, $ DWJ KOREAN BARBECUE—This authentic Korean eatery serves kimbap, barbecued beef short ribs, rice and noodles dishes, and hot pots and stews. 3 750 Hacks Cross, Suite 101. 746-8057; 2156 Young. 207-6204. L, D, $-$$ ECCO—Mediterranean-inspired specialties range from rib-eye steak to seared scallops to housemade pastas and a grilled vegetable plate; also a Saturday brunch. Closed Sun.-Mon. 1585 Overton Park. 410-8200. L, D, X, $-$$ EIGHTY3—Contemporary menu of steaks and seafood offers a variety of eclectic specialties; also weekly specials, small plates, appetizers, and patio dining. 83 Madison Ave. 333-1224. B, L, D, WB, X, MRA, $-$$$ EL MEZCAL—Serves burritos, chimichangas, fajitas, and other Mexican cuisine, as well as shrimp dinners and steak. 402 Perkins Extd. 761-7710; 694 N. Germantown Pkwy. (Cordova). 755-1447; 1492 Union. 274-4264; 11615 Airline Rd. (Arlington). 867-1883; 9045 Highway 64 (Lakeland). 383-4219; 7164 Hacks Cross Rd. (Olive Branch). 662-890-3337; 8834 Hwy. 51 N. (Millington). 872-3220; 7424 Highway 64 (Bartlett). 417-6026; 9947 Wolf River (Collierville) 853-7922. L, D, X, $ EL PORTON—Fajitas, quesadillas, and steak ranchero are just a few of the menu items. 2095 Merchants Row (Germantown). 754-4268; 8361 Highway 64. 380-7877; 3448 Poplar, Poplar Plaza. 452-7330; 1805 N. Germantown Parkway (Cordova). 624-9358; 1016 W. Poplar (Collierville). 854-5770. L, D, X, MRA, $-$$ EMERALD THAI RESTAURANT—Spicy shrimp, pad khing, lemon grass chicken, and several noodle, rice, and vegetarian dishes are offered at this family restaurant. Closed Sunday. 8950 Highway 64 (Lakeland). 384-0540. L, D X, $-$$ ERLING JENSEN—Presents “globally inspired” cuisine: specialties are rack of lamb, big game entrees,and fresh fish dishes. 1044 S. Yates. 763-3700. D, X, MRA, $$-$$$

Wolfchase Galleria. 377-3437; 6615 Airways (Southaven). 662-536-3350; 5679 Poplar, #1. 761-5711. OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE— 1110 N. Germantown Parkway. 751-9800; 2255 Union Ave. 728-5100; 125 W. Goodman Rd. (Southaven). 662-349-7488. MRA. RAFFERTY’S—4542 Poplar. 374-0096; 505 N. Germantown Pkwy. 755-4799. RIKO’S KICKIN’ CHICKEN—1329 Madison. 726-5347. RUBY TUESDAY—1653 Sycamore View. 382-9280;7535 Winchester. 7556570. SIDECAR CAFE—2194 Whitten. 388-0285. MRA. SIDE STREET GRILL—31 Florence. 274-8955. MRA. SILVER CABOOSE—132 E. Mulberry (Collierville). 853-0010. SKIMO’S—1166 N. Houston Levee, #107 (Cordova). 756-5055. MRA. SOUL FISH CAFE—862 S. Cooper. 725-0722; 3160 Village Shops Dr. (Germantown). 755-6988; 4720 Poplar. 590-0323. MRA. SPAGHETTI WAREHOUSE—40 W. Huling. 521-0907. STONEY RIVER—7515 Poplar. 2071100. TUG’S—River Inn, 51 Harbor Town Square. 260-3344. MRA. VINEGAR JIM’S—12062 Forrest (Arlington). 867-7568. WOLF RIVER CAFE—460 U.S. 194 (Rossville). 853-2586.

EVELYN & OLIVE—Jamaican/Southern fusion cuisine includes such dishes as Kingston stew fish, Rasta Pasta, and jerk rib-eye. Closed for lunch Sat. and all day Sun.-Mon. 630 Madison. 748-5422. L, D, X, $ EXLINES’ BEST PIZZA—Serves pizza, Italian dinners, sandwiches, and salads. 2935 Austin Peay. 388-4711; 6250 Stage Rd. (Bartlett). 382-3433; 2801 Kirby Parkway. 754-0202; 7730 Wolf River Blvd. (Germantown). 753-4545; 531 W. Stateline Rd. 662342-4544 (check online for additional locations). L, D, X, MRA, $ THE FARMER—Serving upscale Southern cuisine, with a focus on locally grown ingredients. Among the specialties are smoked beef tenderloin and shrimp and grits. Closed for dinner Sun.-Mon. 3092 Poplar #11. 324-2221. L, D, X, $-$$ FELICIA SUZANNE’S—Southern cuisine with low-country, Creole, and Delta influences, using regional fresh seafood, local beef, and locally grown foods. Entrees include shrimp and grits. Closed Sun. and Mon. Brinkley Plaza, 80 Monroe, Suite L1. 523-0877. L (Fri. only), D, X, MRA, $$-$$$ FERRARO’S PIZZERIA & PUB—Rigatoni and tortellini are among the pasta entrees here, along with pizzas (whole or by the slice), with a variety of toppings. 111 Jackson. 522-2033. L, D, X, $ FIREBIRDS—Specialties are hand-cut steaks, slow-roasted prime rib, and wood-grilled salmon and other seafood, as well as seasonal entrees. 8470 Highway 64 (Bartlett). 379-1300; 4600 Merchants Circle, Carriage Crossing (Collierville). 850-1637. L, D, X, $-$$$ THE FIVE SPOT—Tucked behind Earnestine & Hazel’s, this popular eatery features innovative bar food by chef Kelly English. 531 S. Main. 523-9754. D, X, $-$$ FLEMING’S PRIME STEAKHOUSE—Serves wet-aged and dry-aged steaks, prime beef, chops, and seafood, including salmon, Australian lobster tails, and a catch of the day. 6245 Poplar. 761-6200. D, X, MRA, $$$-$$$$ FLIGHT RESTAURANT & WINE BAR—Serves steaks and seafood, along with such specialties as pork ribeye and roasted duck, all matched with appropriate wines; also gourmet plate lunches. Closed for lunch Sat.-Sun. 39 S. Main. 521-8005. L, D, X, MRA, $-$$$ 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, X, MRA, $-$$ FOLK’S FOLLY ORIGINAL PRIME STEAK HOUSE— Specializes in prime steaks, as well as lobster, grilled Scottish salmon, Alaskan king crab legs, rack of lamb, and weekly specials. 551 S. Mendenhall. 762-8200. D, X, MRA, $$$-$$$$ M A Y 2 0 1 7 • M E M P H I S M A G A Z I N E . C O M • 107

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CIT Y DINING LIST FORMOSA—Offers Mandarin cuisine, including broccoli beef,

hot-and-sour soup, and spring rolls. Closed Monday. 6685 Quince. 753-9898. L, D, X, $-$$ THE FOUR WAY—Legendary soul-food establishment dishing up such entrees as fried and baked catfish, chicken, and turkey and dressing, along with a host of vegetables and desserts. Closed Monday. 998 Mississippi Blvd. 507-1519. L, D (call to check hours.), $ FOX RIDGE PIZZA—Pizzas, calzones, subs, burgers, and meat-and-two plate lunches are among the dishes served at this eatery. 1769 N. Germantown Pkwy. 758-6500. L, D, X, $ FRATELLI’S—Serves hot and cold sandwiches, salads, soups, and desserts, all with an Italian/Mediterranean flair. Closed Sunday. 750 Cherry Rd., Memphis Botanic Garden. 7669900. L, X, $ FRIDA’S—Mexican cuisine and Tex-Mex standards, including chimichangas, enchiladas, and fajitas; seafood includes shrimp and tilapia. 1718 Madison. 244-6196. L, D, X, $-$$ FUEL CAFE—Focus is on natural dishes with such specialties as bison burgers, quinoa chili, and tacos; also vegan and glutenfree options. Closed Sun.-Mon. 1761 Madison. 725-9025. L, D, X, $-$$ GERMANTOWN COMMISSARY—Serves barbecue sandwiches, sliders, ribs, shrimp, and nachos, as well as smoked barbecued bologna sandwiches; Mon.-night all-you-can-eat ribs. 2290 S. Germantown Rd. S. (Germantown). 754-5540. L, D, X, MRA, $-$$ GOLDEN INDIA—Northern Indian specialties include tandoori chicken as well as lamb, beef, shrimp, and vegetarian dishes. 2097 Madison. 728-5111. L, D, X, $-$$ GREEN BAMBOO—Pineapple tilapia, pork vermicelli, and the soft egg noodle combo are Vietnamese specialties here. 990 N. Germantown Parkway, #104 (Cordova). 753-5488. L, D, $-$$ GRIDLEY’S—Offers barbecued ribs, shrimp, pork plate, chicken, and hot tamales; also daily lunch specials. Closed Tues. 6842 Stage Rd. (Bartlett). 377-8055. L, D, X, $-$$ FRANK GRISANTI’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT— Northern Italian favorites include pasta with jumbo shrimp and mushrooms; also seafood, fillet mignon, and daily lunch specials. Closed for lunch Sunday. Embassy Suites Hotel, 1022 S. Shady Grove. 761-9462. L, D, X, MRA, $-$$$

RONNIE GRISANTI’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT—This Memphis institution serves some family

classics such as Elfo’s Special and chicken ravioli, along with lighter fare and changing daily chef selection. Closed Sun. Sheffield Antiques Mall, 684 W. Poplar (Collierville). 850-0191. L (Mon.-Sat.), D (Thurs.-Sat.), X, $-$$$ THE GROVE GRILL—Offers steaks, chops, seafood, and other American cuisine with Southern and global influences; entrees include crab cakes, and shrimp and grits, also dinner specials. 4550 Poplar. 818-9951. L, D, SB, X, MRA, $$-$$$ GROWLERS—Sports bar and eatery serves standard bar fare in addition to a pasta, tacos, chicken and waffles, and light options. 1911 Poplar. 244-7904. L, D, X, $-$$ GUS’S WORLD FAMOUS FRIED CHICKEN— Serves chicken with signature spicy batter, along with homemade beans, slaw, and pies. 310 S. Front. 527-4877; 215 S. Center St. (Collierville). 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, X, MRA, $ 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, X, MRA, $-$$$ HAPPY MEXICAN—Serves quesadillas, burritos, chimichangas, vegetable and seafood dishes, and more. 385 S. Second. 529-9991; 6080 Primacy Pkwy. 683-0000; 7935 Winchester. 751-5353. L, D, X, $ HAVANA’S PILON—Tiny eatery serving Cuban cuisine, including fried plantains in a pilon topped with shrimp, ropa vieja (shredded beef in tomato sauce), roasted pork, and a Cuban sandwich. Closed Sunday. 143 Madison. 527-2878; 3135 KirbyWhitten, Suite 108 (Bartlett). 512-6359. L, D, X, $ HERITAGE TAVERN & KITCHEN—Featuring classic cuisine from the country’s five regions, including lobster rolls, fried chicken, smoked tamales, Green Goddess shrimp, and more. 6150 Poplar, Regalia. 761-8855.L, D, WB, X, $-$$$ HIGH POINT PIZZA—Serves variety of pizzas, subs, salads, and sides. Closed Monday. 477 High Point Terrace. 452-3339. L, D, X, $ $ $ HM DESSERT LOUNGE—Serving cake, pie, and other desserts, as well as a selection of savory dishes, including meatloaf and mashed potato “cupcakes.” Closed Sunday and Monday. 1 586 Madison. 290-2099. L, D, X, $

LOCALITY GUIDE BARTLETT

J. Alexander’s Jerry Lawler’s BBQ Abuelo’s Jim N Nick’s Bar-B-Q Applebee’s Joe’s Crab Shack Cajun Catfish Company Logan’s Roadhouse Coletta’s Moe’s Southwest Grill Colton’s Steakhouse T.J. Mulligan’s Dixie Cafe O’Charley’s El Porton Olive Garden Exlines’ Best Pizza On the Border Firebirds Osaka Japanese Gridley’s Outback Steakhouse Hadley’s Pub Pei Wei Asian Diner La Playita Mexicana The Presentation Room O’Charley’s Pyro’s Fire Fresh Pizza Ruby Tuesday Rafferty’s Sekisui Red Lobster Side Car Cafe Romano’s Macaroni Grill Side Porch Steakhouse Sekisui Tops Bar-B-Q CHICKASAW GARDENS/ Shogun Skimo’s UNIV. OF MEMPHIS Tannoor Grill Another Broken Egg Cafe DOWNTOWN A-Tan Agave Maria The Bluff Aldo’s Pizza Pies Brother Juniper’s Alfred’s Camy’s The Arcade Char Automatic Slim’s Cheffie’s Bangkok Alley Derae Bardog Tavern El Porton B.B. King’s Blues Club The Farmer Bedrock Eats & Sweets La Baguette Belle — A Southern Bistro Los Compadres Bleu Lost Pizza Blind Bear Speakeasy Medallion Blue Monkey Newby’s Bluefin Newk’s Blues City Cafe Osaka Japanese Brass Door Irish Pub Pete & Sam’s Cafe 7/24 Rock’n Dough Pizza Cafe Eclectic R.P. Tracks Cafe Keough Sweet Potato Baby Cafe Cafe Pontotoc Woman’s Exchange COLLIERVILLE/WEST TN. Capriccio Catherine & Mary’s (ARLINGTON, COVINGTON, Central BBQ MILLINGTON, OAKLAND) Chez Philippe 148 North City Market Bangkok Alley Cozy Corner Bonefish Grill DeJaVu Bozo’s Hot Pit Bar-B-Q Dirty Crow Inn Brooks Pharm2Fork Double J Smokehouse & Saloon Cafe Piazza Earnestine & Hazel’s Cajun Catfish Company Eighty3 Carrabba’s Italian Grill Felicia Suzanne’s Chili’s Ferraro’s Pizzeria Ciao Baby Five Spot Corky’s Flight Crepe Maker Flying Fish El Mezcal Flying Saucer El Porton T.G.I. Friday’s Emerald Thai Green Beetle Firebirds Ronnie Grisanti’s Italian Restaurant Gus’s Happy Mexican Gus’s Fried Chicken Hard Rock Cafe Hickory Tavern Havana’s Pilon Huey’s Huey’s Jim’s Place Grille Itta Bena Long Road Cider Co. Jerry Lee Lewis’ Cafe & Honky Tonk Manila Filipino King’s Palace Cafe Mulan Kooky Canuck Osaka Japanese Lisa’s Lunchbox Memphis Pizza Cafe Little Tea Shop Pig-N-Whistle Local The Sear Shack Loflin Yard Sekisui Lookout at the Pyramid Silver Caboose Luna Restaurant & Lounge Stix LYFE Kitchen Vinegar Jim’s Maciel’s Tortas & Tacos Wolf River Cafe Max’s Sports Bar CORDOVA McEwen’s on Monroe Bahama Breeze The Majestic Bombay House Mesquite Chop House Bonefish Grill Mollie Fontaine Lounge Butcher Shop The Office@Uptown Cheddar’s Paulette’s Chili’s Pearl’s Oyster House Corky’s Pig on Beale Crazy Italians Rendezvous, Charles Vergos’ East End Grill Rizzo’s Diner El Mezcal Rum Boogie Cafe El Porton Silky O’Sullivan’s T.G.I. Friday’s South of Beale Flying Saucer South Main Sushi & Grill Fox Ridge Pizza Spaghetti Warehouse Green Bamboo Spindini Gus’s The Terrace Happy Mexican Texas de Brazil Hunan Palace Tug’s Huey’s Tuscany Italian Eatery

Twilight Sky Terrace Uncle Buck’s Fishbowl & Grill Westy’s

EAST MEMPHIS

Acre Agavos Cocina & Tequila Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen Asian Palace Babalu Bangkok Alley Belmont Grill Blue Plate Cafe Broadway Pizza Brookhaven Pub & Grill Buckley’s Fine Filet Grill Buntyn Corner Cafe Carrabba’s Italian Grill Casablanca Central B B Q Chili’s Ciao Bella City East Corky’s Dixie Cafe El Mezcal El Porton Fino’s from the Hill Folk’s Folly Fox & Hound Fratelli’s The Grove Grill Half Shell Hog & Hominy Houston’s Huey’s Interim Erling Jensen Jim’s Place The Kitchen Bistro Las Delicias Las Tortugas Lisa’s Lunchbox LYFE Kitchen Lynchburg Legends Marciano Mayuri Indian Cuisine Dan McGuinness Pub Mellow Mushroom Memphis Pizza Cafe Mempops Mortimer’s Mosa Asian Bistro Napa Cafe Neil’s New Hunan Old Venice One & Only BBQ Park + Cherry Patrick’s Pimento’s Pizza Rev Porcellino’s Craft Butcher Rafferty’s The Sear Shack Sekisui Pacific Rim Soul Fish Cafe Staks Taziki’s Mediterranean Cafe Three Little Pigs Wasabi Whole Foods Market Zaka Bowl

GERMANTOWN

Sabor Caribe Sabrosura Tops Bar-B-Q Trolley Stop Market

MIDTOWN

901 Grille & Market Abyssinia Alchemy Aldo’s Pizza Pies Alex’s Applebee’s Babalu Tacos and Tapas Bar DKDC Bar Louie Bar-B-Q Shop Bari Barksdale Restaurant Bayou Bar & Grill Beauty Shop Belly Acres Bhan Thai Blue Nile Ethiopian Boscos Bounty on Broad Broadway Pizza House Cafe 1912 Cafe Brooks by Paradox Cafe Eclectic Cafe Ole Cafe Palladio Cafe Society Canvas Casablanca Celtic Crossing Central B B Q Chef Tam’s Underground Cafe The Cove Cozy Corner The Crazy Noodle The Cupboard Dino’s DWJ Korean Barbecue Ecco El Mezcal Fino’s from the Hill Frida’s Fuel Cafe Golden India Growlers HM Dessert Lounge Huey’s I Love Juice Bar Imagine Vegan Cafe India Palace Izakaya Jasmine Thai Java Cabana Lafayette’s Music Room LBOE Little Italy Local Mama Gaia Mardi Gras Memphis Maximo’s on Broad Memphis Pizza Cafe Midtown Crossing Grille Molly’s La Casita Mulan Chinese Bistro Murphy’s Old Zinnie’s Onix Otherlands Outback Steakhouse P & H Cafe Peabody Point Cafe Pei Wei Asian Diner Pho Binh Pho Saigon Restaurant Iris Riko’s Kickin’ Chicken Robata Ramen & Yakitori Bar Schweinehaus The Second Line Sekisui Side Street Grill The Slider Inn Soul Fish Cafe Stone Soup Strano Sicilian Kitchen Sweet Grass Tart Tsunami Young Avenue Deli

Belmont Grill The Cheesecake Factory Chili’s City East El Porton Exlines’ Best Pizza Germantown Comm. Huey’s Mellow Mushroom Memphis Pizza Cafe Mesquite Chop House New Asia The Pasta Maker Petra Cafe Rock’n Dough Pizza Royal Panda Russo’s New York Pizzeria & Wine Bar Sakura Soul Fish Cafe Southern Social NORTH MISSISSIPPI Stoney River Steakhouse and Grill Ajax Diner West Street Diner Applebee’s Blue and White MEDICAL CENTER Bonne Terre The Cupboard Catfish Blues Evelyn & Olive Chili’s

City Grocery Colton’s Steakhouse Como Steakhouse Corky’s Fox & Hound Huey’s Lee’s Family Restaurant Logan’s Roadhouse Lost Pizza McEwen’s Dan McGuinness Pub Memphis Barbecue Company Memphis Pizza Cafe Mesquite Chop House Nagoya O’Charley’s Olive Garden Osaka Japanese Cuisine Outback Steakhouse Ravine STEAK by Melissa

PARKWAY VILLAGE/ FOX MEADOWS Blue Shoe Bar & Grill Leonard’s Jack Pirtle’s Chicken Three Little Pigs Bar-B-Q

POPLAR/I-240

Amerigo Benihana Blue Plate Cafe Brooklyn Bridge Capital Grille, The City Silo Table + Pantry P.F. Chang’s Chipotle Exlines’ Best Pizza Fleming’s Frank Grisanti’s Happy Mexican Heritage Tavern & Kitchen Julles Posh Food Co. Mister B’s Olive Garden One & Only BBQ Owen Brennan’s Pyro’s Fire-Fresh Pizza Red Koi River Oaks Ruth’s Chris Salsa Seasons 52 Sekisui Wang’s Mandarin House

RALEIGH

Exline’s Best Pizza

SOUTH MEMPHIS Coletta’s The Four Way Interstate Bar-B-Q Jack Pirtle’s Chicken

SUMMER/BERCLAIR Bryant’s The Cottage Elwood’s Shack High Point Pizza La Taqueria Guadalupana Lotus Nagasaki Inn Pancho’s Panda Garden Queen of Sheba Tops Bar-B-Q

WEST MEMPHIS/ EASTERN ARK.

The Cupboard Pancho’s Sammy Hagar’s Red Rocker Bar & Grill

WHITEHAVEN Delta’s Kitchen Hong Kong Marlowe’s

WINCHESTER

Curry Bowl DWJ Korean Barbecue East End Grill Formosa Half Shell Happy Mexican Huey’s Logan’s Roadhouse Olive Garden Red Lobster Ruby Tuesday T.G.I. Friday’s Tops Bar-B-Q Tycoon

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CIT Y DINING LIST 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 Cl. 207-7396. L, D, SB, X, $-$$$ HONG KONG—Cantonese and Mandarin standards are sweet-andsour chicken, and pepper beef. Closed Sunday. 3966 Elvis Presley. 396-0801. L, D, X, $ HOUSTON’S—Serves steaks, seafood, pork chops, chicken dishes, sandwiches, salads, and Chicago-style spinach dip. 5000 Poplar. 683-0915. L, D, X $-$$$ HUEY’S—Popular menu items include a variety of burgers, hearty steak fries, and steak on a stick. 1927 Madison. 726-4372; 1771 N. Germantown Pkwy. (Cordova). 754-3885; 77 S. Second. 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). 3183030. L, D, X, MRA, $ I LOVE JUICE BAR—Serving an extensive line of juices and grab-and-go lunch items. 5 53 S. Cooper. 612-2720. L, D, X, $ IMAGINE VEGAN CAFE—Dishes range from salads and sandwiches to full dinners, breakfast items served all day. 2 158 Young. 654-3455. L, D, SB, X, $ INDIA PALACE—Tandoori chicken, lamb shish kabobs, chicken tikka masala are among the entrees; also, vegetarian options and a daily lunch buffet. 1720 Poplar. 278-1199. L, D, X, $-$$ INTERIM—Offers American-seasonal cuisine with emphasis on local foods and fresh fish; macaroni and cheese is a house specialty. Closed for lunch Sat. 5040 Sanderlin, Suite 105. 818-0821. L, D, SB, X, MRA, $-$$$ INTERSTATE BAR-B-Q—Specialties include chopped porkshoulder sandwiches, ribs, hot wings, spaghetti, chicken, and turkey. 2265 S. Third. 775-2304; 150 W. Stateline Rd. (Southaven). 662393-5699. L, D, X, MRA, $-$$ ITTA BENA—Southern and Cajun-American cuisine served here; specialties are filet Oscar and shrimp and grits, along with steaks, chops, seafood, and pasta. 145 Beale St. 578-3031. D,X, MRA, $$-$$$  IZAKAYA—This fine dining Asian fusion steakhouse, located in the historic 19th Century Club mansion, serves sushi and a variety of steakhouse-style dishes, such as Wagyu beef steaks, pasta, and seafood. 1433 Union. 454-3926. L, D, X, $-$$$

JASMINE THAI AND VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT—Entrees include panang chicken, green curry

shrimp,and pad thai (noodles, shrimp, and peanuts); also vegetarian dishes. Closed Mon.-Tues. 916 S. Cooper. 725-0223. L, D, X, $ JIM ’N NICK’S BAR-B-Q—Serves barbecued pork, ribs, chicken, brisket, and fish, along with other homemade Southern specialties. 2 359 N. Germantown Pkwy. 388-0998. L, D, X, $-$$ JIM’S PLACE/JIM’S PLACE GRILLE—Features American, Greek, and Continental cuisine with such entrees as pork tenderloin, several seafood specialties, and hand-cut charcoal-grilled steaks. Closed for lunch Sat. and all day Sun. 518 Perkins Extd. 766-2030; 3660 Houston Levee (Collierville). 861-5000. L, D, X, MRA, $-$$$ JOE’S CRAB SHACK—Serves a variety of seafood, along with chicken, steak, and pasta. 7990 Horizon Center Blvd. 384-7478. L, D, X, $-$$$ JULLES POSH FOOD CO.—The changing menu features seasonal “cooking light” dishes such as salmon-shrimp cakes with green salad and roasted sweet potato wedges; also cold-pressed juices, to-go dishes, and desserts. 6300 Poplar. 509-8675. B, L, D, X, $-$$ KING JERRY LAWLER’S MEMPHIS BBQ CO.—Offers a variety of barbecue dishes, including brisket, ribs, nachos topped with smoked pork, and a selection of barbecue “Slamwiches.” 465 N. Germantown Pkwy., #116 (Cordova). 509-2360. L, D, X, $ THE KITCHEN BISTRO—Tomato soup, grilled fish, sticky toffee pudding, and dishes made using in-season fruits and veggies are served at this establishment at Shelby Farms Park. 415 Great View Drive E., Suite 101. 729-9009. L, D, X, $-$$ KOOKY CANUCK—Offers prime rib, catfish, and burgers, including the 4-lb. “Kookamonga”; also late-night menu. 87 S. Second. 578-9800; 1250 N. Germantown Pkwy. 1-800-2453. L, D, X, MRA, $-$$$ 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), X, MRA, $ LA PLAYITA MEXICANA—Specializes in seafood and Mexican entrees, including red snapper, tilapia, oysters, chimichangas, tostadas, and taco salad. 6194 Macon (Bartlett). 377-2282. L, D, X, $-$$ LA TAQUERIA GUADALUPANA—Fajitas and quesadillas are just a few of the authentic Mexican entrees offered here. 4 818 Summer. 685-6857; 5848 Winchester. 365-4992. L, D, $ LAFAYETTE’S MUSIC ROOM—Serves such Southern cuisine as po boys and shrimp and grits, and wood-fired pizzas; also live music. 2119 Madison. 207-5097. L, D, WB, X, MRA, $-$$ LAS DELICIAS—Popular for its guacamole, house-made tortilla chips, and margaritas, this restaurant draws diners with its chicken

551 S. MENDENHALL | 901.762.8200 | FOLKSFOLLY.COM

Broadway Pizza House Legendary Pizza Since 1977

2581 Broad Avenue (901) 454-7930

629 South Mendenhall (901) 207-1546

Memphis Magazine’s

THE 2017

FACE OF

PIZZA

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CIT Y DINING LIST enchiladas, meat-stuffed flautas, and Cuban torta with spicy pork. Closed Sunday. 4 002 Park Ave. 458-9264; 5689 Quince. 800-2873. L, D, X, $ LAS TORTUGAS DELI MEXICANA—Authentic Mexican food prepared from local food sources; specializes in tortugas — grilled bread scooped out to hold such fillings as brisket, pork, and shrimp; also tingas tostados and such sides as steamed corn. Closed Sunday. 1215 S. Germantown Rd. 751-1200; 6300 Poplar. 623-3882. L, D, X, $-$$ LBOE—Gourmet burger joint serves locally sourced ground beef burgers, with options like the Mac-N-Cheese Burger and Caprese. Black bean and turkey patties available. 2 021 Madison. 725-0770. L, D, X, $ LEONARD’S—Serves wet and dry ribs, barbecue sandwiches, spaghetti, catfish, homemade onion rings. and lemon icebox pie; also a lunch buffet. 5465 Fox Plaza. 360-1963. L, X, MRA, $-$$ LISA’S LUNCHBOX—Serving bagels, sandwiches, salads, and wraps. 5030 Poplar, 761-4044; 5885 Ridgeway Center

Pkwy., Suite 101. 767-6465; 2659 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Suite 1200; 2525 Central (Children’s Museum); 166 S. Front. 729-

7277. B, L, $

LITTLE ITALY—Serving New York-style pizza as well as subs and

pasta dishes. 1495 Union. 725-0280, L, D, X, $-$$ THE LITTLE TEA SHOP—Downtown institution serves up Southern comfort cooking, including meatloaf and such veggies as turnip greens, yams, okra, and tomatoes. Closed Sat.-Sun. 69 Monroe. 525-6000, L, X, $ LOCAL GASTROPUB—Entrees with a focus on locally grown products include lobster mac-and-cheese and pork osso bucco. 9 5 S. Main. 473-9573; 2126 Madison. 725-1845. L, D, WB, X, MRA, $-$$ LOFLIN YARD—Beer garden and barbecue restaurant with barbecue and vegetarian fare cooked on a custom-made grill. 7 W. Carolina. 249-3046. L (Sat. and Sun.), D, $-$$ LONG ROAD CIDER CO.—Specializes in hard apple ciders made with traditional methods. Cafe-style entrees include black eye peas with cornbread and greens, chicken Gorgonzola pockets, cider-steamed sausage, and housemade ice creams. Closed Sun. through Wed. 9053 Barret Road. (Barretville, TN). 352-0962. D, X, $ THE LOOKOUT AT THE PYRAMID—Serves Southern fare, including catfish tacos and crawfish tails. 1 Bass Pro Dr. 6204600/291-8200. L, D, X $-$$$ LOS COMPADRES—Serves enchiladas, burritos, tamales, tacos, and vegetarian dishes; also Cuban entrees. 3295 Poplar. 458-5731. L, D, X, $-$$ LOST PIZZA—Offering pizzas (with dough made from scratch), pasta, salads, sandwiches, tamales, and more. 2855 Poplar. 572-1803; 5960 Getwell, Southaven. 662-892-8684. L, D, X, $-$$ LOTUS—Authentic Vietnamese-Asian fare, including lemon-grass chicken and shrimp, egg rolls, Pho soup, and spicy Vietnamese vermicelli. 4970 Summer. 682-1151. D, X, $ LUNA RESTAURANT & LOUNGE—Serving a limited menu of breakfast and lunch items. Dinner entrees include Citrus Glaze Salmon and Cajun Stuffed Chicken. Closed for lunch Sat. Breakfast only on Sun. 179 Madison (Hotel Napoleon). 526-0002. B, L, D, X, $-$$$ LYFE KITCHEN—Serving healthy, affordable wraps, bowls, sandwiches, and more; entrees include roasted salmon and “unfried” chicken. 6201 Poplar. 684-5333; 272 S. Main. 526-0254. B, L, D, WB, X, $ LYNCHBURG LEGENDS—This restaurant with a Jack Daniels’ theme and Southern cuisine serves such entrees as Bourbon Street salmon, buttermilk-fried chicken, and grilled steak and wild mushroom salad. DoubleTree Hotel, 5069 Sanderlin. 969-7777. B, L, D, X, MRA, $- $$$ MACIEL’S TORTAS & TACOS—Entrees include tortas, hefty Mexican sandwiches filled with choice of chicken, pork, or steak. Also serving fried taco plates, quesadillas, chorizo and pastor soft tacos, salads, and more. Closed Sun. 4 5 S. Main. 526-0037. L, D, X, $ THE MAJESTIC GRILLE—Housed in a former silent-picture house, features aged steaks, fresh seafood, and such specialties as roasted chicken and grilled pork tenderloin; offers a pre-theatre menu and classic cocktails. 145 S. Main. 522-8555. L, D, WB, X, MRA, $-$$$ MAMA GAIA—Greek-inspired dishes at this vegetarian eatery include pitas, “petitzzas,” and quinoa bowls. 1350 Concourse Avenue, Suite 137. 203-3838. B, L, D, X, $-$$ 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. 7849 Rockford (Millington). 209-8525. L, D, X, $

MARCIANO MEDITERRANEAN AND ITALIAN CUISINE—Rack of lamb with roasted potatoes and demi-glace is

among the entrees; also steaks, seafood, and gourmet pizza. 780 Brookhaven Cl. 682-1660. D, X, $-$$  MARDI GRAS MEMPHIS—Serving Cajun fare, including an etouffee-stuffed po’boy. 496 Watkins. 530-6767. L, D, X, $-$$ MARLOWE’S—In addition to its signature barbecue and ribs, Marlowe’s serves Southern-style steaks, chops, lasagne, and more. 4381 Elvis Presley Blvd. 332-4159. D, X, MRA, $-$$

T UNICA TA BLES 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 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. THE STEAKHOUSE AT THE FITZ —711 Lucky Ln., Robinsonville, MS, 1-888-766-LUCK, ext 8213. MAXIMO’S ON BROAD—Serving a tapas menu that features

creative fusion cuisine. Closed Mon. and Tues. 2617 Broad Ave. 4521111. L, D, SB, X, $-$$ MAYURI INDIAN CUISINE—Serves tandoori chicken, masala dosa, tikka masala, as well as lamb and shrimp entrees; also a daily lunch buffet, and dinner buffet on Fri.-Sat. 6524 Quince Rd. 7538755. L, D, X, $-$$ MCEWEN’S ON MONROE—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), X, 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. 662890-7611. L, D, X, $ MEDALLION—Offers steaks, seafood, chicken, and pasta entrees. Closed for dinner Sunday. 3 700 Central, Holiday Inn (Kemmons Wilson School of Hospitality). 678-1030. B, L, D, SB, X, MRA, $-$$$ MELLOW MUSHROOM—Large menu includes assortment of pizzas, salads, calzones, hoagies, vegetarian options, and 50 beers on tap. 9155 Poplar, Shops of Forest Hill (Germantown). 907-0243; 5138 Park Ave. 562-1211. L, D, X, $-$$ MEMPHIS BARBECUE COMPANY—Offers spare ribs, baby backs, and pulled pork and brisket, along with such sides as mac and cheese, grits, and red beans. 709 Desoto Cove (Horn Lake, MS). 662536-3762. L, D, X, $-$$ MEMPHIS PIZZA CAFE—Homemade pizzas are specialties; also serves sandwiches, calzones, and salads. 2087 Madison. 726-5343; 5061 Park Ave. 684-1306; 7604 W. Farmington (Germantown). 7532218; 797 W. Poplar (Collierville). 861-7800; 5627 Getwell (Southaven). 662-536-1364. L, D, X, MRA, $-$$ MEMPOPS—Specializes in handcrafted popsicles. Cream and fruit pop flavors include Mexican Chocolate and Hibiscus Lemonade; menu changes. 1243 Ridgeway. 421-5985. L, D, X, $ MESQUITE CHOP HOUSE—The focus here is on steaks, including prime fillet, rib eyes, and prime-aged New York strip; also, some seafood options. 5 960 Getwell (Southaven). 662-890-2467; 88 Union. 527-5337; 3165 Forest Hill-Irene (Germantown). 2495661. D, SB (Germantown), X, $$-$$$ MISTER B’S—Features New Orleans-style seafood and steaks. Closed for lunch Sat. and all day Sun. and Mon. 6655 Poplar, #107. 751-5262. L, D, X, MRA, $-$$$ MOLLIE FONTAINE LOUNGE—Specializes in tapas (small plates) featuring global cuisine. Closed Sun.-Tues. 679 Adams Ave. 524-1886. D, X, $ MOLLY’S LA CASITA—Homemade tamales, fish tacos, a vegetarian combo, and bacon-wrapped shrimp are a few of the specialties. 2006 Madison. 726-1873. L, D, X, MRA, $-$$ MORTIMER’S—Contemporary American entrees include trout almondine, several chicken dishes, and hand-cut steaks; also sandwiches, salads, and daily/nightly specials. Closed for lunch Sat.Sun. 590 N. Perkins. 761-9321. L, D, X, $-$$ MOSA ASIAN BISTRO—Specialties include sesame chicken, Thai calamari, rainbow panang curry with grouper fish, and other Pan Asian/fusion entrees. 850 S. White Station Rd. 683-8889. L, D, X, MRA, $ MULAN—Hunan Chicken, tofu dishes, and orange beef served here; some sushi, too. 2059 Houston Levee (Collierville). 850-5288; 2149 Young. 347-3965. L, D, X, $-$$ NAGASAKI INN—Chicken, steak, and lobster are among the main courses; meal is cooked at your table. 3951 Summer. 454-0320. D, X, $$ NAGOYA—Offers traditional Japanese cuisine and sushi bar; specialties are teriyaki and tempura dishes. 7075 Malco Blvd., Suite 101 (Southaven). 662-349-8788. L, D, X, $-$$$

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, X, $  NAPA CAFE—Among the specialties is miso-marinated salmon over black rice with garlic spinach and shiitake mushrooms. Closed for lunch Sat. and all day Sun. 5101 Sanderlin, Suite 122. 683-0441. L, D, X, MRA, $$-$$$ NEW ASIA—Specializing in authentic Chinese food, including roast Peking duck. 2075 Exeter, Suite 90. 758-8388. L, D, X, $ NEW HUNAN—Chinese eatery with more than 80 entrees;also lunch/dinner buffets. 5052 Park. 766-1622. L, D, X, $ THE OFFICE@UPTOWN—Offering sandwiches, wraps, pizza, soups, salads, and several vegetarian options. Closed Sunday. 594 N. Second St. 522-1905. B, L, D, X, $ OLD VENICE PIZZA CO.—Specializes in “eclectic Italian,” from pastas, including the “Godfather,” to hand-tossed pizzas, including the “John Wayne”; choose from 60 toppings. 368 Perkins Ext. 767-6872. L, D, SB, X, MRA, $-$$ ON THE BORDER—Dishes out such Tex-Mex specialties as fajitas and Southwest chicken tacos; also fresh grilled seafood specials. 8101 Giacosa Pl. (Cordova).881-0808; 6572 Airways (Southaven). 662-6554750. L, D, WB, X, MRA, $ ONE & ONLY BBQ—On the menu are pork barbecue sandwiches, platters, wet and dry ribs, smoked chicken and turkey platters, a smoked meat salad, barbecue quesadillas, and more. 1779 Kirby Pkwy. 7513615; 567 Perkins Extd. 249-4227. L, D, X, MRA, $ ONIX RESTAURANT—Serves seafood dishes, including barbecued shrimp and pecan-crusted trout, and a variety of salads and sandwiches. Closed Sun. 1680 Madison. 552-4609. L, D, X, $-$$ OSAKA JAPANESE CUISINE—Featuring an extensive sushi menu as well as traditional Japanese and hibachi dining. Hours vary for lunch; call. 3670 Houston Levee (Collierville). 861-4309; 3402 Poplar. 249-4690; 7164 Hacks Cross. 662-890-9312; 2200 N. Germantown Pkwy. 425-4901. L, D, X, $-$$$ OWEN BRENNAN’S—New Orleans-style menu of beef, chicken, pasta, and seafood; jambalaya, shrimp and grits, and crawfish etouffee are specialties. Closed for dinner Sunday. The Regalia, 6150 Poplar. 761-0990. L, D, SB, X, MRA, $-$$$ PANCHO’S—Serves up a variety of Mexican standards, including tacos, enchiladas, and mix-and-match platters; also lunch specials. 3600 E. Broadway (West Memphis). 870-735-6466. 717 N. White Station. 685-5404. L, D, X, MRA, $ 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, X, $-$$ PARK + CHERRY—Partnering with chefs Wally Joe and Andrew Adams of Acre Restaurant, the Dixon offers casual dining within the museum. Menu features sandwiches, like truffled pimento cheese, as well as salads, snacks, and sweets. Closed Monday. 4 339 Park (Dixon Gallery). 761-5250. L, X, $ THE PASTA MAKER—This Italian eatery specializes in artisanal pasta. Entrees include Spaghetti allo scoglio, Penne Boscaiola, and Fusilli Primavera. Gluten-free options available. Restaurant closed Sunday (cooking classes by reservation). 2095 Exeter, Suite 30 (Germantown). 779-3928. L, D, X, $-$$ PAULETTE’S—Presents fine dining with a Continental flair, including such entrees as filet Paulette with butter-pepper cream sauce and popovers with strawberry butter; also changing daily specials. R iver Inn. 50 Harbor Town Square. 260-3300. B, L, D, WB, X, MRA, $-$$$ PEABODY POINT CAFE—Serves dinner salads, paninis, and pasta. Entrees include lasagna and build-your-own pasta dishes with choice of noodles and sauce. 2 43 Cooper. 722-2700. D, X, $ PEARL’S OYSTER HOUSE—Downtown eatery serving seafood, including oysters, crawfish, and stuffed butterfly shrimp, as well as beef, chicken, and pasta dishes. 299 S. Main. 522-9070. L, D, SB, X, MRA, $-$$$ PEI WEI ASIAN DINER—Serves a variety of Pan-Asian cuisine, including Japanese, Vietnamese, Korean, and Thai. Noodle and rice bowls are specialties; a small plates menu also offered. 1680 Union Ave., #109. 722-3780; 2257 N. Germantown Pkwy. 382-1822. L, D, X, $-$$  PETE & SAM’S—Serving Memphis for 60-plus years; offers steaks, seafood, and traditional Italian dishes, including homemade ravioli, lasagna, and chicken marsala. 3886 Park. 458-0694. D, X, $-$$$ PETRA CAFÉ—Serves Greek, Italian, and Middle Eastern sandwiches, gyros, and entrees. Hours vary; call. 6 641 Poplar (Germantown). 754-4440; 9155 Poplar (Germantown). 755-5440. L, D, X, $-$$ PF CHANG’S CHINA BISTRO—Specialties are orange peel shrimp, Mongolian beef, and chicken in lettuce wraps; also vegetarian dishes, including spicy eggplant. 1181 Ridgeway Rd., Park Place Centre. 818-3889. L, D, X, MRA, $-$$ PHO BINH—Vietnamese, vegetarian, and Cantonese specialties include lemon tofu and spring rolls. Closed Sunday. 1 615 Madison. 276-0006. L, D, $

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CIT Y DINING LIST 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, $ PIG-N-WHISTLE—Offers pork shoulder sandwiches, wet and dry ribs, catfish, nachos, and stuffed barbecue potatoes. 6084 KerrRosemark Rd. (Millington). 872-2455. L, D, X, $ PIZZA REV—Specializes in build-your-own, personal-sized artisanal pizza. Choose from homemade dough options, all-natural sauces, Italian cheeses, and more than 30 toppings. 6450 Poplar. 379-8188. L, D, X, $ PORCELLINO’S CRAFT BUTCHER—Small plates, charcuterie selections, specialty steaks, house-made pastries, and innovative teas and coffees are offered at this combination butcher shop and restaurant featuring locally sourced menu items. 711 W. Brookhaven Cl. 762-6656. B, L, D, X $-$$ PRESENTATION ROOM, THE—American bistro run by the students of L’Ecole Culinaire. Menu changes regularly; specialties may include such items as a filet with truffle mushroom ragu. Closed Fri.-Sun. 1245 N. Germantown Pkwy. (Cordova). 754-7115. L, D, X, MRA, $-$$ PYRO’S FIRE-FRESH PIZZA—Serving gourmet pizzas cooked in an open-fire oven; wide choice of toppings; large local and craft beer selection. 1 199 Ridgeway. 379-8294; 2035 Union Ave. 208-8857; 2286 N. Germantown Pkwy. 207-1198. B, L, D, X, MRA, $ QUEEN OF SHEBA—Featuring Middle Eastern favorites and Yemeni dishes such as lamb haneeth and saltah. 4 792 Summer. 2074174. L, D, $ RAVINE—Serves contemporary Southern cuisine with an emphasis on fresh, locally grown foods and a menu that changes weekly. Closed Mon.-Tues. 53 Pea Ridge/County Rd. 321 (Oxford, MS). 662-2344555. D, SB, X, $$-$$$ 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 $-$$ RED LOBSTER—Specializes in crab legs, lobster, and shrimp dishes; also pastas, salads, steaks, and chicken. 8161 Highway 64 (Cordova). 387-0056; 6535 Airways (Southaven). 662-536-1960; 7750 Winchester. 759-9045. L, D, X, $-$$ 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, X, MRA, $-$$ RESTAURANT IRIS—French Creole cuisine includes shrimp and delta-grind grits, and New York strip stuffed with fried oysters and blue cheese. Closed Sun. 2 146 Monroe. 590-2828. D, X, MRA, $$-$$$ RIVER OAKS—A French-style bistro serving seafood and steaks, with an emphasis on fresh local ingredients. Closed for lunch Sat. and all day Sun. 5871 Poplar Ave. 683-9305. L, D, X, MRA, $$$ RIVERFRONT BAR & GRILL—Beale Street Landing eatery serves Southern American specialties, including Tom Lee Catfish, and Tennessee Caviar, a fresh veggie salsa of black-eyed peas and cilantro with pimento cheese and toast points; also sausage-cheese appetizer. Closed Monday. 251 Riverside Dr. 524-0817. L, D, X, $ RIZZO’S DINER—Chorizo meatloaf, lobster pronto puff, and brisket are menu items at this upscale diner, Closed for dinner Sun. and all day Mon. 492 S. Main. 304-6985. L, D, WB, X, MRA, $-$$ ROBATA RAMEN & YAKITORI BAR—Serves ramen noodle bowls and Yakitori skewers as well as rice and noodle dishes, and sake. 2116 Madison. 410-8290. D, WB, X, $ ROCK’N DOUGH PIZZA CO.—Specialty and custom pizzas made from fresh ingredients; wide variety of toppings. 3 445 Poplar Ave., Ste. 1. 512-6760; 7850 Poplar, #6 (Germantown). 779-2008. L, D, SB, X, $$ ROMANO’S MACARONI GRILL—Serves MediterraneanItalian cuisine, including hand-crafted pasta Milano and penne rustica, and create-your-own pasta; also steaks, seafood, and salads. 2859 N. Germantown Pkwy. (Cordova). 266-4565. L, D, X, $-$$ ROYAL PANDA—Hunan fish, Peking duck, Royal Panda chicken and shrimp, and a seafood combo are among the specialties. 3120 Village Shops Dr. (Germantown). 756-9697. L, D, X, $-$$ RUSSO’S NEW YORK PIZZERIA AND WINE BAR— Serves gourmet pizzas, calzones, and pasta, including lasagna, fettuccine Alfredo, scampi, and more. 9087 Poplar, Suite 111. 755-0092. L, D, WB, X, MRA, $-$$ RUTH’S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE—Offers prime steaks cut and aged in-house, as well as lamb, chicken, and fresh seafood, including lobster. 6120 Poplar. 761-0055. D, X, MRA, $$$-$$$$ SABOR CARIBE—Serving up “Caribbean flavors” with dishes from Colombia, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, and Cuba. Closed Sunday. 662 Madison. 949-8100. L, D, X, $ SABROSURA—Serves Mexican and Cuban fare, including arroz tapada de pollo and steak Mexican. 782 Washington. 421-8180. B, L, D, X, $-$$ SAKURA—Sushi, tempura, and teriyaki are Japanese specialties here. 2060 West St. (Germantown). 758-8181. 4840 Poplar. 572-1002. L, D, X, $-$$

F A S T- C A S U A L

Fresh cuisine prepared while you wait and served in an upscale setting. Not your typical fast-food restaurants, most serve beer, wine, and liquor. CHIPOTLE MEXICAN GRILL—5865 Poplar, Ridgeway Trace, #104. 416-1944; 2760 N. Germantown Pkwy. 620-0469. CRAZY ITALIANS—1250 N. Germantown Pkwy., #105 (Cordova). 347-2449. CREPE MAKER—4630 Merchants Park Cir., #731 (Collierville). 861-1981. GENGHIS GRILL—2362 N. Germantown Parkway. 584-0412; 7706 Winchester. 522-5048; 5849 Poplar, #117, Ridgeway Trace. 308-4040. MRA. HUMDINGERS—6300 Poplar. 260-8292; 1134 N. Germantown Pkwy. (Cordova). 271-2912. MOE’S SOUTHWEST GRILL— 465 N. Germantown Pkwy. (Cordova). 737-5058. 6300 Poplar Ave., #108. 685-5685; 3660 S. Houston Levee (Collierville). 457-7227; 3546 Walker. 590-0192. THE PASTA KITCHEN—875 W. Poplar (Collierville). 316-5119. SWANKY’S TACO SHOP—6641 Poplar (Germantown). 737-2088; 4770 Poplar. 730-0763; 711 Southcrest Pkwy, #101 (Southaven). 662-655-0662. MRA. TAZIKI’S MEDITERRANEAN CAFE— 540 S. Mendenhall. 290-1091.

SALSA—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, X, $-$$ SCHWEINEHAUS BBQ—Serving barbecue and Bavarianinfluenced fare with a Southern twist; includes wurst platters, pork schnitzel, smoked brisket, pulled pork, and more. 2 110 Madison. 3473060. L, D, WB, X, MRA, $-$$ THE SEAR SHACK BURGERS & FRIES—Serving Angus burgers, fries, and hand-spun milkshakes. Closed Mon. 8 75 W. Poplar, Suite 6 (Collierville). 861-4100; 5101 Sanderlin, Suite 103. 5674909. L, D, X, $ 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. C rescent Center, 6085 Poplar. 682-9952. L, D, X, $$-$$$ THE SECOND LINE—Kelly English brings “relaxed Creole cuisine” to his new eatery; serves a variety of po-boys and such specialties as barbecue shrimp, and andouille, shrimp, and pimento cheese fries. 2144 Monroe. 590-2829. L, D, WB, X, $-$$ SEKISUI—Japanese fusion cuisine, fresh sushi bar, grilled meats and seafood, California rolls, and vegetarian entrees. Poplar/Perkins location’s emphasis is on Pacific Rim cuisine. Menu and hours vary at each location. 2 5 Belvedere. 725-0005; 1884 N. Germantown Pkwy. (Cordova). 309-8800; 4724 Poplar (between Perkins & Colonial). 767-7770; 2130 W. Poplar (Collierville). 854-0622; 2990 KirbyWhitten (Bartlett). 377-2727; 6696 Poplar. 747-0001. L, D, X, MRA, $-$$$ SHOGUN JAPANESE RESTAURANT—Entrees include tempura, teriyaki, and sushi, as well as grilled fish and chicken entrees. 2324 N. Germantown Pkwy. (Cordova). 384-4122. L, D, X, $-$$ SIDE PORCH STEAK HOUSE—In addition to steak, the menu includes chicken, pork chops, and fish entrees; homemade rolls are a specialty. Closed Sun.-Mon. 5689 Stage Rd. (Bartlett). 377-2484. D, X, $-$$ 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. (Germantown). 754-5555. D, X, $-$$$ SOUTH MAIN SUSHI & GRILL—Serving sushi, nigiri, and more. 520 S. Main. 249-2194. L, D, X, $ SPINDINI—Italian fusion cuisine with such entrees as wood-fired pizzas, gorgonzola stuffed filet, and fresh seafood; pizza specials on Mon.; large domestic whiskey selection. 383 S. Main. 578-2767. D, X, $$-$$$ STAKS— Offering pancakes, including Birthday Cake and lemon ricotta. Menu includes other breakfast items such as beignets and French toast, as well as soups and sandwiches for lunch. 4615 Poplar. 5092367. B, L, WB, X, $ STEAK BY MELISSA—Aged, choice-grade, hand-cut steaks are a specialty here. Also serving fresh seafood dishes, plate lunches, burgers, and sandwiches. 4975 Pepper Chase Dr. (Southaven). 662342-0602. L, D, X, $-$$$

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 (Collierville). 854-3399. L, D, X, $-$$ STONE SOUP CAFE—Cooper-Young eatery serving soups, salads, quiche, meat-and-two specials; and daily specials such as Italian roast beef. Closed Monday. 993 S. Cooper. 922-5314. B, L, SB, X, $ STRANO SICILIAN KITCHEN & BAR—Presenting a Sicilian/Mediterranean mix of Arab, Spanish, Greek, and North African fare, Strano serves small plates, wood-grilled fish, and hand-tossed pizzas such as the King Alaska, with salmon and chevre. Closed Mon. 948 S. Cooper. 275-8986. L, D, SB, X, $$-$$$ SWEET GRASS—Low-country coastal cuisine includes such specialties as shrimp and grits. Closed Mon. The restaurant’s “sister,” Sweet Grass Next Door, open nightly, serves lunch Sat.-Sun. 937 S. Cooper. 278-0278. D, SB, X, MRA, $-$$$ SWEET POTATO BABY CAFE—The eggplant Parmesan panini and mac-and-cheese hushpuppies are among popular dishes offered. Menu includes a variety of desserts, including Sweet Potato Baby Cake. Closed Sat. and Sun. 1005 Tillman. 608-1742. L, D, X, $ 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, X, $-$$$ TART—Combination patisserie, coffeehouse, and restaurant serving rustic French specialties, including baked eggs in brioche, topped with Gruyere, and french breads and pastries. 820 S. Cooper. 725-0091. B, L, WB, X, $-$$ TERRACE—Creative American and Continental cuisine includes such entrees as filet mignon, beef or lamb sliders, five-spice salmon, and grilled vegetarian eggplant; also small plates. Rooftop, River Inn of Harbor Town, 50 Harbor Town Square. 260-3366. D, X, $$ TEXAS DE BRAZIL—Serves beef, pork, lamb, and chicken dishes, and Brazilian sausage; also a salad bar with extensive toppings. 150 Peabody Place, Suite 103. 526-7600. L (Wed.-Fri.), D, SB, X, $$-$$$ THREE LITTLE PIGS—Pork-shoulder-style barbecue with tangy mild or hot sauce, freshly made coleslaw, and baked beans. 5145 Quince Rd. 685-7094. B, L, D, X, MRA, $ TOPS BAR-B-Q—Specializes in pork barbecue sandwiches and sandwich plates with beans and slaw; also serves ribs, beef brisket, and burgers. 1286 Union. 725-7527. 4183 Summer. 324-4325; 5391 Winchester. 794-7936; 3970 Rhodes. 323-9865; 6130 Macon. 371-0580. For more locations, go online. L, D, X, MRA, $ TROLLEY STOP MARKET—Serves plate lunches/dinners as well as pizzas, salads, and vegan/vegetarian entrees; a specialty is the locally raised beef burger. Also sells fresh produce and goods from local farmers; delivery available. Saturday brunch; closed Sunday. 704 Madison. 526-1361. L, D, X, $ TSUNAMI—Features Pacific Rim cuisine (Asia, Australia, South Pacific, etc.); also a changing “small plate” menu. Specialties include Asian nachos and roasted sea bass. Closed Sunday. 928 S. Cooper. 274-2556. D, X, MRA, $$-$$$ TUSCANY ITALIAN EATERY—Serves classic Italian dishes. Menu includes paninis, deli subs and wraps, pasta, soups, and more. Closed Sunday. 116 S. Front. 626-8848. L, D, X, $ TWILIGHT SKY TERRACE—Offers small plates of tostados, nachos, flatbreads, paninis; also hand-crafted cocktails and sweeping rooftop views of the downtown Memphis skyline. Open, weather permitting. The Madison Hotel, 79 Madison. 333-1224. L (Sat.Sun.), D, WB.X, $ TYCOON—Among the Asian entrees are spicy garlic shrimp, Thai gumbo, and special house noodle soup. 3307 Kirby Parkway. 3628788. B, L, D, X, $ UNCLE BUCK’S FISHBOWL & GRILL—Burgers, pizza, fish dishes, sandwiches, and more served in a unique “underwater” setting. Bass Pro, Bass Pro Drive, 291-8200. L, D, X, $-$$ 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, X, MRA, $-$$ WASABI—Serving traditional Japanese offerings, hibachi, sashimi, and sushi. The Sweet Heart roll, wrapped — in the shape of a heart — with tuna and filled with spicy salmon, yellowtail, and avocado, is a specialty. 5101 Sanderlin Road, Suite 105. 421-6399. L, D, X, $-$$ WEST STREET DINER—This home-style eatery offers breakfast, burgers, po’boys, and more. 2076 West St. (Germantown). 757-2191. B, L, D (Mon.-Fri.), X, MRA, $ WOMAN’S EXCHANGE TEA ROOM—Chicken-salad plate, beef tenderloin, soups-and-sandwiches, and vegetable plates are specialties; meal includes drink and dessert. Closed Sat.Sun. 88 Racine. 327-5681. L, X, $ ZAKA BOWL—This vegan restaurant serves build-your-own vegetable bowls featuring ingredients such as agave Brussels sprouts and roasted beets. 575 Erin. 509-3105. L, D, $

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The Unexplained A song from a hidden place can fill the heart with longing.

first heard the music on a summer afternoon. I opened the front door to check on the mail, and chords from what sounded like an old player piano started ringing through the air. I stepped outside, expecting to hear it coming from a Popsicle truck. That seemed the most likely vehicle for this tender twang of a melody that belonged to another time. But the only sounds from outside came from birdsong and breezes.

I shut the front door, but the song still played — clearly as could be — in the front hallway. I cocked an ear at the ceiling, at the walls, at the f loor, at the light fixture, even at the piano in the living room, but its keys were silent. Then I headed toward a door that led to an upstairs bedroom, thinking the music emanated from above. As I climbed, the tune faded. And as suddenly as it began, it stopped altogether. Then one afternoon in early winter, on a blustery day with tossing clouds, those same chords sounded again. They were louder this time, jolting my cat from a nap and me from the sofa. As before, I went to

the front hallway and opened the door. A sweet old song I’d learned in childhood seemed to chime all around me. “My Bonnie lies over the ocean, my Bonnie lies over the sea …” The tune continued, as I explored every room in the house, peering into closets, under beds, rummaging through the attic, thinking surely I would find the source. As I was passing from the kitchen to the front hallway, the melody began to falter and f lag — like a music box that needs winding. “Bring back bring back … to me to me to me …” was all it could muster. As the evening passed, and I prepared for bed, I had nearly put the song out of my mind. Then

it struck up with gusto, only to stutter and stick but at a different spot — “over the sea sea sea … over the sea sea sea …” I marched into the hallway, stopped at the front door, and voila! — realized that the vibrations came from the door itself. Or rather, I discovered, from an ornament hanging from a ribbon on the door knob: a ceramic egg adorned with horseand-buggy scenes that I had received for Christmas probably 15 years ago. I took the egg to the kitchen, pried it apart with a knife, and at last laid eyes on “the source”: a tiny plastic soundbox with two round batteries. I pressed the batteries firmly in place and listened again to the tune. But, to my bafflement, “Bonnie” had been replaced by a carol — “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear.” I waited, thinking other songs may be stored in the sound box. Instead, the carol kept repeating itself. I never heard “Bonnie” again. So the source of the music was solved — but more mysteries lingered, tugging at my mind. How

had the Bonnie ballad — one that resounded in the hallway all afternoon — reincarnated itself as a Christmas carol? And what had triggered the music after years of silence? I talked to a couple of friends about the ghostly tune. One of them wondered if it had any special meaning to a deceased family member, maybe to my late husband, John? True, he was a sailor years ago, but I don’t think Bonnie-over-the-ocean held a place in his heart. My mind wandered to the couple who built this house in 1947, the year before I was born. They’d lived here for decades and someone — probably the wife — had carved their names into a backyard walkway while it was still wet: “AC and Janie — 1960.” Had their spirits drifted through on a breezy day, setting odd currents in motion? I’ll probably never know. But the deeper mystery is this: Why, after the relief of finding the egg, did I feel a strange disappointment? A part of me wanted that music to come from another world, from a place that wouldn’t fully reveal itself, that would cause me to probe and ponder and dream of old melodies that fill the house in the afternoon sunlight. I wanted the music to come from someone in that world who loved me. The egg still hangs on the door knob. The sound device and its batteries are tucked away separately in a drawer. Maybe I’ll put the parts together again. Maybe I’ll buy new batteries. Maybe next time I’ll hear “Loch Lomond” or “Danny Boy.” Perhaps a bit of the Beatles, “The Long and Winding Road” or “Penny Lane.” Even something raucous, like “Devil with the Blue Dress.” Doesn’t matter to me. I’d just like to hear the music again — unexpected and unbidden.

PHOTOGRAPH BY DREAMSTIME

by marilyn sadler

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