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CARRIE O’GUIN Advertising Operations Manager/ Distribution Manager JERRY D. SWIFT Advertising Director Emeritus KELLI DEWITT, CHIP GOOGE Senior Account Executives MICHELLE MUSOLF Account Executive DESHAUNE MCGHEE Classified Advertising Manager ROBBIE FRENCH Warehouse and Delivery Manager JANICE GRISSOM ELLISON, KAREN MILAM, DON MYNATT, TAMMY NASH, RANDY ROTZ, LEWIS TAYLOR, WILLIAM WIDEMAN Distribution THE MEMPHIS FLYER is published weekly by Contemporary Media, Inc., P.O. Box 1738, Memphis, TN 38101 Phone: (901) 521-9000 Fax: (901) 521-0129 memphisflyer.com CONTEMPORARY MEDIA, INC. ANNA TRAVERSE FOGLE Chief Executive Officer ASHLEY HAEGER Controller JEFFREY GOLDBERG Chief Revenue Officer BRUCE VANWYNGARDEN Editorial Director MARGIE NEAL Production Operations Director KRISTIN PAWLOWSKI Digital Services Director MOLLY WILLMOTT Special Events Director LYNN SPARAGOWSKI Circulation and Accounting Manager KALENA MATTHEWS Marketing Coordinator

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CONTENTS

BRUCE VANWYNGARDEN Editor SHARA CLARK Managing Editor JACKSON BAKER Senior Editor TOBY SELLS Associate Editor CHRIS MCCOY Film and TV Editor ALEX GREENE Music Editor SAMUEL X. CICCI, MICHAEL DONAHUE, CHRISTEN HILL, JON W. SPARKS Staff Writers JESSE DAVIS Copy Editor, Staff Writer JULIE RAY Calendar Editor MATTHEW J. HARRIS Editorial Assistant LORNA FIELD, RANDY HASPEL, RICHARD MURFF, FRANK MURTAUGH, MEGHAN STUTHARD Contributing Columnists AIMEE STIEGEMEYER, SHARON BROWN Grizzlies Reporters ANDREA FENISE Fashion Editor KENNETH NEILL Founding Publisher

OUR 1669TH ISSUE 02.18.21 Have you met the Signup Genius? He’s not really a genius. He’s an “online software tool for volunteer management and event planning” that lets you “save time with sign up sheets and schedules for schools, sports leagues, holiday events, and more!” Cool! Signup Genius is what the state of Tennessee uses for us to sign up for COVID-19 vaccinations. It’s like using Eventbrite, only for death and disease and whatnot. The good news is that Signup Genius’ platinum plan is only $44.99 a month! No doubt, Governor Bill Lee’s crack health and science team got an even better deal. Being in Tennessee, Shelby County is using Signup Genius, as well as a tool called VaxQueue, wherein users fill out a form with contact information, age, and health conditions. Theoretically, they will be contacted when a vaccination comes open. You should fill it out. It’s like buying a lottery ticket at Mapco. It can’t hurt. However, judging from posts on social media (and speaking from personal experience), neither Signup Genius nor VaxQueue have been raging successes to this point. Tens of thousands of people in Memphis and Shelby County are still confused about how vaccine signup works. There have been long lines, short lines, last-minute cancellations, and sudden open cattle calls for shots. What is clear is that people who have online savvy, personal connections, spare time, personal transportation, or a job that allows them to repeatedly check the Shelby County Health Department website for updates (and rush over to a vaccine site on a moment’s notice), have a huge advantage in getting the vaccine into their arms. Unsurprisingly, the advantages cited above mean poor and working-class folks and people of color are under-represented. The Hispanic populace, having been burned by ICE setting up outside community centers and courtrooms and marriage license offices, is distrustful of signing up for much of anything government-related, as are many in the African-American community. And no matter your race, blue-collar jobs usually don’t let you jump off your forklift and go get a shot on a moment’s notice. Outreach to — and vaccine access for — those communities needs to improve. Toss in the anti-vaxxers, the COVID-hoaxers, and other assorted fruits and nuts in the white community, and a best-case scenario is that we get two-thirds of the population vaccinated by summer, according to some estimates I’ve read recently. Since I’m eligible for the vaccine, I signed up with the Genius early this month and got an appointment in Whitehaven for a couple weeks later. A few minutes after signing up, my daughter called and said she just read online that there were open appointments that day at the Pipkin Building. I hung up, clicked on the Genius at 1:30 p.m. and got a 2 p.m. appointment! By 2:45 p.m., I had a shot in my arm. The nurse who administered it said they had 1,000 shots they needed to use that day and that I should “text or call anyone who can get over here.” So I did just that, starting with my family and co-workers. That’s not the way vaccine distribution should work, to say the least. I canceled my Whitehaven appointment the next day. Shelby County is not alone in having logistical problems with the vaccine. My 70-year-old brother in New Mexico signed up in that state’s version of VaxQueue weeks ago and hasn’t heard a thing. California has fallen way behind in getting the vaccine into arms. Many other states and cities are struggling. It’s a huge job, one that various local and state governments are learning on the fly. Being able to get vaccine appointments at some local Walgreens is a strong positive step for Memphis, certainly a better option for those without cars than the drivethru process. Chicago and New York and other locales around the country are using apps like ZocDoc to streamline scheduling. West Virginia is using locally owned pharmacies and having success. Some states are creating their own online signup tools. The CDC also offers a signup system called VAMS. N E WS & O P I N I O N The reason there are so many differTHE FLY-BY - 4 ent ways to sign up for and get a vaccine NY TIMES CROSSWORD - 6 around the country is primarily because VIEWPOINT - 8 BOOKS - 9 our current distribution systems were COVER STORY created from the bottom up — by states “SECURE” and cities and counties and private comBY CHRISTEN HILL - 10 panies and app makers — rather than WE RECOMMEND - 14 by a coordinated national system. We’ve MUSIC - 16 CALENDAR - 18 been playing catch-up for months. FOOD - 24 And it doesn’t really take a stable SPIRITS - 25 Signup Genius to figure out why that’s FILM - 26 happening. C LAS S I F I E D S - 27 Bruce VanWyngarden LAST WORD - 31 brucev@memphisflyer.com

THE

fly-by

MEMernet A roundup of Memphis on the World Wide Web. B EALE STU M B LI N’

On Twitter, Devin Walker hilariously Memphis-ized a wildly popular meme last week. G O O D Q U ESTI O N The McDonald’s on East Parkway closed years ago. But the joke E. Parkway McDonald’s Twitter account never did. And we’re glad. After the “big game” last week, they said, “No word yet on whether or not we’re catering this year’s Super Bowl champs at the White House.”

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IT’S I C E

The MEMernet froze last week with ice and icicles everywhere. Look no further than trees outside the Memphis office of the National Weather Service. VA XQ U E U E Q UÉ? Nextdoor user Melania White asked last week if anyone who had signed up for VaxQueue — the county’s standby service for unused doses of COVID-19 vaccine — had actually been alerted. Of the nearly 50 respondents to the message, only three said they had been asked to come in.

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Questions, Answers + Attitude Edited by Toby Sells

W E E K T H AT W A S By Flyer staff

Overton Park & Byhalia Pipeline Suggestions roll in for park’s “blank canvas” and Byhalia Pipeline Connection gets its permits. PA R K P L A N S Peaceful. Busy. Commercial spaces. No commercial spaces. Build recreational areas. Build nothing. Votes and suggestions are in for the best ways to develop a 13-acre piece of property on the east side of Overton Park. The space has been home to a City of Memphis OVERTON PARK/FACEBOOK; general services facility for de(BELOW) SOUTHERN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CENTER cades. But it’s moving out, leaving a blank canvas that the Overton Park Conservancy (OPC) is now calling Zone 1. It will, ultimately, be up to OPC to decide how to fill the space. But the organization asked community members in November what they want to see in the space. More than 1,000 people voiced their opinions, and those opinions are varied. A blog post from OPC showed some high-level opinions. AnClockwise from top left: Overton Park Conservancy considers how best to utilize a other post, promised later, will “blank canvas” space, and the Byhalia Connection Pipeline secures permits. get into the nitty-gritty of what amenities community members would like to see in the space. will require “a source of revenue that it does not currently “Recreational areas e.g. volleyball courts, bocce courts, have.” horseshoe pits, etc. for bring your own equipment,” reads one opinion OPC shared Thursday. “Nice restrooms. Unique P E R M ITS AP P R OVE D playground. Maybe use greenhouse to grow and sell plants The Byhalia Connection Pipeline now has all permits needed and flowers. Gift shop/restaurant/snack bar would be nice.” to begin construction, company officials said last week. Another resident opined, though, that the site should not be The 49-mile pipeline is proposed to run from the Valero refinjust for “developing amenities.” ery near Presidents Island to Marshall County, Mississippi. “Memphis needs a leader to bring the vision of an ecologiLast week, company officials said the project earned permit cally sustainable city to fruition,” reads the opinion. “Speapprovals from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers offices in Tencifically, the park should focus development of this site on nessee and Mississippi. They came after, “more than 10,000 teaching and promoting the idea of ecosystem services, which hours of environmental field study and analysis,” officials said. is a scientific field detailing how urban forests can promote “We look forward to safely and responsibly building and operhealthier people, improve safety, lower infrastructure costs, ating a pipeline that will be a long-term benefit to the commuand add environmentally friendly jobs to our economy.” nity,” said company spokeswoman Katie Martin. Another set of opinions urged OPC leaders to “keep things With permits in hand, Martin said the company can begin quiet and peaceful” and, then, to “keep it busy. As many comconstruction. It hasn’t decided when construction would munity engagement programs as possible. The more use it gets, begin, though, she said. Once it begins, the company has prothe better its future is.” jected construction would take nine months. OPC said its design and business planning teams are working to incorporate all the ideas into “some exciting options.” Visit the News Blog at memphisflyer.com for fuller versions of However, the group admits implementing changes in the space these stories and more local news.

WE COULD USE YOUR HELP.

BRUCE VANWYNGARDEN

Editor

justice, and speaking truth to power without fear. I know the Flyer makes a difference in this city. People care about this little paper. I know because I hear it all the time, in person and via emails and texts. And I know because so many readers have become “Frequent Flyers,” supporting us with their dollars each month, asking only that we keep doing what we’re doing.

Our advertisers aren’t big box stores with Sunday inserts; they’re local merchants — providing what we eat, drink, wear, drive, where we go for live music. Our advertisers are local, just like us. They believe in us. So do our readers. And I couldn’t be prouder to play a part in creating this paper, and helping it stay around for the next 20 years.

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’m proud that the Flyer is the only news medium in town that still offers a free print product and free website. In a city like Memphis, where poverty is endemic, access to a free source of local news is vital. And I’m proud that the Flyer is — and always has been — the city’s only progressive media voice, standing up for equality and

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This is my 20th year as the editor of the Flyer. I’d planned to retire as full-time editor in March and focus on writing a column and feature stories. Then things changed and I’ve stayed around to help the paper get through the COVID crisis. I did it because I’m proud of what the Flyer has achieved and what it does — and I want it to survive. America’s news media have taken huge hits in recent years and it’s important that we not let this pandemic deliver a knockout blow to local media.

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Crossword ACROSS 1 Three-letter sandwich 4 Ballroom dance from Cuba 9 Put up with 14 Period in history 15 In the city 16 Front and back halves of a golf course, often 17 Stick connected to a reel 18 Article of headwear for an explosives engineer? 20 Words before an expiration date

28 Install, as a light bulb

53 Frog and ___ (friends in a children’s book 32 Breadth series) 56 Halo sporter 35 Article of neckwear for the 60 Waist accessory Stooges? for a Russian cook? 37 Comedian Issa ___ 63 Beam of sunlight 38 Set-asides for old 64 Made less age, for short difficult 39 “Today” rival, in 65 Not go together brief fashionwise 66 Dog’s sound 40 Artist Chagall or N.B.A. player 67 Put vinaigrette Gasol on, perhaps 41 Dispenser candy 68 Groups of bison 42 Wrist accessory 69 Three-letter for a celebrity sandwich magazine editor? 46 Had a video call with

48 Funeral vehicles

26 30

27 32

40 44

52 60

33 37

39 43

51 54

56 62

57 63

PUZZLE BY ANDY KRAVIS AND ERIK AGARD

19 Architect of the Louvre Pyramid 21 Unfun sorts 25 “Yucky!” 27 Guitar, in slang 28 Ogre with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame 29 Noted Lakota leader 30 “I hate the Moor” speaker, in Shakespeare 31 Naiad or dryad 33 Drug bust officers

34 PC fixer 35 Rewards for waiting? 36 “A ___ of Two Cities” 40 Perry who lost only one case in his career 42 Vivacity 43 Wharton or Piaf 44 Musical ability 45 Christmas door decorations 47 Groups in westerns

50 V-shaped cut 52 Fly high 54 Up to the task 55 ___ John 57 Seize 58 Grey’s title, in the tea aisle 59 Uber competitor 60 Making it is a chore 61 Contents of jewel cases 62 Trippy drug

Online subscriptions: Today’s puzzle and more than 7,000 past puzzles, nytimes.com/crosswords ($39.95 a year). Read about and comment on each puzzle: nytimes.com/wordplay.

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Meet My Person A new Instagram hopes to make love connectons IRL.

21 24

DOWN 1 Lima’s home 2 Frat dudes 23 Stashed away 49 “Let me give you 3 Stone prized in a ride!” 24 Poem with a China dedicatee 51 ___ Speed Wagon 4 Actress in “Do (old vehicle) the Right Thing” 26 Where tapas are and the “Roots” 52 “Help us!,” at sea enjoyed miniseries 5 Address ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE containing “www” B O S C F A C T L L A M A 6 Execs’ degrees, O H I O A R E A P O L O S often G O D O W N I N H I S T O R Y 7 First, second or E L I E T O N T H E E third M A K E P A S S E S E A S T 8 Pays for a hand I B I S E S T A R 9 Peebles in the T A C T H E M P N Y P D Memphis Music T S K G E T A R U N R I B Hall of Fame E S P N C R O C A I D E 10 Chart-topper I C E L A T V I A 11 Burn to a crisp V A M P D R A W A B L A N K 12 Having a battery A L O E G A T E E A T that’s out of juice G O O D N E W S B A D N E W S U N D U E L E E K T E A R 13 Psychic’s purported ability, E G Y P T S A R A A R G O for short 22 Appear to be

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Memphians turn to internet friends for recommendations on doctors and moisturizers. So, why not someone to date? That’s the basic rationale behind an Instagram account launching next month from a pair of Memphis singles hoping to crowdsource dating connections for other area singles. The “Meet My Person Project” account is slated to go live March 1st. Nominations for slots on the account are open now. Meet My Person is not a company. It’s not an app. It’s not even a formal effort. It’s more of an experiment, according to co-founders Meredith Regan and Melissa Whitby. It works in two ways, Whitby said. It’s for people looking to meet “their person.” It’s also for people looking for possible matches for their single friends. For now, the account will run only for the month of March, but it will run longer if it’s successful. A new single will be featured each Monday and Thursday. Nominations run through a Google Form. They can be done by the person seeking to meet someone or by someone who knows a worthwhile, eligible single person. The nomination form asks for the person’s name, sexual identity, social accounts, photos, and a bit on why the person would be a fit for the project. There are also a couple of voucher statements. Before filling out the form, one has to agree that “Black lives matter. Women’s rights are human rights. No human is illegal. Science is real. Love is love. Kindness

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Is there a particular sign you’re more compatible with? is everything.” A safety statement also has one vouch that the nominated person is “a good, kind, and law-abiding human.” To which, one can answer “absolutely” or “I can’t say for sure.” The idea for Find My Person came as Whitby and Regan commiserated over the downfalls of online dating. Whitby said she got married young, didn’t learn to date until she was in her 40s, and that has involved a lot of online dating, which she called a “pretty terrible experience.” “Women put a lot of thought into our profiles,” Whitby said, for example. “We try to say something funny but not too funny. We take time to take some really good photos and edit them. Men, on the other hand, get in their car, decide to start a Bumble profile, and take a picture with their seatbelts on. They put nothing in their bio, except for their height. Then, they joke that they’re over six feet tall and we really don’t care.” Regan calls dating apps “catalogs of humans” that come with the “burden of limitless options.” Think Netflix but with people. “It’s just so easy to keep swiping and swiping and swiping, looking for better versions of the last person you saw,” said Regan. “In a lot of ways that keeps people from committing to the real things that can be right in front of them.”

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VI EWPO I NT By Juan Williams

Kooks vs. Conservatives The Republican Party is in the midst of a fight for its future.

hey used to pay me to fight with Representative Liz Cheney on live TV. Now she’s fighting to keep the Republican Party alive. I’m no Republican. But this time I’ve got her back. You see, every American has a stake in preventing a major political party from being derailed by former President Trump’s supporters who prefer lies and conspiracy theories over reality. Everyone saw a dying party sliding off the rails last week when Republican senators ignored all facts to vote against convicting Trump on charges of inciting the riot at the Capitol. Democrats need the balance that comes from facing an honest, credible party based on conservative principles. That’s why I can’t stand on the sidelines and celebrate the civil war among Republicans. This is a fight for everyone invested in the nation’s greatest prize — political stability based on open debate of the facts and equality under the law. In the words of Senator Mitt Romney, what is happening inside the GOP is a fight between “conservatives” and “kooks.” To put a finer point on it, this is a battle between reality and delusion. On one side are Cheney, Romney, and a band of real Republicans, such as Senator Lisa Murkowski. Murkowski says she wants no part of the party of Trump — “I’m looking for the Republican Party.” Senator John Thune, also in flight from the madhouse, says the idea of the GOP as a “cult of personality” built around Trump is simply not “a good durable model for the future.” Let’s call this group “Team Reality.” On the other side are Republicans like Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, Senator Ted Cruz, and Senator Josh Hawley. They have no problem with the lies and conspiracy theories being peddled for fast money on right-wing websites and talk radio. Let’s call them “Team Kooks.” The kooks are backed by cynical enablers like House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy. As a matter of political calculation, he thinks having the kooks voting for Republican candidates is the only way for the party

to win future elections. He refused to sanction Greene for making violent threats against Democrats. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, well-known for making hard political calculations, punched back at McCarthy’s logic, when he said: “Loony lies and conspiracy theories are cancer for the Republican Party and our country.” But here is the basis for McCarthy’s thinking: According to a January Gallup poll, 82 percent of Republicans still approve of Trump. And get this — according to a Pew poll, 64 percent of Republicans say they believe that Trump was the rightful winner of the 2020 election, despite all the evidence to the contrary. Those polls explain why it was only Cheney and nine other House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump for inciting the Capitol insurrection.

“Loony lies and conspiracy theories are cancer for the Republican Party and our country.” The insurrection “is not something we can simply look past or pretend didn’t happen,” Cheney said on Fox News Sunday in explaining her vote for impeachment. Trump’s actions, she added, “constituted the gravest violation of his oath of office by any president in the history of the country.” There is a hard political calculus behind her thinking: If Republicans fall into line with the kooks, they will lose credibility with rational voters. They will lose any traction with educated and suburban voters, especially women. Cheney also said in her Fox interview that the party needed to convey to voters “that we actually can be trusted to handle the challenges this nation faces.” That party and Cheney have my full support. As an American and a Democrat, I say: “Go, Liz.” Juan Williams is an author, and a political analyst for Fox News Channel.

Memphis author talks about his most-recent and forthcoming novels.

“

elcome to the new America. How can I help you?” asks Corey Mesler when I call him to talk about his newest novel, The Adventures of Camel Jeremy Eros. The poet, author, and owner, with his wife, Cheryl, of Burke’s Book Store, is nothing if not prolific — it seems as though we were just speaking about Camel’s Bastard Son. Clearing up the Camel timeline — which ended up being more complex than this book reviewer originally realized — was just one of the things we discussed. As always, Mesler is charming and poetic — but that’s what I’ve come to expect. Memphis Flyer: Did you write this recently? It feels like Camel’s Bastard Son just came out. Corey Mesler: In the small press world, what happens is there are different lag times between acceptance and publication. Some presses move really slowly, some presses move fast. This book I’d written long before Camel’s Bastard Son. This was supposed to come out before that in my perfect plan.

Year-Old Carbon, which is my Memphis hippie novel. I liked him so much, I put him in Memphis Movie, which takes place at a much later time. So I made him an old man who is a retired poet living in Midtown Memphis who gardens and doesn’t really write anymore. When we talked about Camel’s Bastard Son, we spoke about contemporary politics and discourse. Are there similar influences here, or is this book focused on Camel? It takes place more in the ’60s and ’70s. I was 14 years old in 1969, and I wanted so bad to be a hippie. I wanted to be at Woodstock, but I was 14. As a writer, I thought, I can go back and revisit that through Camel. That’s what this book is. It has some of the youthful joy, I hope, of being a young poet, going to San Francisco, that sort of thing. You didn’t get to go, but did it feel good to send Camel? Well, the chapter about Woodstock, you have to read it. Camel’s too stoned to get there.

Do you have plans to do a booksigning at Burke’s at some point — kind of a “make up” signing? This book, I feel, was sort of lost in the panAre they related? Is it demic. I hate to even say the same Camel? this — I have a novel Yes, it is, but Camel coming out in March, COURTESY COREY MESLER doesn’t actually appear and then I have an 800Corey Mesler in Camel’s Bastard page novel coming out Son as a corporeal being. It’s funny, at in the summer, from two different presses. Christmas, a customer who — for some reason — is enamoured of my books Wait, what? When do you write these? gave as Christmas presents what he I know. It’s absurd. I don’t even think of called “the Camel quartet.” I couldn’t be myself as any more prolific or energetic. more flattered. I’m not; I’m kind of a lazy writer. It makes me think of Patricia Highsmith’s Ripliad. Yeah, or John Updike’s Rabbit books. What are the other books in the quartet? Camel first appears in We are Billion

Will these books feature science-fiction elements, like Camel’s Bastard Son? Yeah, it’s in most of my books. A flattering way to describe it is magical realism, but I think of it more like I watched too much Twilight Zone as a kid.

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COVER STORY AND PHOTOS BY CHRISTEN HILL

Ben Cory Jones’ trip from Memphis to hit-making Hollywood writer.

“T

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Writer Ben Cory Jones wrote his way from the local The Teen Appeal to Underground and HBO’s Insecure — with a stop on Wall Street.

secure

he great thing about what I do … I write Black stories,” says Ben Cory Jones, who started his professional life on Wall Street but found his true love in Hollywood. “Wall Street made me a smarter person, and it’s because I have a sophisticated worldview. I want to bring that to us.” Jones, an original producer and writer for the HBO hit series Insecure, got his start telling stories in high school at The Commercial Appeal’s teen newspaper, The Teen Appeal. “I am a product of Memphis journalism. I continue to read the Memphis Flyer in L.A.,” he says. Jones began his journey at Memphis’ Central High school. It was there that he was convinced to pursue a career in writing. He knew he had a knack for it but it was his guidance counselor who pushed him to pursue writing as a career. When Jones set out to find a college in 2001, his decision came down to either the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, or Morehouse College in Atlanta. Coming from a middle-class family in Whitehaven, UTK made more sense, financially. And Jones had already gotten accepted and knew he could afford it. But the guidance counselor who was impressed with Jones’ writing ability urged him to major in English at Morehouse. Fortuitously, he earned a full-ride scholarship to Morehouse and never looked back. As an editor of the Morehouse continued on page 12

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continued from page 10 College newspaper, The Maroon Tiger, Jones could never have imagined that he would one day be striking Hollywood deals and working backstage with film and television legends. But he wanted to go to work on Wall Street after college.

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FROM WALL STREET TO RODEO DRIVE Jones was an English major and finance minor, and thought it would be best to go into a career where he knew he’d be financially stable. He began working as an investment banker in 2005, just after graduation. Engaging with the finances of some of America’s wealthiest families, he was privy to a life only a small portion of the nation gets to witness. Then the 2008 recession hit, and the bank where he worked closed. Jones no longer wanted to stay in finance, so he went back to writing — this time as a blogger. It was after he started a movie review blog that he got the idea to become a professional writer for television. He studied the television writing industry like a Wall Street commodity, 12 calculating his next move. “My job at the bank was ending

because of the market crash of 2008, and I’m a calculated risk-taker.” Jones says. “I saw that there were all these different writing programs in L.A. that you could apply to.” He was able to land several opportunities to participate in writing programs, including the ABC Production Associates Program. “As long as you can get your foot in somebody’s door …” he says. “Now you gotta learn how to work it. Now I gotta learn how to use my Southern-ness from Memphis, my Morehouse-ness, my gay-ness, my Black man-ness, my Wall Street-ness. I’m cobbling together everything about who I am in order to make an impact and be memorable to people.” The opportunity to work on the hit HBO comedy-drama Insecure came from someone in his writing community, who happened to be an “awkward Black girl” — namely Insecure co-creator and star, Issa Rae. “Issa has admitly said that I was one of the first calls she made [for the show] because we have known each other, socially, in the industry, trying to come up,” says Jones. “I think there was something about me being a Black dude from the South, who’s gay, who was also funny and interesting, weird and fly. Like,

we just took to each other.” THE VIEW FROM THE WRITER’S ROOM Jones comes from a class of peers that includes Rae and Lena Waithe, known for shows such as The Chi and Master of None, as well as the movie Queen & Slim. He and Waithe were in the car on the way to the 2018 GLAAD Awards when the idea of producing a BET spin-off of the ’90s movie Boomerang, which starred Eddie Murphy and Halle Berry, came up. Ironically, Berry was presenting Waithe with her award. Jones recalls: “She’s like, ‘Ben, I’m going to ask Halle if you and I do Boomerang, if she would executive produce it.’ After Halle presents her with her award, Lena goes back to the greenroom and says, ‘Hey, me and my friend Ben are going to do a reboot of Boomerang. Would you like to be an EP [executive producer]?’ “She said, ‘Yes.’” Jones has produced movies such as Step Sisters, and was a writer for Underground, a thriller about the underground railroad in Antebellum Georgia starring Jurnee Smollett. It just so happened that Memphis was the show’s highest-viewing audience in the country. “Underground changed my life as a writer,” says Jones. “I thought I was gonna

be known as the Insecure type of writer. Then I do Underground, they’re like, ‘Oh you can write that shit? You can write an epic thriller, drama, an adventure?’ I wanted that, because a lot of times in this industry, just as in life, people try to view you as one thing. I don’t want to just get pegged as a comedy writer.” Jones has crafted his career after writers like David E. Kelley, whose writer credits stretch back to the late ’80s, his most recent being the critically acclaimed Big Little Lies. (Just Google him.) Jones touts his own ability to produce a variety of genres. His goal is to create high-octane shows, much like Westworld. “You have to ingratiate yourself to people in order to learn this business; Hollywood is an apprenticeship business,” says Jones. “All the greats in Hollywood, they can point to the person that they were [an] apprentice to.” Now, having directed, produced, and been showrunner to a multitude of shows, Jones knows it all goes back to his foundation of writing. “I don’t get my rocks off by being in front of the camera — the writers’ room is heaven to me,” he says. “It is my favorite place on Earth because it’s so fun.” The distinct voice of Insecure beckons back to the authenticity of Black sitcoms in the ’90s. Yet now, it’s doused with a fresh

Issa Rae

perspective that transcends race. “When we got Insecure, we said, ‘This show is for us! Y’all can watch it, but this show is for us,’” Jones says. “The greatest compliment that we get about Insecure is that ‘this show sounds like conversations my friends and I have.’ And that’s all we ever wanted.” There’s a Millennial voice that has impacted Hollywood in some beautiful ways. That may be attributed to the fact that the creators of the show derived from social media. “The great thing about Insecure is that Issa Rae had those numbers on YouTube to show them that a show about Black women’s lives is important,” says Jones. The show’s cult following might contend this series delves into the journey of two exes, Lawrence and Issa, however, Jones describes Insecure as a love story between Issa and her best friend, Molly. The show is a raw, funny, and endearing peek into Black life that isn’t driven by continual trauma or violence. It’s simply a show about Black people, living their Black-ass lives. THE FUTURE AFTER INSECURE “People are always like, ‘We need Black stories, we need Black movies,’ but the only way we get them is by having Black storytellers who are trained to do it,” Jones says. “They’re not trying to make us better; we have to make ourselves better.” Jones noticed that there were fewer writing programs for young Black writers, so he built his own: @Benthewritersroom, a virtual writers’ room for new Black voices. “Giving back, creating this program, has been one of the highlights of my life and career,” Jones says. “I’m the product of a lot of writers’ programs. I realized that these programs are fading in the industry, and I wanted to create a program that’s

specifically for Black writers, specifically for underrepresented writers.” Writers meet weekly for four months to develop their ideas. It’s his version of a boot camp for people who haven’t had the privileges he’s had. “I want to teach Black writers how to write. I want our skill level to be a level of excellence,” says Jones. “When you leave my program, you leave with a finished script. I’m going to teach you to have a product that is ironclad and sufficient to get your career started.” Jones says he has a unique and valuable worldview that he is eager to unleash on the next crop of television writers: “One of the biggest lessons that I’ve learned in Hollywood is you don’t personalize things that happened to you, because if you do, then you will literally leave and pack your bags after a month. I don’t know a lot for sure, but I do know for sure that I have a God-given talent to write. And I have to protect it at all costs. I almost have to have an impenetrable barrier around me. My main concern is making sure that my writer brain stays intact no matter what experiences I have. “The people who green-light shows in Hollywood are not Black,” Jones says, “so our job as storytellers is to make it appealing and give a view of why this would be important.” Jones says he is a Memphian at his core. He bleeds Memphis and he wants nothing more than to make his home city better. He’s writing a show set in Memphis called Candy, built around a Black female mayor. “I want to bring the industry here to Memphis,” he says. “I can create a TV show that employs hundreds of people. “Life is going to beat you up. This business is going to beat you up. But the thing that saves me is when I write. At the end of the day, no one can tell me anything when I’m writing.”

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steppin’ out (& stayin’ in)

We Recommend: Culture, News + Reviews

My Own Wife

BILL SIMMERS

Michael Gavois as Charlotte von Mahlsdorf

By Julie Ray

Playhouse on the Square continues its 52nd season with on-stage performances streamed right to your living room. “Offering productions in this new format gives us the exciting opportunity to meet the demands of our patrons, but also keeps our team and community safe. In addition, we have the chance to share who we are and what we do to a much larger national audience, and that is pretty exciting,” says director of community relations, Marcus Cox. Art does, after all, have its place during a national crisis. During Nazi Germany’s national crisis, traditional art was the only acceptable art. “Degenerate” art was not allowed. Or as Nazi Germany called it, modern art — gasp and pearl clutch. They would not have allowed the play I Am My Own Wife, penned by playwright Doug Wright and based on the true story of a real-life German trans woman, Charlotte von Mahlsdorf. She managed to survive both the Nazi onslaught and the repressive East German Communist regime. She was a tough cookie. Michael Gravois will play the role of Mahlsdorf — again. He first performed the one-person play at Circuit Playhouse in August 2006. The production earned Gravois and director Stephen Hancock Ostrander nominations. The production was also nominated in the 2007 Ostranders for best play. Associate director and resident company member Dave Landis will direct this current production. I AM MY OWN WIFE , ONLINE FROM PLAYHOUSE ON THE SQUARE, PLAYHOUSEONTHESQUARE.ORG, OPENS FRIDAY, FEB. 19, 7-10 P.M., AND CONTINUES THROUGH FEB. 28, $25.

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Named by rock-and-roll — Crosstown Brewing and WYXR’s Raised by Sound Spirits, p. 25

Sharon Murtaugh (above) and a story with real heart The Last Word, p. 31

VARIOUS DAYS & TIMES February 18th - 24th “From Black Church to Black Humanism” Online at memphisfreethought.com, Thursday, Feb. 18, 5-6 p.m., free Anthony B. Pinn, Center for African and African American Studies director, will speak about Black humanism. Virtual Black History Speech Series: “Say It Loud: Dick Gregory” Online from hattiloo.org, Thursday, Feb. 18, 6 p.m., free Howard Robinson will introduce Pa Bomani who will portray Gregory — comedian, civil rights activist, and spokesman for health issues.

Women and Business Virtual Seminar Online from dailymemphian.com, Thursday, Feb. 18, 3:30-5 p.m., free Speakers include Lori Spicer-Robertson, Cindy Brewer, and Monica Wharton. Lenten Preaching and Waffle Shop Online from calvarymemphis.org, opens Friday, February 19, noon, and continues on Wednesdays and Fridays through March 26, free Attend speaker events and eat from the Waffle Shop served through pre-orders and take-out. Plus local musicians and After Dark evening speakers/Waffle Shop on Wednesday evenings.

Biloxi Blues Germantown Community Theatre, 3037 Forest Hill-Irene, opens Friday, Feb. 19., 8 p.m., and continues through Mar. 7, $70 for flex package Eugene Jerome learns life lessons while stationed at boot camp in Biloxi, Mississippi, in 1943. Guy Torry Chuckles Comedy Club, 1700 Dexter, Friday-Sunday, Feb. 19-21, 6:45 p.m. and 8:45 p.m., $25-$45 Multi-talented comedian who has made the transition from the stage to the screen takes to the stage once again.

Time Warp Drive-In: Martial Arts Mayhem Malco Summer Drive-In, 5310 Summer, Saturday, Feb. 20, 6 p.m., $10 Head out to the drive-in for a martial arts double feature, Enter the Dragon and Rumble in the Bronx. Levitt Shell’s Virtual Black History Month Series: Rhodes Jazz with Joyce Cobb Online from levittshell.org, Saturday, Feb. 20, 7:30 p.m., free Enjoy an incredible concert from the Levitt Shell archives, the Rhodes Jazz Ensemble featuring Joyce Cobb.

FLICKR/CERIMÔNIA DE ABERTURA DO II ENCONTRO AFRO LATINO

Afro-Latino Week

WEDNESDAY

FEB

Culture Bridge

6 PM & 8 PM

By Julie Ray Get ready for a culture fusion infusion as Cazateatro Bilingual Theatre Group brings an African and Latin blended experience during Afro-Latino Week. Cazateatro says, “We strive to create a bridge between different cultures and backgrounds. The upcoming event will be in honor of Black History Month connecting the valuable contribution of Afro-Latinos in America and Latin America.” The week opens Wednesday night with Venezuelan percussionist Anyose Diaz bringing his sonidos Venezolanos (Venezuelan sound). On Thursday, the rhythm continues during a virtual Afro-Latino bomba dance class via Zoom with Redobles de Cultura, a popular Afro-Puerto Rican band based in New York. Talk about bomba music and its roots with the band on Friday. And the roots are deep. Bomba music dates back to the early European colonial period in Puerto Rico. It comes out of the musical traditions brought by enslaved Africans in the 17th century. The week closes on Saturday with a conversation, “From Africa to Mexico.” Guest speaker Yves Tchakomi is a doctor of pharmacy and a photojournalist who founded the Nzima gallery. The gallery’s goal combines science and art by bringing together visual artists “passionate about photojournalism and wishing to have an impact on social dialogue by promoting multiculturalism, human rights, ecology and healthcare access.”

COUNTRY COMEDY NIGHT FEATURING

JON REEP

AFRO-LATINO WEEK, ONLINE FROM CAZATEATRO BILINGUAL THEATRE GROUP VIA FACEBOOK LIVE, CAZATEATRO.ORG, OPENS WEDNESDAY, FEB. 24, AND CONTINUES THROUGH FEB. 27, FREE.

THURSDAY

FEBRUARY 25 8 PM

SUNDAY

6 PM &

8:30 PM THURSDAY

Kitten Shower Online at memphisanimalservices.com, Sunday, Feb. 21, 1 p.m., free Featuring feline trivia with prizes and a raffle for a foster kitten starter kit. Gift registry for the incoming bundles of joy on Amazon. Visiting the Lincolns Bartlett Performing Arts and Conference Center, 3663 Appling, Sunday, Feb. 21, 2 p.m., $20 In 1865, President and Mrs. Lincoln receive unexpected guests. They speak of happier times before the war and entertain with personal stories.

Ceramic Silly Pots Memphis Botanic Garden, 750 Cherry, Sunday Feb. 21, 1:30-3:30 p.m., $40 members, $50 nonmembers Becky Zee will teach the basics of pinch pot construction and how to add eyes, teeth, horns, hair, legs or whatever else you want. All skill levels are welcome.

Virtual Black History Speech Series: “Say It Loud: Marcus Garvey” Online from hattiloo.org, Tuesday, Feb. 23, 6 p.m., free John Best will introduce William Green who will portray Garvey — Jamaican political activist, publisher, journalist, entrepreneur, and orator.

Get On Up Malco Paradiso, 584 Mendenhall, and Collierville Grill, 580 Market, Tuesday, Feb. 23, 7 p.m., $15 Based on the life story of the Godfather of Soul, giving a look inside the music, moves, and moods of James Brown.

Celebrate What’s Right Panel: Memphis the Movement Online from newmemphis.org, Tuesday, Feb. 23, noon-1 p.m., free Learn about Memphians on the move featuring panelists Susan Dalton, Milton Howery III, and more.

MAR

11 6 PM & 8 PM

RAUL MALO OF

THE MAVERICKS

FOR TICKETS AND INFORMATION, VISIT

LAFAYETTES.COM/EVENT-TICKETS

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

FEB

Daniel Kaluuya (front seat, left) and LaKeith Stanfield star in Judas and the Black Messiah. Film, p. 25

m e m p h i s f l y e r. c o m

PARMALEE

OR CALL 901.207.5097

2119 MADISON AVENUE | MEMPHIS, TN 38104 (901) 207-5097 | LAFAYETTES.COM

MUSIC By Alex Greene

Blow Your Horn! Remembering Raymond Hill, Clarksdale’s unsung reed man.

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“

low your horn, Raymond! Blow!” If you’re a fan of rock-and-roll, you’ve heard those words, yelled by Jackie Brenston during the solo on the groundbreaking track, “Rocket 88.” Many regard it as the first rock-and-roll record, combining car-crazy fun — it celebrates swigging booze while cruising around in an Oldsmobile Rocket Hydra-Matic 88 — with the distortion of guitarist Willie Kizart’s amp. Whether that tag’s deserved or not, the song played a pivotal role in the genre’s ascendance, being the first hit recorded at Sam Phillips’ Memphis Recording Company and one of the biggest R&B records of 1951. What a break for Ike Turner’s band, the Kings of Rhythm, for whom Brenston sang and played saxophone. And what a moment for Raymond, the superior reed man, bringing what Nick Tosches called his “post-melodic saxophone shriekings.” And yet, as a friend recently queried, “Who is this Raymond?” As it turns out, it was Raymond Hill, who, like Turner and most of his band, grew up around Clarksdale, Mississippi. Now, with the 70th anniversary of the “Rocket 88” recording session only two weeks away, on March 3rd, Hill’s life is especially ripe for celebration this Black History Month. “He’s an unsung hero of Black music,” notes Dr. David Evans, who taught ethnomusicology at the University of Memphis for decades, and recorded Hill for the first 45 to be released on U of M’s High Water Records in 1979. For once, that isn’t an overstatement. “Rocket 88” was only the beginning. Hill’s work turns up two years later on the great Junior Parker track, “Mystery Train,” one of Sun Records’ finest moments. And in 1960 he may have appeared on another milestone recording, the brilliant, oft-covered “Ooh Poo Pah Doo” by Jessie Hill (no relation), now considered a cornerstone of New Orleans R&B. Raymond Hill must have been making that journey south fairly often: One of his rare solo singles on Sun was “Bourbon Street Jump.” Although Evans is skeptical that it’s Hill, Jessie Hill does shout “Spread your fingers, Raymond!” on the

COURTESY BLUE T.O.M. RECORDS

COURTESY CHERYL THURBER

Hill’s “Going Down” from High Water Records

Raymond (left) and Lillie Hill

single’s instrumental “Part 2,” a veritable showcase for the sax player. Back then, the sax was king, and Raymond Hill brought the big tone. “He said Gene Ammons was his big idol,” says Evans, who interviewed Hill while recording the High Water single. “He emulated that honking sax sound.” Evans notes that Hill was also a DJ on Clarksdale’s WROX, playing live on the air with a small combo. No wonder the Clarksdale Press Register dubbed him the “chief of the hepcats” back in the day. He fell in with Ike Turner when he was 15 and was still in high school when “Rocket 88” launched Turner’s band out of its local orbit. Through the early ’50s, Hill recorded more tracks for Phillips, even starring as a vocalist on “I’m Back Pretty Baby.” Two instrumental tracks were actually released by Sun at the time, including “The Snuggle.” In 1955, he rejoined Turner’s Kings of Rhythm, now

based in St. Louis. As Tosches notes, singer Jimmy Thomas “remembered Brenston and tenor sax player Raymond Hill being more or less drunk throughout the late Fifties, even though Turner fined them for drinking.” Perhaps that was why Hill eventually left, or perhaps it was because Turner had his own plans for the band’s young singer, Anna Mae Bullock, with whom Hill had a romance and a child in 1958. Ms. Bullock, of course, would come to be Mrs. Tina Turner, but by then Hill had moved on. After touring with Albert King through most of the ’60s, Hill eventually settled down in Clarksdale by the decade’s end, and that’s where he lived when Evans recorded him, this time playing guitar (with saxophone overdubs) and accompanying his wife Lillie. And that’s where he passed away in 1996. “He was a very mild mannered guy, a real nice guy,” recalls Evans. “And he was in the thick of it from an early age.”

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

The Memphis Flyer tells you what you need to know in good times and in tough times. That’s what we’ve done since 1989, and not even 2020 could stop us.

m e m p h i s f l y e r. c o m

RESOLVE TO SUPPORT LOCAL MEDIA. 17

CALENDAR of EVENTS:

February 18 - 24

T H EAT E R

Bartlett Performing Arts and Conference Center

Visiting the Lincolns, in 1865, President and Mrs. Lincoln are caught unaware by the arrival of unexpected guests. They speak of happier times before the war and entertain with personal stories. $20. Sun., Feb. 21, 2 p.m. 3663 APPLING (385-6440).

Germantown Community Theatre

Biloxi Blues, while stationed at boot camp in Biloxi, Mississippi, in 1943, Eugene Jerome learns life lessons. Become a package holder to take advantage of in-person performances. $70 for flex package. Fridays, Saturdays, 8 p.m., and Sundays, 2:30 p.m. Through March 7. 3037 FOREST HILL-IRENE (453-7447).

Hattiloo Theatre

From the Frontlines of COVID-19, online series that spotlights healthcare workers who share emotional insight of their critical work as they care for those who have been impacted by the virus. hattiloo.org. Free. Ongoing. 37 S. COOPER (502-3486).

Kudzu Playhouse

Kudzu Playhouse Virtual, join Kudzu social media for donation-based classes, games, scholarship opportunities, and more. Download the app for more fun theater activities and information. Ongoing. P.O. BOX 47 (888-429-7871).

The Orpheum

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Orpheum Virtual Engagement, join Orpheum staff, artists, and students for activities, interviews, and more on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. Visit website for more information. Ongoing.

203 S. MAIN (525-3000).

Playhouse on the Square

Registration for Winter Adult Theatre School, a fun and challenging experience, in-person or online, for both the beginner and the experienced performer. Visit website for more information and registration. $150. Through March 1. Playhouse on the Square at Home, a series of digital content through POTS website and social media platforms. View past performances, engage in quizzes, enjoy digital playwriting, and more. Free. Ongoing. I Am My Own Wife, the fascinating tale of Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, a real-life German transvestite who managed to survive both the Nazi onslaught and the East German Communist regime. playhouseonthesquare.org. $25.

Send the date, time, place, cost, info, phone number, a brief description, and photos — two weeks in advance — to calendar@memphisflyer.com or P.O. Box 1738, Memphis, TN 38101. DUE TO SPACE LIMITATIONS, ONGOING WEEKLY EVENTS WILL APPEAR IN THE FLYER’S ONLINE CALENDAR ONLY.

Fridays, Saturdays, 7-10 p.m., and Sundays, 2-5 p.m. Through Feb. 28.

Eclectic Eye

“Queens,” exhibition of photorealistic portraits of empowered women by Becca Hand. The series draws inspiration from traditional playing card iconography. Through March 31.

66 S. COOPER (726-4656).

Theatre Memphis

Online on Stage, a Theatre Memphis Facebook group that serves as a clearinghouse for performers wanting to share their talents. Featuring storytime, readings, or performance art. Ongoing.

242 S. COOPER (276-3937).

FireHouse Community Arts Center

“SANKOFA!,” exhibition celebrating Black History Month recognizing Memphis creative legends for their achievements and integral roles in shaping the fabric of Memphis and the world. Through Feb. 28.

630 PERKINS EXT. (682-8323).

OTH E R A R T HA P P E N I N G S

3rd Space Online

985 S. BELLEVUE (948-9522).

Visit Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn for exciting activities and relief efforts from the local creative community. Ongoing.

Gallery 1091

“The Elements,” exhibition of work by the Tennessee Craft: Southwest Fine Craft Showcase. wkno.org. Free. Through Feb. 28.

3RDSPACEARTS.ORG.

Ceramic Silly Pots

Becky Zee will teach the basics of pinch pot construction and how to add eyes, teeth, horns, hair, legs, or whatever else you want. All skill levels are welcome. $40 members, $50 nonmembers. Sun., Feb. 21, 1:30-3:30 p.m. MEMPHIS BOTANIC GARDEN, 750 CHERRY (636-4100).

“The Durability of American Impressionism” Director Kevin Sharp will speak on topic via Zoom. Free. Wed., Feb. 24. THE DIXON GALLERY & GARDENS, 4339 PARK (761-5250).

Online Art Auction: “Incognito”

Peruse work online or in person by over 90 artists who have donated original unsigned work. Artist identity revealed after the auction. Bidding exclusively online. Through Feb. 25. MEMPHIS BOTANIC GARDEN, 750 CHERRY (636-4100), MEMPHISBOTANICGARDEN.COM.

Memphis Flyer Coloring Book

Order your book today benefiting local artists and journalism. $35. Ongoing. MEMPHISMAGAZINESTORE.COM.

Metal Museum Online

Peruse the art and craft of fine metalwork digitally. Featuring past gallery talks from previous exhibitions, interviews with artists, and demonstrations including “Beauty in the Boundary,” the museum’s exhibition of gates and railings. Free. Ongoing. METAL MUSEUM, 374 METAL MUSEUM DR. (774-6380).

WKNO STUDIO, 7151 CHERRY FARMS (729-8722).

Jay Etkin Gallery

Permanent Collection: “The Flow Museum of Art & Culture,” ongoing. 942 COOPER (550-0064).

Monthly Art Give Away

The gallery is giving a work of art to a lucky visitor each month. Drop off your business card or 3x5 card with contact information for a chance to win. Through June 30. MID-SOUTH ARTIST GALLERY, 2945 SHELBY (409-8705).

Open Late: Ask Me

Want to learn more about “America’s Impressionism”? Visit the exhibition and ask docents and staff stationed in the galleries. Social distancing and masks required. Thurs., Feb. 18, 6-8 p.m. THE DIXON GALLERY & GARDENS, 4339 PARK (761-5250).

The Peace Project

Hear the peace offerings made up of artists’ voices, instruments, ambient noises, and reverberations in a healing space featuring work by Hank Willis Thomas. Ongoing, 6 a.m.-6 p.m. MEMPHIS PARK (FOURTH BLUFF), FRONT AND MADISON, MEMPHISRIVERPARKS.ORG.

Reader Meet Writer: Ed Tarkington

Author will discuss The Fortunate Ones via Zoom. Free with registration. Thurs., Feb. 18, 6 p.m. NOVEL, 387 PERKINS EXT. (9225526), NOVELMEMPHIS.COM.

Weaving Metal

Learn to make three different woven pieces including a flat pendant woven on a frame with mixed metals, a woven copper

Visiting the Lincolns at Bartlett Performing Arts and Conference Center, Sunday, February 21st, at 2 p.m. cuff, and a silver and sterling ring. $40 supply fee payable in class. $55 members, $75 nonmembers. Sat., Feb. 20, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. MEMPHIS BOTANIC GARDEN, 750 CHERRY (636-4100).

ONGOI NG ART

Art Museum at the University of Memphis (AMUM)

“Africa: Art of a Continent,” exhibition of African art from the Martha and Robert Fogelman collection. Ongoing. “IEAA Ancient Egyptian Collection,” exhibition of Egyptian antiquities ranging from 3800 B.C.E. to 700 C.E. from the Institute of Egyptian Art and Archaeology collection. Ongoing. 142 COMMUNICATION & FINE ARTS BUILDING (678-2224).

Beverly and Sam Ross Gallery at Christian Brothers University

“Flatus Vocis,” exhibition of large-scale drawings that utilize augmented reality, creating an immersive, multimedia experience by artist Karina Alvarez. By appointment only. cbu.edu. Through March 5. 650 EAST PARKWAY SOUTH (321-3243).

Binder Projects

“Begin Again,” exhibition of work by Alex McClurg, Marja Vallila, Alex Paulus, Ed Rainey, Lauren Fogg, Jim Buchman, Nancy Cheairs, Erin Wright, Linda Wallis, and Whitney Lorenze. Through Feb. 28. 74 FLICKER (634-1698).

Buckman Arts Center at St. Mary’s School

“From Folk to Fine,” exhibition of new works by Billy Moore featuring traditional art pieces incorporating new canvas abstracts. Through March 1. 60 N. PERKINS EXT. (537-1483).

Clough-Hanson Gallery

“Art 260: Curation in Context,” exhibition of work by student artists in partnership with seasoned artist curators. rhodes.edu. Ongoing. RHODES COLLEGE, 2000 N. PARKWAY (843-3000).

Crosstown Concourse

“Nightlife,” exhibition of an outdoor light installation by Lake Roberson Newton. Ongoing. 1350 CONCOURSE.

The Dixon Gallery & Gardens

“Learning to be Astonished,” exhibition of impressionistic landscapes created during the COVID-19 pandemic by Jimpsie Ayres. Through April 4. “America’s Impressionism: Echoes of a Revolution,” exhibition of work by late 19th century to World War II American impressionism painters. Through May 9. 4339 PARK (761-5250).

Memphis Brooks Museum of Art

“Arts of Global Africa,” exhibition of historic and contemporary works in a range of different media presenting an expansive vision of Africa’s artistry. Through June 21. “Power and Absence: Women in Europe,” exhibition explores the representation of women in Europe from around 1500 to 1680, known as the Renaissance and Early Baroque period. brooksmuseum.org. Ongoing. “Drawing Memory: Essence of Memphis,” exhibition of works inspired by nsibidi, a sacred means of communication among male secret societies in southeastern Nigeria by Victor Ekpuk. Ongoing. 1934 POPLAR (544-6209).

Memphis College of Art

“Intrepidly Yours,” exhibition of Spring 2020 BFA work by last graduating class. mca2020bfa. com. Through Feb. 28. 1930 POPLAR (272-5100).

Memphis Heritage

“Newman to Now” Virtual Exhibit, exhibition of historic photographs taken by Don Newman between the 1940s and ’60s and contemporary photographs of the same sites taken by photographer Gary Walpole to explore continuity and change in Memphis’ built environment. memphisheritage. org. Ongoing. 2282 MADISON (272-2727).

Metal Museum

“Tributaries: Ben Dory,” exhibi-

C A L E N DA R: F E B R UA RY 1 8 - 2 4 “Opera Speed-Runs” Series by Jake Stamatis

Tales of Hoffman on YouTube by Handorf Company artist. Free. Ongoing.

374 METAL MUSEUM DR. (774-6380).

Mid-South Artist Gallery

OPERA MEMPHIS, 6745 WOLF RIVER (257-3100).

Mid-South Artist Gallery Artists, exhibition of work by becky McRae, Sandra Horton, Jean Wu, Jon Woodhams, Marina Wirtz, Michelle Lemaster, Pat Turner, and others. Ongoing.

Sing2Me

Mobile operas will come to your neighborhood or place of work to perform a themed concert. Visit website for details. Ongoing.

2945 SHELBY (409-8705).

OPERA MEMPHIS, 6745 WOLF RIVER (257-3100).

Northwest Community College (Fine Arts Auditorium)

“I Wander, I Wonder,” exhibition of mixed-media work — paintings, block prints, and assemblages — by Angi Cooper. Located in the Art Building Gallery next door to the Fine Arts Auditorium. Through March 5. 4975 HWY. 51 N. (662-562-3200).

Palladio International Antique Market and Gallery

Porter Rivers, exhibition of watercolors and oil paintings of nature, still life, and scenes of the Mid-South. Through Feb. 28. 2169 CENTRAL (276-3808).

Wednesday Opera Time

Weaving Metal at Memphis Botanic Garden, Saturday, February 20th, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tops Gallery

“An Angle to the Place I Live In,” exhibition of sculptural paintings by Ezra Tessler that contend with both the physical and ontological limits of the medium. Through April 10. 400 S. FRONT.

Tops Gallery: Madison Avenue Park

“An Angle to the Place I Live In,” exhibition of sculptural paintings by Ezra Tessler that contend with both the physical and ontological limits of the medium. Through April 10. 151 MADISON (340-0134).

Various locations

“We Deliver for Memphis,” exhibition of work honoring essential workers on digital billboards along I-55 near Downtown Memphis at West I-55, I-55 at Hwy. 61 (Third

Street), and 240 at Airways. uacmem.org. Ongoing. SEE WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

Virtual & Online

“Tried and True,” exhibition of previously owned works from longtime collectors in the Memphis area. View works by Burton Callicott, Nancy Cheairs, Ted Faiers, Veda Reed, Mary Sims, and Dorothy Sturm. Ongoing. BINDERPROJECTS.COM.

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Join Opera Memphis every Wednesday on Facebook for an assortment of live events including “Opera for Animals,” Bingo Opera, and more. Free. Wednesdays, 7 p.m. OPERA MEMPHIS, 6745 WOLF RIVER (257-3100).

C O M E DY

Hi Tone

Live Weekly Comedy with John Miller, open micstyle. Free. Tuesdays, 8-10 p.m. 282 N. CLEVELAND (278-TONE).

PO ET RY /S PO K E N WO R D

The Poetry Society of Tennessee

Tennessee-Resident Challenge, this challenge invites anyone residing in the state of Tennessee to submit an original and unpublished poem related to Janet Qually’s artwork. $25 to the winner and publication in Tennessee Voices. poetrytennessee.org. $1. Through March 1. P.O. BOX 770688 (264-7532).

LECT U R E /S P EA K E R

Advocacy Nuts and Bolts

Attend online informative sessions by local experts, for parents: Know the Laws; Testing, Diagnosis, and the RTI process; and Parents as Advocates. Moderated by Gay Landaiche and Pam DeMato. $30 for all sessions. Thursdays, 6-7:15 p.m. Through Feb. 25. BODINE SCHOOL, 2432 YESTER OAKS (754-1800), BODINESCHOOL.ORG.

Celebrate What’s Right Panel: Memphis the Movement

Learn about Memphians on the move, featuring moderator Nicole Thomas and panelists

continued on page 20

m e m p h i s f l y e r. c o m

OPERA

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

tion of works paying homage to traditional granulation, an ancient and intricate technique of fusing primarily gold spheres. Through April 3.

C A L E N DA R: F E B R UA RY 1 8 - 2 4 continued from page 19

Virtual-T

Weekly Zoom gathering for anyone 18+ who identifies as a member of the trans or GNC community. For login information, email ahauptman@outmemphis.org. Tuesdays, 6 p.m.

Susan Dalton, Milton Howery III, Niranjani Radhakrishnan, and others. Free with registration. Tues., Feb. 23, 12-1 p.m. NEWMEMPHIS.ORG.

“From Black Church to Black Humanism”

OUTMEMPHIS.ORG.

Online talk by Anthony B. Pinn on Black humanism. Free. Thurs., Feb. 18, 5-6 p.m.

S P EC IA L EVE NTS

Afro-Latino Week

Join Cazateatro Bilingual Theatre Group to experience the Afro-Latino culture and music on Facebook Live. Free. Wed.Sat., Feb. 24-27.

MEMPHISFREETHOUGHT.COM.

Virtual Black History Speech Series: “Say It Loud”

A free Black history series featuring well-known locals portraying historical figures with an introduction by other well-known locals. Visit website for full online series. Free. Thurs., Feb. 18, 6 p.m., and Tues., Feb. 23, 6 p.m. HATTILOO THEATRE, 37 S. COOPER (502-3486), HATTILOO.ORG.

Zoo Dude

Hosted by Chief Zoological Officer Matt Thompson, Memphis Zoo updates. Free. Wednesdays, Sundays, 8 a.m., and Saturdays, noon.

Breakout Games’ Dispatch Urban Adventure Quest Virtual Games

Series of small games that will take you on a virtual tour of a state from the safety of your home. Free. Ongoing. VARIOUS LOCATIONS, SEE WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION (805-603-5620), URBANADVENTUREQUEST.COM.

MEMPHIS ZOO, 2000 PRENTISS PLACE IN OVERTON PARK (333-6500), MEMPHISZOO.ORG.

E X P OS / S A L E S

TO U R S

Shop the Elmwood store online for books, cards, mugs, and more. Ongoing.

Metal Museum Audio Tour

Explore the newly updated Sculpture Garden and accompanying audio tour while adhering to safe social distancing. PWYC. Ongoing, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. METAL MUSEUM, 374 METAL MUSEUM DR. (774-6380).

Stax Virtual Tour

Museum tour, interviews, and live musical performances sharing the history of Stax Records and Memphis music through those who lived it and continue to be impacted by its legacy. Free with registration. Through Feb. 28.

Fe b r u a r y 1 8 - 2 4 , 2 0 2 1

CAZATEATRO.ORG.

STAX MUSEUM OF AMERICAN SOUL MUSIC, 926 E. MCLEMORE (9462535), STAXMUSEUM.COM.

Elmwood Store

ELMWOOD CEMETERY, 824 S. DUDLEY (774-3212), ELMWOODCEMETERY.ORG.

The Perfect Wave: Digital Boat Show

Fully digital, immersive experience aimed at engaging with consumers in this dynamic boat show season. Free. Through Aug. 31. EXPERIENCEMASTERCRAFT.COM.

WE Consign

Featuring a large selection of furniture, rugs, crystal, sterling silver, antiques, and other treasures benefiting the Woman’s Exchange of Memphis. Mondays-Fridays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Through April 16. WOMAN’S EXCHANGE ART GALLERY, 88 RACINE (327-5681).

PINK PALACE WWW.MEMPHISMUSEUMS.ORG

S PO R TS / F IT N E S S

Ballet Memphis Online Pilates and Ballet Classes

Visit website for more information. Classes offered include Espresso Flow, Stretch & Burn, Fascial Fun, Intermediate/Advanced Ballet, Intermediate Mat Flow, and Get Moving. $10. Ongoing, 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. BALLET MEMPHIS, 2144 MADISON (737-7322).

Horseback Riding Lessons

Private lessons available for ages 6-adult, beginner to intermediate. English, Western, and pleasure/trail. $50 per lesson. Ongoing. PONY DREAM FARMS RIDING SCHOOL, 11241 HOLLY SPRINGS, HERNANDO, MS (827-2429).

Laughter Yoga

Join Baptist Cancer Center on Zoom for a unique combination of breathing, fluid movements, and voluntary laughing to make you happier and healthier. Free. Fourth Tuesday of every month, 9 a.m. Through Dec. 31. BAPTISTCANCERCENTER.COM.

Ceramic Silly Pots with Becky Zee at Memphis Botanic Garden, Sunday, February 21st, 1:30-3:30 p.m. Memphis Grizzlies vs. Detroit Pistons Fri., Feb. 19, 7 p.m.

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Memphis Grizzlies vs. Phoenix Suns Sat., Feb. 20, 7 p.m.

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Memphis Tigers vs. Temple Owls Sun., Feb. 21, 2 p.m.

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Memphis Tigers vs. Tulane Green Wave Wed., Feb. 24, 7 p.m.

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Slow Your Roll Saturday Morning Meditation

Join mindfulness and meditation teacher Greg Graber meditation session in the Church Health Meditation Garden. No sign-up is required. Masks are a must. Saturdays, 9:30-10 a.m. Through Dec. 25. CROSSTOWN CONCOURSE, 1350 CONCOURSE.

M E ETI N G S

Churches from the Presbytery of the MidSouth: Sunday Worship Livestream

Combined livestream worship. Visit website for more information and livestream link. Sun., 11 a.m. IDLEWILDCHURCH.ORG.

Virtual Dixon Book Club

Interactive discussion on great reads. Email for more information. Third Thursday of every month, 6-7 p.m. THE DIXON GALLERY & GARDENS, 4339 PARK (761-5250), DIXON.ORG.

Free Tax Prep

United Way of the Mid-South will prepare and file taxes for low- to moderate-income families. Walk-up or drive-through locations available. Visit website for locations. Free. Through March 15. UNITED WAY OF THE MID-SOUTH, 1005 TILLMAN (433-4300), UWMIDSOUTH.ORG.

Read in Peace Book Club Talk about The Office of Historical Corrections by Danielle Evans. $5. Tues., Feb. 23, 5:30 p.m. ELMWOOD CEMETERY, 824 S. DUDLEY (774-3212), ELMWOODCEMETERY.ORG.

Enjoy treasure hunts, secret agent assignments, murder mysteries, and more. Breakout Games has four different box sets that can be ordered online to bring the escape room to your living room. $45-$130. Ongoing. DISPATCH.BREAKOUTGAMES.COM.

DIG Memphis Mysteries

While at home, do some investigative work to solve a mystery from a collection of images in the digital archives. New photo posted weekly. Ongoing. BENJAMIN L. HOOKS CENTRAL LIBRARY, 3030 POPLAR (415-2700).

“Dinosaurs in Motion”

Interactive STEAM experience featuring 14 recycled metal dinosaur sculptures with exposed mechanics inspired by actual fossils. Visitors are invited to touch and learn. $15. Through May 2. MEMPHIS PINK PALACE MUSEUM, 3050 CENTRAL (636-2362).

“Just for the Health of it Bingo Challenge” Each participant will receive a bingo card with challenges to complete. For prizes, take a picture completing the activity and email it to ocantre1@utk. edu. Tuesdays, Thursdays. EXTENSION.TENNESSEE.EDU.

continued on page 22

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COMMUTE BY CARPOOL OR VANPOOL FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT WWW.SHELBYTNHEALTH.COM

Get ready for kitten season, featuring feline trivia with prizes and a raffle for a foster kitten starter kit. Gift registry for the incoming bundles of joy on Amazon. Free. Sun., Feb. 21, 1 p.m. MEMPHISANIMALSERVICES.COM.

Lenten Preaching and Waffle Shop

Some speakers will participate via Calvary social media. In-person speakers will have advance sign-up. Waffle Shop will serve through pre-orders and take-out food. Wednesdays, Fridays, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., 12 & 5:15-6:15 p.m. Through April 2. CALVARY EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 102 N. SECOND (525-6602), CALVARYMEMPHIS.ORG.

Lunchtime Meditations with Amy Balentine

Explore a variety of meditation practices designed to help you find balance and reduce stress. Join live or enjoy past meditations online. Fridays, noon. DIXON.ORG.

Bruce Lee in Enter the Dragon at the Malco Summer Drive-In, Saturday, February 20th, at 6 p.m. H O LI DAY EVE NTS

Levitt Shell Virtual Black History Month Series

Featuring concerts from the archives. Opening event features gospel quartet The McCrary Sisters from 2018. Free. Saturdays, 7:30 p.m. Through Feb. 27. LEVITTSHELL.ORG.

Nominations for Memphis Parent Mom of the Year Nominate a mom who makes you smile. Prizes include $1,000 orthodontic work for the child and teeth whitening for Mom from Saddle Creek Orthodontics. Submit nomination online. Winner announced in May issue. Through Feb. 28. MEMPHISPARENT.COM.

River Garden Bingo Fe b r u a r y 1 8 - 2 4 , 2 0 2 1

Download a bingo card or make your own. Free. Ongoing. MISSISSIPPI RIVER PARK, OFF RIVERSIDE DRIVE, MEMPHISRIVERPARKS.ORG.

River Garden Guides

Download River Garden Field and Bird Guides and explore Mississippi River Park. Ongoing. MISSISSIPPI RIVER PARK, OFF RIVERSIDE DRIVE, MEMPHISRIVERPARKS.ORG.

Crosstown Arts: Against the Grain — an online platform where viewers can watch new, made-at-home performance videos by Memphis musicians — now features more than 150 local musicians. View their videos for free, or show your support with a donation. 100% of donations on an artist’s page will go directly to the artist.

crosstownar ts.org/againstthegrain

United Way of the MidSouth: Driving The Dream

For those impacted by COVID-19. Puts callers in contact with essential services, without individuals having to repeat the circumstances for the call. Follow-up ensures those connections were made. MondaysFridays, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. (888-709-0630), CALL.DRIVINGTHEDREAM.ORG.

FO O D & D R I N K EVE NTS

Memphis Dawah Association: Mobile Food Pantry

A weekly mobile food pantry organized by Memphis Dawah Association and Mid-South Food Bank. Volunteer opportunities available. Saturdays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. MEMPHIS DAWAH ASSOCIATION, 837 CRAFT (601-672-0259).

Muddy’s Fun House: Super Fantastic AtHome Bake-a-Long and Variety Show Visit blog for a new episode each week hosted by Kat. Thursdays. MUDDY’S COFFEE & BAKE SHOP, 585 S. COOPER (683-8844), MUDDYSBAKESHOP.COM.

Science of Beer Pick 6

Pick up a card from participating breweries or download from the museum website. Visit breweries and get your card stamped to enjoy free museum admission through February 28. Through Feb. 28. MEMPHIS PINK PALACE MUSEUM, 3050 CENTRAL (636-2362), MEMPHISMUSEUMS.ORG.

F I LM

CUBA: Journey to the Heart of the Caribbean

Film provides an intimate look at this vivacious island nation. $10. Wednesdays-Sundays, 11 a.m. & 4 p.m. Through March 28. CTI 3D GIANT THEATER, IN THE MEMPHIS PINK PALACE MUSEUM, 3050 CENTRAL (636-2362).

Get On Up

Based on the life story of the Godfather of Soul, James Brown. Also screening at Collierville Grill & MXT. $15. Tues., Feb. 23, 7 p.m. MALCO PARADISO CINEMA, 584 S. MENDENHALL (682-1754).

Indie Memphis Movie Club

Weekly virtual screening opportunities, plus online Q&As on Tuesday evenings between programmers and special guests. Ongoing. INDIEMEMPHIS.ORG.

Morris and Mollye Fogelman International Jewish Film Festival

Features nine films ranging from feature films, to documentaries, to comedy. $12 members, $15 nonmembers. Through March 3. MEMPHIS JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER, 6560 POPLAR (761-0810), JCCMEMPHIS.ORG/FILM.

Time Warp Drive-In: Martial Arts Mayhem

Featuring Enter the Dragon and Rumble in the Bronx. $10. Sat., Feb. 20, 6 p.m. MALCO SUMMER 4 DRIVE-IN, 5310 SUMMER (681-2020).

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True Grits Diners get grits any way they want them at Sugar Grits.

ugar Grits is slated to get its breakfast bowls that have eggs on top, beer and liquor license at but it’s all based on a bottom of grits in the end of February. So dina bowl.” memphis flyer | memphisflyer.com ers can now have a cocktail Sugar Grits also specializes in gravies, with their grits. including white country gravy, red eye, Say what? tomato, and chocolate, which is her grandThe restaurant at The Peabody strictly mother’s recipe. “That chocolate gravy is serves dishes that include grits, whether only used in our breakfasts and desserts.” they’re one of the ingredients or a grit Westmoreland isn’t behind the stove at cake on the side. They do go well with Sugar Grits. “I’m not a chef, and I love to alcoholic beverages, says owner Stephaleave that creativity up to my staff ’cause nie Westmoreland. we have some really good talent.” It took grit for Westmoreland, who is Westmoreland and her husband, Tony, from Charlotte, North Carolina, to come who are partners in Tandem Restaurant up with the concept. “What I grew up Partners, says chefs from their other reseating isn’t the same as what other people taurants — Ben Yay’s, Carolina Watershed, grew up eating,” she says. “I put sugar in Cafe Society, Zinnie’s, and Sidecar Cafe — my grits. And everybody else puts butter came up with grit dishes. or cheese in their grits. Not that I don’t eat that, but if you tell someone, ‘I put sugar in my grits,’ LAURA LAZAR they go, ‘Oooo.’ But it’s Stephanie good.” Westmoreland She didn’t just put sugar in her grits. “Sometimes I put jam in there, but I’d sweeten it up.” Westmoreland came up with the concept after she noticed more people eating breakfast during the pandemic. “We pulled all our chefs from all our Grits were something she “kind of locations and asked them to come up with forgot. Every once in a while I would ideas. I had given them recipe ideas and remember grits and I would go make grits, told them my story of eating and growing but it wasn’t like a staple. I think that’s why up. And then I gave them different conI’m so excited to have them on the menu cepts from around the country. I admire www.StutteringHelp.org every day.” them for this. They came with something www.tartamudez.org Diners at Sugar Grits, which serves that was unique. They came up with their breakfast, lunch, and dinner, get grits own ideas based off of that and really “any way” they might like them. “We have crafted something new.” sweet grits. We have savory grits. I wanted The chefs also got in on the biscuit to have a variety for people.” making. “We probably had them make 20 Find year-round Westmoreland, who uses Grit Girl different styles of biscuits to come up with grits out of Oxford, says, “Our grit bowls ones that we wanted.” Find year-round opportunities to serve. are really awesome. We have one that has theSoright the big question: What alcoholic opportunities to serve. greens and fried chicken in it and white drink goes with grits? more about poverty, hunger, and more about poverty, hunger, and gravy. It’s quite delicious. And we have the “Of course, mimosas will go great for homelessness in our community. homelessness in our community. Downtown Donald, which has duck in it the brunch. As far as beer, I’m not going to See how you can help with duck gravy. ” lie. I’ve been pregnant for two years.” See how you can help support high-impact programs. They utilize all the different types of She and Tony had their fifth child, Jane, support high-impact programs. grits, including white, rice, and popcorn seven weeks ago. “I’m just now starting to Visit community.mifa.org grits. “Every one of our entrée dishes has be able to have a glass of something every Visit community.mifa.org some kind of grits. It could be just a grit now and then.” Sugar Grits is at 150 Peabody Place, Suite cake with it, but they all have grits.” 111; (901) 249-5206. As for breakfast, she says, “We have

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S P I R ITS By Richard Murff

Raised by Sound Crosstown Brewing’s latest is worth a listen.

Tiger Blue m e m p h i s f l y e r. c o m

started making a little more sense. What can I say? I like puns. With a successful collaboration, it is hard to determine just who, exactly, popped the cork on the thing. “It’s about sparking a conversation,” said Robbie. And now we were getting to the root of the matter: a local beer and a free-form radio station with a living song list that focuses heavily on homegrown talent. An idea rarely cares who hatched it, so why should I? But the big question remained: How does it taste? It’s a great session (read: quaffable) IPA. Clean and straightforward, it delivers but isn’t anything we’d call predictable. The use of the lighter calypso and lemon-drop hops lets you know that you are into an IPA, even if it is a mellow, citrusy one. Drinking it, you never have the compulsion to suck your tongue. Does listening to Memphis music 24/7 while in utero make a difference for a beer? Look, I’m a mostly rational adult. I try to avoid New Age foolishness and never take health advice from anyone who has ever had even a supporting role in a major studio motion picture. On the other hand, I also think that Wagner’s “Entry of the Gods into Valhalla” makes for great hangover music. (Don’t sneer until you’ve tried it.) So, again, anything is possible. “It feels refreshing to have something light,” said Jay B. “A beer that makes me think that I haven’t made any strong decisions.” Then by way of minor apology, “If you taste anything bitter, it’s probably my show.” (That’s Beale Street Caravan, if you’re wondering.) Even a mellow IPA is supposed to be a bit bitter. How else do you know it’s there? “It’s about shared time together,” said Clark, but I was never sure if he was talking about the project collaboration, drinking a good six-pack, society as a whole, or all of the above. Does it even matter? Okay, so playing music to your beer is a ridiculous gimmick — fair point — but it is a gimmick that hypes a worthy cause: Memphis business, homegrown arts, and hanging out with your neighbors. Uncorking what’s bottled up. Raised by Sound IPA is a can of Memphis.

The Flyer’s MeMphis Tiger Blog

Tiger Blue

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

ne thing that I’ve always liked about Crosstown Brewing is the straightforward simplicity of its beer. It’s good because it is good. No hook required. So, when I heard about their new collaboration with WYXR — Raised by Sound Session IPA — I thought it was ridiculous. The beer has literally had a boom box broadcasting Memphis’ newest radio station at it while it sits in the vat doing its beer thing. It’s not an offensive type of ridiculous, just the kind that prompts people to talk to houseplants or try to get an EKG out of yogurt. Was it possible I missed the whole point of the exercise? Well, anything is possible. According to Clark Ortkiese of Crosstown Brewing, it started out as a neighborly collaboration. WYXR (91.7 FM), itself a partnership between the University of Memphis, Crosstown Concourse, and the Daily Memphian, launched in October. The free-form format leans heavily on the personalities of its volunteer on-air talent for its content. All of which sounded pretty interesting to the guys at Crosstown Brewing, who were glad to have another cool neighbor down the way. I sat down with Clark, WYXR’s Executive Director Robbie Grant, Programming Manager Jay B. Boyd, and a six-pack of Raised by Sound Session IPA. No one could quite explain where the idea came from. “It’s all about collaboration,” said Clark about pulling in Tom Martin — who does branding for both the station and the brewery. For what it’s worth, the visual continuity of the project is tight. Jay B. added, “It’s about what you can create when you’re sequestered. What’s bottled up.” Suddenly the whole thing

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FILM By Chris McCoy

Political Violence Judas and the Black Messiah writes history with lightning.

Fe b r u a r y 1 8 - 2 4 , 2 0 2 1

n 2014, I had the privilege of helping Pritchard Smith and J.B. Horrell with their documentary The Invaders. My job as writing consultant was to punch up the voiceover and help sort out the structure of the complex story of Memphis’ homegrown Black Power militia. It remains one of my favorite film jobs ever. The most heated debate we got into during that postproduction period was about COINTELPRO, the FBI’s counterintelligence program, which targeted radical political groups in the 1960s and ’70s. And by “radical political groups,” I really mean, “people J. Edgar Hoover didn’t like.” It wasn’t the right-wing John Birch Society who were getting their phones tapped, their ranks infiltrated, and their leaders incarcerated. It was the Black Panthers. These groups represented Hoover’s worst nightmare: revolutionary Black socialists. The Invaders, who were not directly affiliated with the national Black Panther organization, were mostly Vietnam veterans. Hoover and his rabid anti-communist allies thought they had been radicalized overseas by Maoist agitprop. But the truth was, it was the grinding poverty and relentless racism they experienced back home that lit their revolutionary flame. The Invaders were blamed for the riot that broke out

Daniel Kaluuya (above) plays Fred Hampton in Shaka King’s Judas and the Black Messiah; Kaluuya and LaKeith Stanfield (below, front) professional as Hampton is passionate. Caught in the middle is Bill O’Neal (LaKeith Stanfield). After he’s collared for using a fake FBI badge to carjack carjackers, O’Neal is blackmailed into going undercover in Hampton’s Panther chapter. Once inside, the people he meets aren’t the dangerous terrorists of Hoover’s vision. He comes to admire Hampton’s emphasis on small-bore community organizing over grandiose dreams of revolution. But O’Neal is not a communist “fellow traveler.” His FBI handler woos him with fancy dinners, fat wads of cash, and, when Hampton needs a driver, a new car. With such an epic story of political struggle, it would have been easy — and perhaps even satisfying — for King to draw cartoonish good guys and bad guys. But even when he’s slam-banging big action sequences, such as the police siege of Panther headquarters, which devolves into a pitched firefight, King chooses moral complexity. Sometimes when O’Neal looks at Hampton, he sees a community-minded politician at the beginTreat the condition - Transform your life!

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during Dr. King’s March 28, 1968 march in Memphis. But they denied involvement, claiming the window breakers on Main Street that day had been a COINTELPRO false flag operation. We believed them, but would the average viewer of the documentary? In the Obama era, the story sounded paranoid. Not so much anymore. The Invaders, it turns out, got off easy. They only had their reputations besmirched. The next year, Fred Hampton, the leader of the Chicago-area Black Panthers, was killed by what can be described only as a COINTELPRO death squad — at least, that’s how we would describe it if it happened in another country. Hampton’s brief life and scandalous death are the basis for director Shaka King’s Judas and the Black Messiah. The film’s framework is formed by a trio of brilliant performances: Daniel Kaluuya’s turn as Fred Hampton is in the same league as Denzel Washington’s Malcolm X or Daniel Day-Lewis’ Lincoln. When he’s delivering fiery oratory to rapt crowds, you believe he could be the Black Messiah. (That term comes not from ranks of the Black Panthers, but from Hoover himself, played with oily gravitas by Martin Sheen.) Hampton’s opposite in every respect is Roy Mitchell (Jesse Plemons), a white FBI agent tasked with infiltrating and disrupting the Panthers. He is as blandly

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have thought of you as shy,” she says as she tries to goad the 21-year-old into kissing her for the first time. Kaluuya’s earth-shaking performance may be the headline, but everything from the noir-toned cinematography to the banging score is honed to a razor edge. Whether it’s mining gangster pictures like Boyz in the Hood for tense scenes of urban combat or twisting the narrative into JFK paranoid pretzels, Judas and the Black Messiah succeeds on every level. Judas and the Black Messiah is now showing at multiple locations, and streaming on HBO Max.

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ning of his career. Other times, he sees a Marxist-Leninist strongman building a cult of personality. Mitchell sees himself as a career-minded law enforcement professional who is shocked when confronted with his boss’ overt racism. But when the time comes to plan the hit on Hampton, he just follows orders. What ultimately humanizes Hampton (and damns O’Neal’s treachery) is his relationship with poet Deborah Johnson (Dominique Fishback). The chairman may be a hard-nosed revolutionary, but Hampton is utterly unprepared when Johnson takes a shine to him. “I wouldn’t

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

FILM By Chris McCoy

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T H E L A S T W O R D B y Fr a n k M u r t a u g h

A Heart Story Sometimes life throws you a curve.

m e m p h i s f l y e r. c o m

Sharon Murtaugh

THE LAST WORD

I usually write about sports, so let’s start with this: The best athlete I know over the age of 50 happens to be my wife. Sharon has run a pair of marathons since hitting the half-century mark, the second one faster than the first. We’ve run dozens of 5Ks, Sharon always patiently waiting for me — her sweat nearly dried — at the finish line. And this isn’t a recent development. Sharon was an allstate soccer player during our high school days in Vermont and helped our Northfield Marauders win a state championship as a senior. High school boys challenged Sharon to races when she was in middle school. Her list of names taken while kicking ass is, shall we say, lengthy. But back to the present. Sharon will cross the finish line of her next marathon with a pacemaker in her chest. I’m with you. Huh?!? During Sharon’s annual physical last year, an EKG revealed abnormalities in her heart rate: too high at times, too low at others, and without a pattern. She wore a monitor home for 24 hours and the larger sample size revealed the same troubling data. Most concerning: As Sharon slept, her heart would pause — yes, her heart would stop — for as long as two seconds. Fortunately, our brains are wired to recognize such a “glitch” and wake us when it happens. Sharon would wake up, if slightly, catch her breath, and gradually fall back to sleep. It wasn’t painful or violent. But concerning to her cardiologist? Absolutely. Last week, Sharon checked into Baptist Memorial Hospital for an electrophysiological study (EPS), a procedure involving very thin wire electrodes that, traveling through a vein, approach and measure the heart’s function. And sure enough, my wife’s heart was not beating properly. It’s called tachy-brady syndrome: sometimes too fast, others too slow. The risk of such a condition isn’t necessarily a heart attack (she has no blockage; the mechanical function and blood flow from Sharon’s heart is strong). The risk involves the possibility of Sharon losing consciousness — even briefly — while driving, while swimming, while riding a bike. A catastrophic event may have been waiting for Sharon, one directly connected to tachy-brady syndrome. So my wife of 26 years is now wearing a pacemaker in her chest. The size of a silver dollar — with two thin wires, or “leads,” snaking their way to her heart — the pacemaker will moderate her heart rhythm if it threatens one extreme or another on the scale of human heartbeat. The pacemaker won’t prevent her heart from relaxing with a glass of wine or a night’s sleep. It won’t prevent her heart from speeding up when she hits mile 25 of her next marathon, knowing the race is nearly complete. This lifeimproving, life-lengthening device will simply make sure her heart “remembers” the proper range of beats. Among Sharon’s many skills, dancing is not one. So there’s a slice of humor in all this. Why Sharon? Why tachy-brady at a still relatively young age? I’m not an M.D. and I’m not a biology professor, so I’ll do the best I can at relaying what I’ve been told by Sharon’s cardiologist. We’re all born with a bundle of cells — millions of them — tasked with charging our heart for every beat so we don’t have to consciously instruct this vital organ to do its thing. Well, some of us are born a few cells shy, and we reach a point where that bundle of cells is overworked, sometimes dangerously so. Modern science has provided an answer, a delightfully tiny device that will almost certainly help my wife live happier and longer than she would have without one. The irony squeezes me. “Sharon Murtaugh’s faulty heart” is an oxymoron. She is the kindest person I’ve ever known. She’s my Valentine, and so much more. To paraphrase Lady Gaga, the part of me that’s her will never die. And among her myriad attributes, Sharon’s heart has always stood out. She laughs with vigor. She cries at the right times. Her devotion to our daughters is immeasurable. And Sharon runs. My god, you need to see Sharon run. Valentine’s Day felt different this year. And it will in the years to come. My favorite person will be nearby. And my heart will race. Frank Murtaugh is managing editor of Memphis magazine. He writes about sports for the Flyer.

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