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JESSE DAVIS Editor SHARA CLARK Managing Editor JACKSON BAKER, BRUCE VANWYNGARDEN Senior Editors TOBY SELLS Associate Editor CHRIS MCCOY Film and TV Editor ALEX GREENE Music Editor SAMUEL X. CICCI, MICHAEL DONAHUE, JON W. SPARKS Staff Writers ABIGAIL MORICI Copy Editor, Calendar Editor 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 1740TH ISSUE 06.30.22 I’ve been something of a monster movie maniac ever since my dad took me, at age 5, to see King Kong (1933) as part of The Orpheum’s summer movie series. As I sat in the gorgeous old theater watching silver-hued stop-motion dinosaurs decimate the landing party, watching Kong, the king of Skull Island, take Fay Wray to his mountain keep, my velcro-clad feet barely sticking past the edge of the seat, something was awakened inside me. From that moment on, I was absolutely mad for monster movies. I’ve written about it before, I know, though I don’t know if I’ve gone into the inception of my mania. I wrote about the anniversary of the publication of Dracula not long ago. (How did Flyer senior editor Bruce VanWyngarden do this for 20 years and keep his subjects straight? I’ve got respect.) It may be that I’ve mentioned monsters a few too many times in what should be a column for general audiences. But, as Flyer film editor Chris McCoy points out in this week’s film feature, mass media is experiencing a horror renaissance, and one that shows no signs of stopping. It’s touching nearly every element of popular culture — streaming services, movies, novels. Horror is hot right now. Even subgenres are tinged with it. My sister texted me this morning to say her favorite part of the not-exactly-new (but still in theaters) Doctor Strange movie was the “horror overtone.” Stephen Graham Jones’ postmodern Scream-like novel My Heart Is a Chainsaw won a truckload of awards. Oh, and Scream got another sequel last year. Stranger Things is the subscription driver at Netflix. The trend is evident in the artsier world as well, with one of America’s most impressive auteurs, Jordan Peele, apparently committed to the genre. His newest offering, Nope, due later this year, is on all the “most anticipated movie” lists. I could go on, but why beat a horse with a dead stick? Horror is hot. Why, though? And why does the trend show no signs of fizzling? Largely, I would argue, because at its heart, horror is about things feeling out of control. Whether it’s the arthouse horror film about processing trauma, the low-budget weekend slasher flick, or Stephen King’s newest bestseller (and they’re always bestsellers), at the bloody heart of the horrific piece of art, there’s something bigger and more powerful than the (usually teenage) protagonists. And these days, who doesn’t feel at the mercy of something bigger, older, and more powerful than themselves? The recent decisions from the Supreme Court of the United States are, to put it mildly, cause for alarm. Overturning Roe v. Wade, ruling that states may not pass certain (apparently restrictive?) handgun carry laws, that states may funnel tax dollars to private and religious schools, and, most recently, that school coach Joe Kennedy’s 50-yard-line prayer counts as private and protected speech — all of these are wildly unpopular and out of sync with the majority of public opinion. It almost seems as if SCOTUS is some grim eldritch horror. They’re protected by barricades, deep within some impregnable keep, ruling for life and able to wield powers no common citizen can imagine. Frankly, I think I’d rather be a middle school Dungeons & Dragons nerd facing some betentacled monster. It seems like the conflict with the better odds. Because, though the recent SCOTUS rulings have come with the speed and frenzy of a series of werewolf bites, they’re not exactly out of step with the court’s history. Their ruling that settled the 2000 recount dispute between Bush and Gore was a political act as well. And that’s just politics. Many pundits far smarter and more politically plugged in than I worry about the future of federal environmental regulations given these recent rulings. From there, it’s not much of a mental leap to conjure the specter of climate change, a seemingly unstoppable spirit that’s haunted public discourse for my entire life. So, yes, given the larger-than-life threats we must contend with each day, it does seem all too natural for the general populace to have an insatiable hunger for horror. Fiction, after all, is a way of confronting our fears in a safe space, working out what frightens us and why. It’s also a source of strength, at least for some people. If high school-aged babysitter Laurie Strode didn’t quit when faced with the seemingly unstoppable Michael Myers, then neither will we when we’re forced to confront our own boogeyman. How do we fight these out-of-control monsters plaguing society? For that, I suggest looking for the people — the organizers, the volunteers, the visionaries — who have been doing this work for a long NEWS & OPINION time. They know what they’re doing, and THE FLY-BY - 4 they know how best we can help. Don’t NY TIMES CROSSWORD - 6 be a hero, be a helping hand. There’s no POLITICS - 7 room for ego, and there are people far AT LARGE - 8 FINANCE - 9 better suited than I to be our guides, our COVER STORY Dr. Loomis or Professor Van Helsing. “SUMMER SUDS” Maybe, in confronting this monster, BY FLYER STAFF - 10 we can shift the cultural needle. If it WE RECOMMEND - 14 means securing hard-won rights, I won’t MUSIC - 15 mind if the next decade is characterized CALENDAR - 16 FOOD - 18 by a craze for rom-coms or sports biopics. FILM - 20 Heck, I’ll learn to love ’em. CL ASSIFIEDS - 22 Jesse Davis LAST WORD - 23 jesse@memphisflyer.com
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Questions, Answers + Attitude Edited by Toby Sells
W E E K T H AT WA S By Flyer staff
Memphis on the internet.
Roe, Robertson, & the Airport
MEMPHIS STYLE
Locals react to the Supreme Court decision, a new leader at the chamber, and the future of flight. ROE REACTIONS
POSTED TO FACEBOOK BY SKYLAR WILSON
June 30-July 6, 2022
A cartoon music video for a song called “Memphis Style” draws the city in blunt terms. Posted to Facebook last month by cartoonist (and Nashvillian by way of Memphis) Skylar Wilson, who said he was “proud to make a cartoon set in my hometown.” The song is by record producers and songwriters Kenny Greenberg and Wally Wilson. “Nobody lives here anymore. That’s what the ones who moved away are saying,” says the song. “Midtown’s tired. The streets are on fire. It’s 100 degrees in the shade. … Don’t touch that dial. We’re rolling, Momma, Memphis style.” In a scathing assessment of the city’s virtues, the song says names like Otis Redding and B.B. King don’t matter anymore, replaced with greed. Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland (who is labeled “Mayor Dickland” by his desk nameplate) has “all the power” but “he don’t have a soul.” MEMPHIS MASS BAND
POSTED TO YOUTUBE BY KILLA KEV PRODUCTIONS
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School’s out but that won’t stop the Memphis Mass Band from taking the field. It’s a mash-up of the Memphis All-Stars Band and the Memphis Universal Alumni Band. Check them out on YouTube doing their version of “4’s Up.”
Locals had much to say on the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade last week. Here are two opposing opinions. Read more at the News Blog at memphisflyer.com. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee: “Today’s landmark Supreme Court decision marks the beginning of a hopeful, new chapter for our country. After years of heartfelt prayer and thoughtful policy, America has an historic opportunity to support women, children, and strong families while PHOTOS: MAYA SMITH | MEMPHIS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT/FACEBOOK reconciling the pain and Locals react to overturning of Roe; Memphis International Airport plans for Concourse C. loss caused by Roe v. Wade.” U.S. Rep. Steve initiatives that others may have never considered.” Cohen (D-Memphis): “Roe v. Wade empowered women to make decisions AIRPORT FUTURE about their healthcare and the most fundamental trajectory Technological and physical changes are ahead for Memphis of their lives. That has been taken from them by an activist International Airport (MEM), detailed in a new master plan Supreme Court that has chosen to ignore the court’s on review now. precedents for a political agenda.” MEM’s president and CEO Scott Brockman said the ROBERTSON STEPS DOWN AT CHAMBER plan will guide airport decisions for many years to come. The overall aim of the new plan is to modernize the rest One of Memphis’ biggest drivers of change is about head of the airport following the opening of the brand-new, off to a new challenge. On Thursday, June 23rd, Greater modernized Concourse C. Memphis Chamber CEO Beverly Robertson announced Physical changes to the airport building will help give that she would be stepping down from her role in December 2022. That same day, the chamber board of directors voted it a cleaner look and make it more functional, he said. to name the organization’s chief economic development For example, the north wall of the ticketing floor and the officer, Ted Townsend, as her successor. structures there (River City News & Gifts, a temporarily Robertson, the chamber’s first Black president and CEO, closed Starbucks, and a temporarily closed Maggie O’Shea’s took over the reins in 2018 in unfortunate circumstances restaurant) would be removed, have their spaces pushed out following the death of former president and CEO Phil all the way to the street, and replaced with floor-to-ceiling Trenary. She then had to navigate the Covid-19 pandemic. glass. The stairs and escalators now running through the But despite these two crises, in 2021, she led the chamber middle of the ticketing floor would be moved out to the to its best year ever for economic development and its best edges of the building. financial year. Technological changes would make traveling through “My tenure at the chamber has occurred in the midst the airport more seamless with less human interaction. If a of protest, politics, and the pandemic,” said Robertson in passenger opts into a virtual check-in program, the garage a statement. “I stepped into the organization at a critical arm lifts would raise when they arrived, airlines would automatically check in passengers, and more, thanks to time. This work was more of a mission than a job. But my mobile phone technology. administration has been marked by inclusion — on our staff, in our community, and in the diverse voices we’re listening Visit the News Blog at memphisflyer.com for fuller versions of to — and by an entrepreneurial spirit that has led me to launch these stories and more local news.
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Crossword ACROSS 1 Like many internships 7 Place for a massage 10 Hybrid citrus fruits 15 “Just my luck!” 16 Ripken with a record 2,632 consecutive games played 17 Identify someone without speaking 18 Superman’s fist? 20 Wee 21 Forever and a day 22 Yang’s opposite 23 Forever and a day 25 Fortuneteller’s deck 27 Iron Man without any clothes? 32 U.F.O. pilots 33 Sounds at doctors’ checkups 35 Shape of a plunging neckline
36 Symbol of saintliness 37 Finish, as a cake 38 Profoundly wise 39 List-ending abbr. 40 Batman’s water springs? 45 Lead-in to girl 46 Fastener named for its shape 47 Placed coins in, as a parking meter 48 Carolina ___ (state bird) 49 Bub 50 Something an apiphobe fears 51 Faux ___ 54 Spider-Man not minding his own business? 57 “The Lord is my Shepherd” begins the 23rd one 59 Famed N.Y.C. nightclub, with “the” 60 Untrustworthy sort 62 Sailing
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Out of Reach
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63 What a low-carb diet may ban 66 When the Hulk was born? 69 Indian yogurt drink 70 Things requested by bouncers 71 Partner on a talk show 72 Highly competitive, say 73 No-frills bed 74 Raises, as a flag
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29 Perry with the 2010 hit “Firework” 30 Flair 31 Loser to Clinton in 1996 34 Colorful image in a weather report 37 No matter what 38 Crept (out), informally 40 Baby deer 41 Spanish “other”
42 Pac-12 team about 625 miles from the Pacific 43 How the Quran is written 44 Cry 50 Kellogg’s Raisin ___ 51 Leisurely strolls 52 Yankees’ division, in brief 53 Savviness 55 Lecterns 56 Young’s partner in accounting
58 Greet someone cordially 61 Silicon Valley specialty 63 Lunch order that might be grilled 64 Title role for which Jamie Foxx won an Oscar for Best Actor 65 Paranormal ability, for short 67 Hoopla 68 Aussie animal
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Home ownership is a challenge for young buyers.
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recent post detailing median apartment asking rents for May 2022 has gone viral on social media. The comments section on the story, “Rents across U.S. rise above $2,000 a month for the first time ever” by Chris Arnold, is rife with speculation, commiseration, and accusation. The story, which was posted by NPR, details numbers from a Redfin report that shows that asking rents for available apartments had risen 15 percent from a year ago and had also risen above $2,000 a month for the first time. The post received a mix of reactions, with many agreeing that these numbers are “unsustainable.” “Mainly it’s because we have a lack of housing inventory available,” explains Amy Schaftlein, executive director of United Housing, a nonprofit affordable housing agency. According to Schaftlein, at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, rates were low, causing more people to “rush into the market,” in order to take advantage of low interest rates. She continues, “Because rates were some of the lowest that we’ve seen, you have a whole bunch of people trying to get into homeownership, and we haven’t been building new homes, especially at the starter home level in about 10 years. So the Great Recession has really stopped new home builds from happening over the last 10 years.” Schaftlein explains that these historically low rates, combined with historically low inventory, led to a rush in demand, which in turn pushed up housing prices across the board. That is not just at selling price. The same applies for rent. “You’re having people on the lower-
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rent side being able to stay in their homes because of the eviction moratorium and some of the rent assistance, but then you’re not seeing new rents or new homes coming,” says Schaftlein. Factoring this in with inflation and rising costs, the Federal Reserve has had to raise interest rates, which causes people who are homeowners and “stuck at these low rates” not to move. “With an overly competitive real estate market with millennials and GenZ’ers not able to get in because it’s too competitive to get a home loan, many people gave up,” Schaftlein continues. “Even millennials with a higher income represent a huge increase in the amount of rent applications.” Those who can afford to buy, and are opting to stay out of the homeownership market, are choosing to stay out due to the highly competitive nature of the market, pushing them to move toward renting, which causes rent prices to go up, Schaftlein says. There are a number of reasons why younger people are not qualifying for loans in a timely fashion, such as student debt, as well as new trends in employment. “We’re working differently,” Schaftlein says. “A lot of people that are contract workers aren’t going to be able to show that 24-month work history necessarily because they may be entrepreneurs or do more contract type of work.” Schaftlein says that this type of work is typically harder for loan officers and lenders to underwrite, which, in turn, makes it harder for the applicants to qualify to get mortgage loans, even if they have the income and show it in the bank.
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Since the bombinvestigation is conducted and that there shell announceis enough information to make a charge ment last Friday of against someone. Too many hypotheticals, the Supreme Court too many hoops to jump through. And decision invalidatthat’s not, that’s not the universe I live in. ing the 1973 Roe I don’t make conjecture statements about v. Wade ruling on what I will remand or could or should do. abortion, numerous We deal in facts, we deal in truth, and we political figures — governors, senators, deal in the evidence that’s before us.” an abundance of political candidates, and On Friday, Weirich updated those sensmaller fry galore — have gotten themtiments: “It is a dangerous path for a DA to selves on the record either for or against make broad and hypothetical statements the court’s dramatic reversal. without an actual charge or case before Few and far between are those them. To do so violates Tennessee Code politicians who have spoken in more Annotated 8-7-106, which requires a DA qualified, measured terms, but among to consider the unique facts and circumthe most cautious have been the two stances of a particular case.” candidates for Shelby County District The law referred to by Weirich is Attorney — incumbent Republican DA sometimes called “the Glenn Funk law,” Amy Weirich and her Democratic chalafter a Davidson County (Nashville) DA lenger Steve Mulroy. of progressive bent who has long made Both had addressed the pending public his refusal to prosecute any and decision weeks all cases dealing ago, after a draft of with anti-abortion the ruling-to-be, statutes. Funk authored by Justice repeated his adaSamuel Alito, had mance in the wake been leaked to the of the Roe reversal. media. Candidate MulWeirich’s first roy, asked weeks ago utterance on the about his attitude subject came toward enforcing early in June on the state trigger law, the occasion of a declined to make a ceremony in which Funk-like disavowal, she received the noting that 8-7-106 endorsements of allows the state PHOTO: COURTESY NASHVILLE POST the Memphis Police Attorney General Nashville DA Glenn Funk Association and to appoint a special the Shelby County prosecutor for cases Deputy Sheriff ’s Association. disdained by local district attorneys. MulThe full SCOTUS decision had not roy did say abortion-law violations would yet been formally announced, a fact be a very low priority in his tenure. which underscored Weirich’s reluctance On Friday, Mulroy said, “This is a sad when she was asked point-blank what day. The politicized right-wing Court goes would be her attitude toward enforcout of its way to overturn half a century ing Tennessee’s new anti-abortion act, a of precedent, with women as the victims. “trigger” law that would come into effect As District Attorney, I’ll be very different once Roe was dissolved. from Amy Weirich. “To answer that question, we have to “Weirich’s party and Donald Trump assume a lot of hypotheticals,” Weirich want her to turn her attention away said. “And I think any conversation about from prosecuting violent crime and a law that hasn’t gone into place about a prosecute women and their doctors. Supreme Court decision that may or may We need to be focusing on carjacknot be overturned … is hypothetical and, ings, murders, domestic violence — not quite frankly, political grandstanding. To jailing doctors helping women make even discuss what our office would do, reproductive choices.” you would first have to assume that docMulroy also said Weirich, who “won’t tors in this community would break the say what she thinks about prosecuting law. And then you would have to assume reproductive choice,” was “one of the few that that criminal conduct was reported to Tennessee DAs who, under a now sunsetlaw enforcement. There’s a lot of criminal ted law, prosecuted pregnant women for conduct that doesn’t get reported about. ‘fetal assault’ for showing up to hospitals “And then you have to assume that an to get substance abuse treatment.”
MEMPHIS MUSEUM
NEWS & OPINION
The “Glenn Funk law” imposes caution as Shelby’s DA candidates thread their way though the abortion dilemma.
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Second-World Problems
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Plagued by minority rule, rampant inequality, and an inequitable healthcare system, are we still a first-world country?
T
he term “first-world country” has come to mean a developed and industrialized nation characterized by strong and free democratic institutions, a healthy public education system, affordable healthcare, acceptance of the rule of law, a stable economy, and a decent standard of living for most of its citizens. Think Germany, Great Britain, Finland, France, etc. A second-world country’s educational system is often theocratic or politically controlled; their healthcare is non-inclusive and inequitable. Their political infrastructure is less open than first-world democracies, often featuring a single dominant party and centralized government power. The “rule of law” depends on who is in power. Think Hungary, Romania, Turkey, Iran, etc. Is the United States still a first-world country? In the past couple of weeks, our Supreme Court has ruled that states can send tax dollars to private and religious schools, that states may not enact certain handgun carry laws, and that states may mandate that a woman carry a pregnancy to term, even in cases of rape and incest. The majority of justices on the court put their Christian/Catholic beliefs ahead of the law and were appointed by two presidents who did not win the popular vote. Oh, and our healthcare system is flawed, expensive, and inequitable. Our first-world allies in Europe and elsewhere are still reeling from the Trump years, shocked that America could elect such a person. Now they see the highest court in our country acting like a rogue grand jury in Boise. Even the United Nations is alarmed, with human rights officials there describing the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision as a “shocking and dangerous rollback of human rights that will jeopardize women’s health and lives. The Supreme Court has completely disregarded the United States’ binding legal obligations under international law, including those stemming from its ratification of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.” In recent January 6th Committee hearings, more mind-boggling evidence emerged of President Trump’s relentless, multi-faceted, months-long attempt to stage a coup and keep himself in office, overturning the will of the people. That shouldn’t happen in a stable first-world democracy. The truth is that we are currently ruled by a minority, thanks to gerrymandering, the Electoral College, the absurdity of each
state having two senators (Wyoming, e.g., has the same population as Memphis), and the SCOTUS ruling that corporations are “people” and therefore can contribute millions to buy politicians. The most recent Gallup poll shows that more than 80 percent of Americans say that abortion should be legal under all or some circumstances. The number of Americans who say that abortion should be illegal in all cases is 13 percent, an alltime low. More than 70 percent of Americans are for some type of gun reform. On issue after issue, state legislatures and the Supreme Court go against the will of the people under the guise of “states’ rights.” You remember states’ rights, don’t you? We fought a civil war over it. Now Tennessee will soon have harsher abortion laws than the Taliban. But it’s not all the Republicans’ fault. Democrats are also to blame for their decades-long disorganization and simple, stupid trust that the GOP would play by the rules. Mitch McConnell hustled three SCOTUS justices in under Trump, all Federalist Society approved anti-abortionists.
The truth is we are currently ruled by a minority. Democrats wail and rage and demonstrate in the streets, but they lose the big battles because they think there are guardrails, some “rules” that must be followed. McConnell and the GOP don’t care ’bout no rules. Amy Coney Barrett, anyone? Why didn’t President Obama rage and go on national TV and demand justice when he was denied a legitimate SCOTUS nomination? Oh, the Democrats thought Hillary would win. Oops. The Democratic response to these crises is always “VOTE!” which is becoming the party’s version of “thoughts and prayers.” Yes, there needs to be a huge voter turnout in November, but Democrats need to quit playing by rules the other party ignores. They need to reach the people who aren’t reading The New York Times and watching cable news shows. They need to hammer the country with what is at stake: women’s autonomy over their own bodies, more gun fetishism, a theocratic takeover of our public schools and courts, and the potential destruction of our electoral process. These are not first-world problems. But they are now our problems. And they are second to none.
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Is the market going to go back up from here? The answer is almost certainly yes — eventually — but nobody knows for sure when. One thing that seems certain is that if you like the markets at the beginning of this year, you should like them a lot more now that they’re down 10-30 percent from those levels. There’s no way of knowing if by the end of 2022 markets will be down more from here or mounting a recovery. In our view, continuing to invest at discount prices is the best decision today just as it has been in each market downturn we have studied. Nobody knows the future, but a true long-term approach means you should be excited to put money to work at a discount! Gene Gard is Chief Investment Officer at Telarray, a Memphis-based wealth management firm that helps families navigate investment, tax, estate, and retirement decisions. Ask him your questions or schedule an objective, no pressure portfolio review at letstalk@telarrayadvisors.com. Sign up for the next free online seminar on the Events tab at telarrayadvisors.com.
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m e m p h i s f l y e r. c o m
Cook up a new look.
NEWS & OPINION
W
ith the recent market downturn, I’ve seen countless questions like this: I put $1,500 each month into my 401(k) and it has done well. Lately, however, the balance has been dropping very quickly. My friends are all stopping their contributions because they’re tired of adding money and watching it go away. What do you think I should do? I remember being on the playground as a young child discussing ways to avoid catastrophes like an airplane crash or a falling elevator. The general consensus was to wait until the very last moment and then jump — rendering you immune from any sort of injury due to falling. That logic is similar to the logic above — stopping investment or pulling out of markets now is not going to prevent further losses. In fact, it will probably cause you to miss out on a rare opportunity to buy stocks at a discount. One of the reasons investing is confusing is that market returns and bank account interest rates seem to be similar. In reality, they are completely different things. A high-yield savings account earning 1 percent a year means that you’ll earn 1 percent going forward, at least until the rate changes again. Returns of an investment account with stock and bond funds up 1 percent or up 20 percent or down 20 percent over the last year provide no reliable indication of what performance will look like tomorrow. Saying “stocks always go up” sounds flippant and even reckless, but there is some truth to that notion. The price of stocks over time is tied to real businesses. In the long run, as long as GDP grows, productivity gains continue, and companies continue to earn and grow their income, it is very likely that stock market indices will continue to rise over time as well. Positive earnings growth is like a rubber band that pulls up on stock prices over time. When market valuations get high, the rubber band gets slack and doesn’t pull up as hard, making market downturns more likely. When valuations are low, the rubber band gets taut and the stock market is more likely to rise, sometimes quickly. Earnings don’t tend to change as quickly as stock market prices, so the most common way to see the rubber band get stretched is during a stock market decline. It’s counterintuitive, but the best time to buy into the market is almost always after steep declines in share prices, when instincts tell us to run far away from risky investments.
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COVER STORY By Flyer Staff PHOTOS By Chris McCoy
Summer Suds IN THIS ASPHALT-MELTING MEMPHIS HEAT, WE SAMPLE COOL BEER FROM LOCAL BREWERIES.
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June 30-July 6, 2022
eer and summertime compete in the same class as peanut butter and jelly; they just go together. The summer sun warms you up and makes some a little grumpy. That’s where beer steps in. It cools you down and mellows you out. It’s simply irreplaceable in so many summer mainstays. Do you cheer on the Redbirds with a cappuccino? Do you stock your fishing boat with Earl Grey? Do you lounge around Loflin Yard with mugs of steaming hot cocoa? Didn’t think so. Beer’s importance to what is an already hot Memphis summer led the Flyer staff to action. We could not sit idly by without letting our readers know their options. So, we geared up for our Summer Beer Guide. Flyer reporter Toby Sells headed straight to Downtown’s South Point Grocery to stock up for an ultimate taste test of some of the best summer beers from Memphis breweries. Luckily, Garrett Metts, the director of alcohol sales with Castle Retail Group, was in the house that day last week. He guided our beer run, pointing out the city’s best, newest, and most summer-ific
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suds on offer (of which there are many). Sells also perused the aisles of Joe’s Wines & Liquors to ensure no Memphis brewery was left behind. There, he wondered about summer beer trends. Like that summer jam you can’t escape (Remember the “Old Town Road” summer?), summer beer trends had the masses drinking juicy India pale ales one year. Another was the summer of the sour, and hard seltzers have reigned now for years. Chris Schirmer, beer buyer for Joe’s, predicts this year may be the summer of “beer-flavored beers” like basic pilsners, lagers, and kölsches. “I think people are just resetting their palates or chasing the flavors has gotten old,” Schirmer says. “I think people just want a classic standby thing. You could eat steak all the time, right? But a good-old burger every once in a while is pretty satisfying.” As we’ve said with each of our beer guides, we’re not beer experts. Flyer staffers are curious craft beer consumers, walking into their local grocery store or gas station to see what’s new. We’re not cicerones nor can we predict a beer’s IBU with a swig or two. We are average beer consumers with
opinions to share. But we always know we need help tasting these beers. Another beer-guide tradition has been the presence of a Memphis brewer at our tastings. They help us understand the styles we’re tasting and help us with questions like, “Is this beer supposed to taste weird?” This year, we tapped Memphis Made Brewing’s president and head brewer Drew Barton for help. He lit our path through the many styles icing in our cooler, all with his feet in the pool. Not a bad gig. “We have some definite seasons here in Memphis needing some different flavors along the way,” Barton says. “A stout’s great when it’s 32 degrees outside … but you don’t want that stout when it’s 70 degrees hotter, like it is today at 102 [degrees].” All the beers we tasted this year are from Memphis and all of them are widely available in stores. So you won’t have to go out of your way to find them. Memphis breweries have really churned out beers for just about anybody this year. So, use our beer guide to make a beer run of your own this summer. Get yourself cool. You won’t be disappointed. — Toby Sells
Ghost River Brewing Co. Grindhouse Cream Ale This brew brings to mind the workingman’s beers of my wastrel youth — Schlitz, Hamm’s, Falstaff — but with a creamier texture. This beer is old-school, and not bad. — Bruce VanWyngarden The “cream” in this beer’s name is a little misleading (though I think maybe it’s a beer term?). Easy drinking on this one, mild flavor. Not at all what you’d consider creamy. — Shara Clark It’s very smooth and inoffensive. I can easily sip this outside on a hot summer day, and it’s usually what I default to at Ghost River’s Wednesday night trivia, where I am almost every week. It’s fine! Grab a few and kick back. — Samuel X. Cicci Memphis Made Brewing Co. Dockside Wheat Ale Dockside is a beer that smells like beer and tastes like beer, and nothing’s wrong with that. — Abigail Morici For me, Dockside is an ideal summer beer. It’s not too heavy or filling, but it still has a lot of flavor. You could call this crisp, balanced, slightly hoppy brew “Fireside
High Cotton Brewing Co. Razz Wheat If you had blindfolded me and told me to smell this beverage, I would’ve said you had a cup of crushed Smarties that had been sitting in the bottom of your backpack long enough for the plastic wrapper to have tainted the candy ever so slightly. So imagine my surprise when I found this drink not to be sweet and plastic-y but to taste like the ghost of fancy bread, the kind that is exclusively showcased in the bakery section of a grocery, not shelved in the bread aisle where the lighting is dimmer and the dust bunnies crawl on the tiled floor, where a curled hair has been fossilized in the latest waxing of the tiles. No, this bread was above average, and its ghost is enjoyably average. — AM The most remarkable thing about this beer is the smell. The fruity nose holds the promise of a bright flavor, but the taste is not as intense. The effervescent mouthfeel is refreshing. — CM Did someone drop a SweeTart in this? The initial hit was sweet, but that didn’t linger. Still an easy drinker. — SC An ale! With raspberries! The opening taste is an odd sensation. It hits me with a fruity texture that almost makes me feel like I’m sipping juice, but that drifts away quickly. After that, it’s a
pretty solid wheat beer. I do like raspberries, but when I see razz, I need more razzle dazzle in my can. — SXC It’s light. It’s drinkable. But it has a soapy taste to it (on that first drink, anyway) that tastes artificial somehow. — TS Grind City Brewing Co. Tiger Tail (malt liquor) Tastes like penny-flavored cotton candy spun in an ashtray. — AM Okay, I was expecting something like Colt .45 — brutal and efficient and quick to the rim, like Penny Hardaway in his prime. But this is more like a Larry Porter thirddown call. — BV Knowing before trying this that it was a malt liquor, I assumed I’d be comparing it to a Colt .45, however, as the can describes, this beer has a “thin body” and might be too easy to drink for its 7.5 percent alcohol by volume. There’s a slight banana aftertaste, which the expert here says could be a result of fermentation. — SC The taste is bold. The body is thin just like the can will tell you. There’s a corny flavor to it that — whatever it is — is not my thing. If you’re crushing these 7.5-percent beers at a game, this Tiger may have you by the Tail by the fourth quarter. — TS Hook Point Brewing Co. Afterburner Red (Irish ale) Drinking this ale is like accidentally getting
Flyer writer, Toby Sells, and Memphis Made Brewing president and head brewer, Drew Barton, stand for a photo during last week’s beer tasting. warm bath water in your mouth after the local government has issued a warning of brain-eating amoeba in the water supply. You’ll swallow it absent-mindedly, only to regret it when the aftertaste hits. — AM I love a good Irish red beer, and this one delivers the malty goodness I’m looking for. Dryer than most reds, this has almost no aftertaste. This is the Collierville brewery’s best product yet. — CM This one is darker than the others we’ve been drinking. It’s got a roasty after-burn and a hearty feel. Not the beer I’d pick for July in Memphis, but it would go great around a fire pit in November. — BV You want plenty of thrust when you hit the afterburners, although this concoction isn’t too distinctive but gives a nice enough ride. — JWS Hampline Brewing Co. Cherry Bomb Cherry Amaretto Sour Gose If you had to engineer red snowball syrup to be strong enough to pave the streets of Memphis, I’d start with the Cherry Bomb as a template because, my oh my, the cherry flavor is way too strong and so sweet that it feels like my teeth have been tarred over in
sugar. — AM With too much carbonation and a sickly red color, it looks like a cherry-flavored Emergen-C. This is a beer that wishes it was a seltzer. — CM I’ll preface this by saying that I’m not a fan of sours, and it’s certainly a personal taste issue, but this one’s a little too funky, absolutely sour, and has a not-so-faint hint of cherry lozenges. — SC It’s a sour. But, I’m not sure it tastes like a sour? My co-worker said it would be great as a mimosa mixer, so I’m going to shamelessly steal her line and use it here, and collect my paycheck without a care in the world. This is a nice fruity light beer. It’s like taking a juicy IPA, minus the hops. If you’re just looking at it in a cup, it looks like juice. But what a name! — SXC My grandkids would love this sour candy mouthfeel. For grown-ups, not a nice thing to have as an aftertaste. — JWS Meddlesome Brewing Co. Mango Funk Yo’self (Berliner Weisse sour ale) Mango Funk Yo’self is essentially the lackluster juice presented to you at the healthy family’s house as the well-intentioned mom tries so hard to convince you that it’s a substitute for dessert, but you and she both know it’s not. It’s really not. This drink makes you wish you stayed home. — AM For me, the problem with fruitflavored beers is that the first sip tastes good, but by the time you finish, you’re sick of it. If you like a sweet beer, this one will satisfy. What does passion fruit taste like, anyway? — CM What the hell is with all this gawdamn fruit beer? (Old Man yells at cloud.) This one is pretty tolerable, as these things go. (And I wish they would … go.) Kinda mimosa-ish, so it could pair well with brunch. — BV I can hear my colleagues harrumphing over these fruity beers. They can go funk themselves. This is delicious. Also, is this the best beer name of the summer? Or the best beer name of all time? — TS continued on page 12 COVER STORY m e m p h i s f l y e r. c o m
Light.” — Chris McCoy This is the beeriest beer I drank during our tasting. It doesn’t show off. It just delivers the goods. A lighter version of Fireside that works well in the summer heat. — BV Crisp, refreshing, perfect light beer to sip pool, er, dockside. It’s the one I came back for after our beer-tasting rounds. — SC It’s another light, wheat smooth ale, but with just a little bit of heft to it that makes it stand out more than your typical summer beer. It’s described as a lighter type of Fireside, which everyone likes. So if you like Fireside, you’ll like Dockside. Enough said. Go get some. — SXC This was the most enjoyable of the bunch, a welcoming beginning that isn’t sweet but pleasantly tart, and then settling into an agreeable aftertaste. — Jon W. Sparks
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continued from page 11 Crosstown Brewing Co. Dog Days Pink Lemonade Shandy The shandy is a European cocktail that mixes beer with a citrus juice or ginger ale. Expertly balancing the elements, this version is eminently drinkable. It’s a refreshing, low-alcohol alternative for a hot afternoon. — CM It’s a tart little petal plucked from a sunflower. — SC It tastes exactly as advertised! A pink lemonade shandy that’s a smooth and sweet summer drink. Not quite my cup of tea, but probably a good entry point to the habit for those who aren’t huge beer drinkers to begin with. Oh wait, the “dog days of summer,” I get it now! — SXC Pink lemonade shandy: Fruity beers make me grumpy, but this one is acceptable for its kind. Certainly not as bad as it sounds. I did not gag. — JWS
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Soul and Spirits Brewing Co. Proud Meri Hazy Pale Ale If, out of a hungry desperation, you’ve sucked on a lemon cough drop that you’ve found in your pants pocket after it’s made its rounds in the washing machine, then you’ve basically had this session hazy pale ale — though, you’re more likely to get a rush from the cough drop that’s likely contaminated by laundry detergent than this drink with a 2.9 percent alcohol by volume. — AM Hoppy, but not to excess; a fortified taste, but with one of the lowest alcohol contents of any beer we tried. This beer felt like a compromise, not sure of exactly what it wanted to be. — CM At 2.9 ABV, this session beer offers the hoppy flavor of an IPA without any fear of getting an actual buzz. — BV It’s not a super hoppy beer, which I’m fine with. And being a session variety, it’s only 2.9 percent ABV, making it better suited to these long summer days and nights. I’m not an IPA guy, but I wouldn’t mind finishing off one of these tall boys. — SXC I am an IPA guy and there’s a lot going on right here. The session IPAs are fine, I guess, but I never really got into them
like I did with, say, Coke Zero. Something was missing: flavor. Proud Meri’s got it, though. — TS Beale Street Brewing Co. Dark NinJA Rises (IPA) Absolutely not. — AM The can looks super cool, and the name means business. But the beer itself is nothing special. — CM The can design is as mesmerizing as a Ja Morant triple double. The beer inside is more workmanlike. Think Kyle Anderson Euro-step with a slo-mo finish. — BV I’m never quite sure what kind of flavor blast I’m going to find inside a Beale Street Brewing can. It’s pretty crisp, and there are a ton of fruity flavors battling it out when I sip it. Again, not sure I’m the audience, but heck, I’m here to support Ja, so I’ll finish it. — SXC So they’re going for the Ja thing, and, like Mr. Morant, it’s nice enough. But not as distinctive as you’d expect of an All-Star — certainly not a slam dunk. — JWS Wiseacre Brewing Co. Puffel Hazy Double Juicy IPA This hazy IPA comes on strong in the flavor department. The 9 percent alcohol content is readily apparent in the mouthfeel. It comes in a 19.2 fl. oz. can, so this is the beer to have if you’re having only one. — CM This thing is the hammer of Thor, with classic IPA flavor cues. It packs a punch at 9 percent alcohol by volume, so you best be careful when indulging in a can of this stuff. Or, you could just drink 6 Proud Meris. — BV Gives you that IPA mouth-pucker. If you’re an IPA fan and want to get totally blitzed, this 9 percent [alcohol by volume] tall boy is for you. Don’t forget to drink some H2O. — SC This one has a distinct personality, is thoroughly agreeable, and provides a pleasant aftertaste. — JWS I will admit I had a hazy boi summer (or two). Even though I ain’t ’bout that life no more, Puffel reminds me of why I loved these juicy, fruity beers to begin with. They’re fun to drink. Period. And with Wiseacre’s big-ass can of Puffel, the fun will last in this never-ending summer. — TS
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COVER STORY m e m p h i s f l y e r. c o m
Live music at
steppin’ out
We Recommend: Culture, News + Reviews
Betor Fest
july 9th
RAY WYLIE HUBBARD W/SPECIAL GUEST JOHN DAVID KENT
By Abigail Morici
Christmas Day 2016, Ronnie Bobal, known by his graffiti tag “Betor,” died due to a drug overdose after a years-long battle with a substance abuse disorder. In 2017, his parents, knowing how hard it is to navigate addiction, started the nonprofit A Betor Way in his honor. Since then, the organization, which aims to assist and advocate for those affected by addiction, has become even more vital in our community, which has seen a 45 percent increase in fatal overdoses from 2019 to 2020, according to the Memphis Area Prevention Coalition. To raise funds for its ever-growing services, A Betor Way, in partnership with Music Is My Drug of Choice, is hosting its annual music festival this weekend at Growlers. The lineup features a slew of local artists across musical genres, from RobenX to PHOTO: MUSIC IS MY DRUG OF CHOICE Louise Page — many of whom have donated their time. “A lot of the musicians that are 2022 marks the third Betor Fest. playing know somebody who has overdosed, and a lot of them are in recovery themselves,” says Jennifer “Jenn Jenn” Dancy, who founded the production company Music Is My Drug of Choice and has organized the fest with David McNinch, drummer for Mama Honey. “It’s kind of grown into this thing where recovery and music have meshed.” “Addiction affects all of us, especially now with heroin and fentanyl being so prevalent,” adds Dancy, who has had her own experience with recovery. “Four out of 10 pills bought on the street in Memphis are fentanyl-laced.” As the demand for education and resources for those dealing with addiction increases, Dancy, who also works with A Betor Way, says that the nonprofit has “gotten so big now that we’ve gone above and beyond our funding. We have four full-time employees now and we’re paying salaries. And we’ve extended our services to not just people who have substance abuse disorder, but people who are hungry and most of them are without homes. “We have peer support. We feed people. We do free HIV and Hep-C testing and referrals for treatment for that.” The nonprofit also began the first official Syringe Services Program in West Tennessee, where people can exchange their used needles for new ones as well as access other resources like free Narcan, learn about treatment options, enjoy a free hot meal, and get a wound or health assessment, judgment free. The group will also begin distributing fentanyl test strips in the near future and will have Narcan available at Betor Fest this weekend. “I couldn’t ask for a better organization to work for,” Dancy says. For the full lineup and to purchase tickets to Betor Fest, visit A Betor Way’s Facebook page @abetorway. If you or someone you know is in need of the organization’s services or has questions, you can call Dancy at 901-860-8853, and if you’d like to volunteer, you can also call that number while A Betor Way’s website is under construction. BETOR FEST, SATURDAY-SUNDAY, JULY 2-3, GROWLERS, $12/ADVANCE, $15/DAY OF SHOW, $20/TWO-DAY PASS.
June 30-July 6, 2022
VARIOUS DAYS & TIMES June 30th - July 6th
july 28th
Shaun Martin W/SPECIAL GUEST THE PRVLG
railgarten.com
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2 1 6 6 C e n t r a l Av e . Memphis TN 38104
Jesus Christ Superstar Orpheum Theatre, performances through Sunday, July 3, $29-$125 Featuring award-winning music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice, Jesus Christ Superstar is set against the backdrop of an extraordinary series of events during the final weeks in the life of Jesus Christ as seen through the eyes of Judas. Reflecting the rock roots that defined a generation, the legendary score includes “I Don’t Know How to Love Him,” “Gethsemane,” and “Superstar.” Performances through Friday, July 1, are at 7:30 p.m., with Saturday performances at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday performances at 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Order tickets at orpheummemphis.com or by calling the box office at 901-525-3000.
Flesh and the Devil Germantown Performing Arts Center, Thursday, June 30, 7:30 p.m., $15 Alex Greene — musician, composer, and the Flyer’s music editor — and the Rolling Head Orchestra will perform all new original music to accompany Flesh and the Devil (1926), starring John Gilbert and Greta Garbo. Though the most risque thing in the film is its title, it does feature both the first horizontal love scene and the first close-up, open-mouth kiss in American movie history. Set to the sultry textures of Greene’s music, with echoes of Duke Ellington and Franz Waxman, Flesh and the Devil will be brought to life in a way few films ever are — with an ensemble of virtuosos performing the soundtrack as the film unfolds on-screen.
“Nothing Ever Goes Unseen” David Lusk Gallery, opens Tuesday, July 5 This July, David Lusk Gallery welcomes John Roberts for his first solo show. Shaped by his family history, Roberts’ paintings and drawings express the extraordinary within everyday environments. Beginning with a sketch, Roberts plans his precise compositions with an intricate gray scale drawing that serves as the foundation of his paintings. Then he paints in detailed rows of crops, stoic figures, solid wooden homes, and vast blue skies. Roberts’ nostalgic paintings remind viewers of generations, ways of life, and tranquility that no longer exist. They are warm, quiet, and deceptively complex works. Keep an eye out on Instagram @davidluskgallery for a virtual tour of the exhibition on Wednesday, July 6, at 12:30 p.m.
MUSIC By Alex Greene
Obey the Rhythm’s Demands Memphis-based Model Zero get in the groove with their new single from Nashville’s Sweet Time Records.
PHOTO: CHLOE LITTLEFIELD
is obeying the drum machine. It’s a brown box. A Rhythm Master, model RM-10, made in Whippany, New Jersey, in the late ’60s or early ’70s. It’s the most valuable member of the band, for sure.” Devoted to their vintage overlord, the band works tirelessly to ensure its comfort and safety. “When we play outside in the sun, it heats up,” Cooper says. “If it even thinks about the sun, the tempo starts to really slow down. So with outdoor shows, I have to bump it up a little bit. But come nighttime in the cool, dark club, it’s fine.” Ah yes, nighttime in the cool, dark club. That environment may be Model Zero’s other overlord, or guiding star. As Cooper says, “The whole concept of Model Zero was this forging of two worlds. We wanted a club dance sound, but also to rock. That’s where the drum machine pulse idea came in.” McLallen concurs: “Everything’s written with the drum machine in mind. It’s groove-based. That’s been our philosophy from the beginning. It’s our synth groove band — a departure from what we’re doing with the Sheiks, which is more just guitar-driven garage rock.” To be sure, there’s still plenty of garage in this machine. That dirty, distorted edge, combined with pounding beats reminiscent of Gang of Four and a very Memphis punk energy, heavily colored the band’s eponymously titled 2019 album. But then, Cooper says, as the band opened their minds and hearts more and more to the Rhythm Master, they began to mutate and change. “The
old stuff was much edgier and a little bit darker,” he says. “We got that out of our system, and then it was time to party!” As his zeal becomes more fervent, Cooper edges closer to the Rhythm Master, a gleam in his eye. “We’ve been discovering more beats on the drum machine, you know. Like ‘Little Crystal’ is mambo and Rock 2 combined. You can’t not dance to it.” Then he nudges the pulsing brown box closer to the air conditioning. Yet it must be stressed that the Rhythm Master’s power is amplified by the considerable talents of minion Jesse James Davis, whose feel for New Wave tribal grooves organically augments his analog overlord to perfection. And he in turn serves other task masters, such as an Arturia MicroBrute synthesizer. “Jesse is able to sync up with the drum machine on his synth,” says Cooper. “You hear it in the background on ‘Leather Trap.’ He’s tapping the tempo and it’s this constant flourish of ethereal ambient noise. Nightclub-type stuff.” For Cooper, the synth flourishes, the drum machine, and the grooves are all means to reach the end of a nightclub state of mind. “I’m just trying to summon this Happy Mondays vibe in this band,” he says. “That’s always been my mental approach to bass in Model Zero. It’s more like a mindset than an actual, direct reference. It’s just trying to tap into that world of the late nightclub.” Model Zero performs this Friday, July 1st, at the Nashville East Room, and Sunday, July 3rd, at B-Side Memphis.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
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emphis music fans looking for the short, sharp, shocking angles of ’80s post-punk have long known of Model Zero, who began circulating cassettes as early as January 2018. Since then, they’ve been regular players around town — but that’s all in a day’s work for these yeoman troubadours, who’ve played musical chairs through various overlapping bands together for years. Many know Frank McLallen, Keith Cooper, and Jesse James Davis as the Tennessee Screamers, and McLallen and Cooper are with the Sheiks, but their roles are scrambled here, with Cooper playing only bass, McLallen on guitar, and Davis on drums, not to mention Linton Holliday’s guitar thrown in for good measure. Today, it’s clear that all those nights in hot, sweaty nightclubs tweaked these players’ brains: Their latest slice of wax clearly comes from a land where dancing rules. “Little Crystal” b/w “Leather Trap” arrives this week, courtesy Nashville’s Sweet Time Records (complete with a vivid music video directed by Laura Jean Hocking), and everyone is bound to find their ideal groove on one side or the other. True, “Little Crystal” is the A-side, but the drums and groove on the flip are just as infectious. That’s no coincidence, as Cooper confesses that the entire band is committed to a life of servitude, not just to the rhythm, but to the Rhythm Master. “It’s funny,” he reflects, “this whole band
m e m p h i s f l y e r. c o m
Model Zero
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CALENDAR of EVENTS:
June 30 - July 6
ART AN D S P EC I A L E X H I B ITS
“Action!: Art in Motion” An educational, interactive exhibition that encourages visitors to think about how two-dimensional art can capture dynamic moments of motion. Through Sept. 25.
MEMPHIS BROOKS MUSEUM OF ART
“Alice’s Adventures at the Garden”
Meet larger-than-life Alice in Wonderland-themed sculptures constructed entirely of mosaiculture. Through Dec. 31. MEMPHIS BOTANIC GARDEN
“Another Dimension: Digital Art in Memphis” Exhibition exploring the rise of mainstream interest in digital art. Featuring work by Anthony Sims, Sarai Payne, Karl Erickson, and Coe Lapossy. Through Sept. 11.
MEMPHIS BROOKS MUSEUM OF ART
“Art of the African Diaspora”
Exhibition of historic and contemporary art questions and complicates the often-used term, “diaspora.” Through Aug. 29. MEMPHIS BROOKS MUSEUM OF ART
“Charcoal Portraits by Anita Biriya”
Exhibition of charcoal portrait drawings by artist Anita Biriya from Herat, Afghanistan. Through July 18. BUCKMAN ARTS CENTER AT ST. MARY’S SCHOOL
“Due South: Ke Francis and Hoopsnake Press”
June 30-July 6, 2022
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DAVID LUSK GALLERY
Exhibition of vibrant paintings with sparkling colors and high contrast depict the joy of flowers. Through June 30.
“Wearable Art Exhibition”
Wearable Art exists as an avenue for pure artistic expression within the world of fashion design. Through Sept. 30.
MEMPHIS BOTANIC GARDEN
“Fragments”
Exhibition of work by Chuck Johnson exploring the oftenconflicted relationship between the decorative traditions in geometric patterns found in other cultures and western modernism. Through July 10.
ART MUSEUM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS (AMUM)
A R T HA P P E N I N G S
“Nothing Ever Goes Unseen” Virtual Tour
L ROSS GALLERY
Shaped by his family history, John Roberts’ paintings and drawings express the extraordinary within everyday environments in this exhibit. Wednesday, July 6, 12:30 p.m.
“From Artisans to Artists: African American Metal Workers in Memphis” Exhibition that traces the role of Black metal workers from Central and West Africa to modern-day Memphis, bringing to the fore an often overlooked yet vital part of the city’s artistic history. Through Sept. 11. METAL MUSEUM
“Handcrafted for the Hungry”
Presenting handcrafted empty bowls, plates, and cups for sale by local ceramic artists to benefit the Mid-South Food Bank. Tuesday, July 5-Sept. 30. WOMAN’S EXCHANGE ART GALLERY
“Introductions: Sam Red” Exhibition of recent paintings by Sam Red. Through June 30. JAY ETKIN GALLERY
“Isaac Hayes: Black Moses Gives Back”
Exhibition of both bound books and loose illustrations, with a total of 15 works on view. Through July 3.
MEMPHIS BROOKS MUSEUM OF ART
MUSEUM OF SCIENCE & HISTORY
“Faig Ahmed: Secret Garden”
“Love in the Club: Photographs by Michael Abramson”
MEMPHIS BROOKS MUSEUM OF ART
and multi-dimensional forms in sharp color. Through July 1.
“Flower Power: Paintings by Kay Coop”
An engaging exhibition that showcases Hayes’s unique dashikis collection and his humanitarian work in Ghana. Through July 31.
Exhibition of work by Faig Ahmed, who is known for transforming the visual language of traditional Eastern carpets into contemporary, sculptural works of art. Through Aug. 9.
Send the date, time, place, cost, info, phone number, a brief description, and photos — two weeks in advance — to calendar@memphisflyer.com. DUE TO SPACE LIMITATIONS, ONGOING WEEKLY EVENTS WILL APPEAR IN THE FLYER’S ONLINE CALENDAR ONLY. FOR COMPREHENSIVE EVENTS LISTING, VISIT EVENTS.MEMPHISFLYER.COM/CAL.
Exhibition of images of Chicago’s South Side underground life. Through Sept. 4. STAX MUSEUM OF AMERICAN SOUL MUSIC
DAVID LUSK GALLERY
C LAS S / WO R KS H O P
“Many Mansions”
An exhibition of Nancy Cheairs’ single work comprised of 50 canvases. Through July 16. TOPS GALLERY: MADISON AVENUE PARK
“Memphis Proud: The Resilience of a Southern LGBTQ+ Community”
Explore the history and culture of Memphis’ LGBTQ+ community. Through Sept. 26. MUSEUM OF SCIENCE & HISTORY
“Nothing Ever Goes Unseen”
Shaped by his family history, John Roberts’ paintings and drawings express the extraordinary within everyday environments in this exhibit. Tuesday, July 5-July 31. DAVID LUSK GALLERY
“Re-Emergence”
Virtual exhibition of decorative, functional, and wearable art by the Tennessee Craft Southwest Chapter. Through July 31. GALLERY 1091
“Rise Up: Stonewall and the LGBTQ Rights Movement”
Exhibition of artifacts and images that shed light on impor-
John Roberts’ The Watchers is on display in his “Nothing Ever Goes Unseen” exhibition at David Lusk Gallery, through July 31st. tant milestones of gay rights history. Through Sept. 26. MUSEUM OF SCIENCE & HISTORY
“Sculptures & Small Objects”
Exhibition based around sculpture, object making, and 3D work by Black makers. Through July 9. TONE
“Solidarity Now! 1968 Poor People’s Campaign”
Exhibition that explores the little-known history of the multicultural movement to address poverty and social justice in the nation. Through July 31. NATIONAL CIVIL RIGHTS MUSEUM
“Spoiled”
Group exhibition exploring pleasure — the ways we seek it, the ways we bar ourselves from experiencing it, and the ways we
contextualize it. Viewer discretion is advised. Through July 16. TONE
“Sweet 16”
Each of the Dixon’s 16 gallery spaces will feature an independent, Dixon-organized exhibition. Through July 10.
Hues in the House Sipn-Create
Monthly Sip-N-Paints, brought to you by a collective of Memphis artists in collaboration with Frayser nonprofit organization, Arkwings. $30. Saturday, July 2, 4-8 p.m. ARKWINGS
THE DIXON GALLERY & GARDENS
“The Art of Science”
Over 30 local artists will present a piece of art inspired by the work of area researchers and clinicians, which will also be on display alongside the works of art. Through Sept. 4. CROSSTOWN ARTS AT THE CONCOURSE
“Thomas Campbell: Corollary”
Exhibition of work by fifthgeneration steelworker Thomas Campbell, who shapes both the form and function of his work while blending tradition with innovation. Through July 17. METAL MUSEUM
“Vital Signs”
Exhibition of work by Pinkney Herbert, known for his expressive abstract paintings and pastel works on paper comprised of dynamic gestures
C O M E DY
Bill Bellamy
$50. Friday, July 1, 7:30 p.m., 10 p.m.; Saturday, July 2, 7:30 p.m., 10 p.m.; Sunday, July 3, 8 p.m. CHUCKLES COMEDY HOUSE
First Swing Stand Up Comedy Show
Hosted by DRUS comedy show host Georgia and featuring some talented and hilarious comedians such as Jowa Horn, TootieTwotimes, KP Trymore, and more! Thursday, June 30, 8 p.m. BLACK LODGE
Fourth of July Comedy Blast
The Comigos & The 4 Horsemen present a dope comedy show. $15-$20. Saturday, July 2, 7 p.m. STOP 345
C A L E N D A R : J U N E 3 0 - J U LY 6 Open Mic Comedy
Hosted by John Miller. Tuesday, July 5, 8 p.m. HI TONE
Secret Show Comedy at Local on Main presented by Comma Comedians
A fantastic lineup of local and touring comedians. Thursday, June 30, 8-9:30 p.m. LOCAL (DOWNTOWN)
C O M M U N I TY
Dance Party
Enjoy dancing to R&B, country, and pop music. Attendees to the dance must be 18 years of age or older and have a disability. Friday, July 1, 3-5:30 p.m. RAYMOND SKINNER CENTER
Fundraiser for Ashton Riker
Project Pop-up!
Pop in to the Dixon for a pop-up like no other! Each month, participants explore a new part of the Dixon with an inspiring project for all ages. Supplies are provided. Free. Saturday, July 2, 10 a.m.-noon. THE DIXON GALLERY & GARDENS
FA M I LY
Adventure Saturdays
Join Alice in her Adventures at the Garden with drop-in craft and activity stations, featuring a fun lesson inspired by the pages of Wonderland. Saturday, July 2, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. MEMPHIS BOTANIC GARDEN
Small but Mighty Storytime Series For young activists and families. Virtual read-alouds of a curated selection of books, which focus on historical events and civil or human rights issues. Wednesday, July 6.
MUSEUM OF SCIENCE & HISTORY
FOOD AN D DR I N K
Canoes + Cocktails
Experience an unrivaled sunset with a guided evening paddle on Hyde Lake, followed by cocktails and snacks. Friday, July 1, 7:15-9:45 p.m. SHELBY FARMS PARK
Feast on the Farm
Guests will enjoy this country-chic event at ShowPlace Arena. The event features music, live and silent auctions, and cuisine from featured local chefs. Wednesday, July 6, 6 p.m. AGRICENTER INTERNATIONAL
Playhouse Wine Night
Enjoy wine with light snacks and connect with Mid-South professionals, business leaders, and startups. Free. Thursday, June 30, 6-7:30 p.m. PLAYHOUSE ON THE SQUARE
NATIONAL CIVIL RIGHTS MUSEUM
F O U R TH O F J U LY
F E ST IVAL
Bartlett’s Fireworks Extravaganza
Beer and Brats Festival
An evening of food, beer, music, games, and more to benefit Operation Better Days. $65-$150. Friday, July 1, 6-10 p.m. GRIND CITY BREWERY
Betor Fest
Benefiting A Betor Way. Featuring live music by Bailey Bigger, Charlie Pate, Louise Page, Rachel Maxann, and many more. $12-$20. Saturday, July 2-July 4. GROWLERS
F I LM
Flesh and the Devil
Alex Greene & the Rolling Head Orchestra will perform all new original music to accompany Flesh and the Devil (1926). $15. Thursday, June 30, 7:30 p.m. GERMANTOWN PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
Overton Square Summer Movie Series: Karate Kid
Free popcorn provided. Thursday, June 30, 8:30 p.m. OVERTON SQUARE
Turtle Odyssey 3D Movie
Turtle Odyssey tells the story of one tiny sea turtle’s big adventure. Based in Australia and narrated
A night of live music, a classic car show, concessions and food trucks, and a spectacular fireworks show. Monday, July 4, 6-9:30 p.m. BOBBY K. FLAHERTY MUNICIPAL PARK
Collierville Independence Day Celebration
Celebrate Independence Day with the largest firework demonstration in Collierville’s history. Sunday, July 3, 7 p.m. H.W. COX COMMUNITY CENTER
Cooper-Young 4th of July Parade
Paddle on Hyde Lake as the sun goes down and then enjoy cocktails, snacks, games, music, and a firepit at Shelby Farms Park’s Canoes + Cocktails. Germantown Fireworks Extravaganza
Celebrate the nation’s birthday with live music, moon bounces, games, crafts, refreshments, and a spectacular fireworks display. Monday, July 4, 5-10 p.m. GERMANTOWN MUNICIPAL PARK
Graceland’s All-American July 4th Weekend
Including live music, a VIP dinner and reception on the grounds of Graceland, a gospel brunch, special tours of Graceland, and will be capped of with a fireworks extravaganza set to Elvis music. Saturday, July 2-July 3. GRACELAND SOUNDSTAGE
Memphis’ Largest Festival Celebrating Liberty for All
An evening of live music, activities for kids, food trucks, a screening of National Treasure, and the biggest fireworks show in town. Free. Sunday, July 3, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. LIBERTY PARK
The Overton Square Independence Celebration
The day will be full of exciting things, like face-painting, vintage firetrucks, balloon art, hot dogs, music, and more. Saturday, July 2, 6 p.m. OVERTON SQUARE
H E A LT H A N D F IT N E S S
Hoop Fitness
Join the Cooper-Young Community Association for a very chill Fourth of July “parade.” Bring your kiddos and their little wheels, and enjoy frozen treats and an appearance by the Memphis Fire Department. Monday, July 4, 10 a.m.
This low-impact, full-body cardio workout will increase core strength, balance, coordination, posture, muscle tone, and self confidence. Free. Saturday, July 2, 9:30-10:30 a.m.
PEABODY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
You will feel the entire body burn in this fun, low impact workout. Free. Monday, July 4, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Flag City Freedom Celebration 2022!
Bring your picnic basket, blankets, and lawn chairs! Food and beverage concessions will be available. Music by Sherry Oke. Fireworks begin at sundown. Thursday, June 30, 6 p.m. MILLINGTON GYM
SHELBY FARMS PARK
and live music at B-Side. $20. Saturday, July 2, 8-10 p.m. B-SIDE
S P E C IA L E V E N TS
Twilight Thursdays
MBG will be open late for dogfriendly hours with food trucks and curious cocktails, plus special guests, vendors, performances, and more. Thursday, June 30, 5-8 p.m. MEMPHIS BOTANIC GARDEN
S PO R TS
901 Wrestling: A Night Dedicated to Devin Taylor
Your main event: The Baddest Man Alive Dustin Anthony vs. The Star of the Show Andy Mack. $5$15. Saturday, July 2, 7 p.m. BLACK LODGE
Memphis Redbirds vs. Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp Enjoy postgame fireworks. Through July 3. AUTOZONE PARK
T H E AT E R
A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline
PRE 4th SALE
JULY OPEN WED.- SUN. 10-5
SUMMER SALE 3 BUILDINGS FULL **************
PLAYHOUSE ON THE SQUARE
ANTIQUES/
Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar is set against the backdrop of an extraordinary series of events during the final weeks in the life of Jesus Christ as seen through the eyes of Judas. $29-$125. Through July 3. ORPHEUM THEATRE
TO U R S
Backstage Experience Tour
P E R F O R M I N G A R TS
Tours at Two
Velvetina Taylor presents an exciting evening of classic burlesque
& MARKET
TODD’S AUCTION
OVERTON PARK SHELL
Velvetina’s Blue Moon Revue
ESTATE CENTER
A theatrical tribute to the legendary country and pop icon, Patsy Cline, as seen through the eyes and heart of a local radio disc jockey in Patsy’s hometown of Winchester, Virginia. Through July 17.
Each week, the Shell is opening up the Green Rooms for an incredible and immersive guided tour that will take you from its 1936 beginnings all the way to the present. $15. Monday, July 4, 2-3 p.m.
Twilight Yoga and Pilates
aquaTreasures
OVERTON PARK SHELL
Meet in the Catmur Foyer for a tour of a current exhibition with a Dixon docent or staff member. Sunday, July 3, 2-3 p.m. THE DIXON GALLERY & GARDENS
5:30 PM JULY 8TH
COLLECTIBLES/
HOME DECOR AquaTreasures.com for updates
PARK IN REAR 3455 Summer Ave. 38122
www.aquaTreasures.com Helen & Lamar Todd
BBB 901-486-3444
Todd’s Auction Services TN 5911 aquaTreasures Estate Sales Check Facebook, Instagram
m e m p h i s f l y e r. c o m
B.B. KING’S BLUES CLUB
by Russell Crowe, Turtle Odyssey explores the unique lifecycle of an Australian green sea turtle. Through July 2.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Featuring The Memphis Royals and special guests through the night. Proceeds benefit Ashton Riker to assist with medical bills. Riker is in need of an organ transplant. $20. Thursday, June 30, 7:30-11:30 p.m.
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ON EXHIBIT NOW MEMPHIS MUSEUM
3050 CENTRAL MEMPHIS, TN 38111 901.636.2362 WWW.MOSHMEMPHIS.COM
OF SCIENCE & HISTORY
FOOD By Michael Donahue
A ‘Country Brasserie’ How Chip and Amanda Dunham’s Magnolia & May came to be.
C FROM THE NEWSEUM/FREEDOM FORUM
+ image courtesy of Pride Archives c.2016
P
R
E
S
E
N
T
I
N
G
®
S
P
O
N
S
O
R
S
This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this exhibition do not necessarily represent those of the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
PREVENT OPIOID OVERDOSE
CARRY NARCAN (Narcan provided at no cost)
June 30-July 6, 2022
Free Individual and Agency trainings are available Qualifying Agencies are: • Health Organizations • Treatment Centers • Churches • Schools • Local Businesses • Non Profits • Restaurants/Bars/Clubs • Hotels etc... To schedule training, please call: David Fuller (901) 484-2852
memphisprevention.org
If you need help, support, or referral to treatment, please call Lincoln Coffman (901) 495-5103
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This project is funded under a Grant Contract with the State of Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.
hip Dunham may be the only chef inspired by SpongeBob SquarePants. Dunham, 31, who owns Magnolia & May along with his wife Amanda, was 14 when he began working at a restaurant. “My parents told me I needed to get a job if I wanted to go to the movies or any sort of extracurricular activity with my friends,” he says. “I needed a job to pay for that.” His mother wanted him to bus tables at The Grove Grill, which was owned by his dad, chef Jeffrey Dunham. “My dad said cool people cook in the kitchen.” Thanks to an animated TV series, Chip became a pantry cook, making cold salads and appetizers. “At the time I was really into SpongeBob SquarePants. He was a fry cook.” Working at the restaurant was “a really positive experience. We had a good bunch of people back there. When I first started, Ryan Trimm was the chef de cuisine. “I wouldn’t be doing it to this day if I didn’t love it. It was a lot of fun. It gave you a creative outlet.” Chip, who could “work every station in the kitchen,” enrolled in The Culinary Institute of America at Hyde Park, New York. “There’s a distillery on campus, a brewery, a culinary science program. If anyone is going into the culinary arts field, that is the place to go.” Chip, who met Amanda at school, worked at Slightly North of Broad Restaurant, Butcher & Bee, and The Glass Onion in Charleston, South Carolina, before moving back to Memphis. In 2017, his parents were thinking about adding a second location of The Grove Grill but couldn’t find the right location. They decided to convert Chip’s grandfather’s insurance company into a restaurant. The Grove Grill closed in March 2020 during the pandemic. “We ended up just putting all our efforts into Magnolia & May,” Chip says. They opened the restaurant in May 2020, with Chip as executive chef and Amanda as general manager. “We were ready to go and our employees were ready to go. There was no sense in waiting anymore. “We had online orders, did curbside, and you could dine in. It was all about doing what we could to stay afloat. We did those chef boxes and instructions on how to make a dinner for two.” As for the concept, Chip says, “We call ourselves a country brasserie. We
present ourselves in a rustic way, but while we’re a restaurant based in the American South, we don’t want to pigeonhole ourselves as that.” Influences include Asian and Middle Eastern, but everything is “rooted in that classic French technique,” Chip says. And they change the menu daily. “That could be as simple as one change or we could basically overhaul the whole menu.” Core items include sautéed trout with fried green tomatoes and jumbo lump crab meat and hollandaise. “We’re doing it with sockeye salmon right now. The only reason we switched out trout is salmon is in season.” Sandwiches include a fried chicken and collard greens melt and a double cheeseburger with melted cheddar.
PHOTO: MICHAEL DONAHUE
Chip and Amanda Dunham They still serve the pimento cheese from The Grove Grill. “We don’t have the ability to do the flatbread like we did at The Grove. We just serve it with crackers, pickles, and bacon marmalade.” They include some “exclusive items” for the recently reinstated lunch. One is pastrami made with Home Place Pastures beef brisket served on marble rye bread. “And then I put some housemade barbecue chips on it and jalapeño cheddar cheese sauce.” As for desserts, Chip says. “My kids really like ice cream cones, so one of our desserts is chocolate-dipped cones with sprinkles.” Dunham family children are responsible for the restaurant’s name. “Our family has a silly tradition where before you know the gender of the baby, you give it a little nickname. At the time, Amanda was pregnant with our daughter, who we called Baby Magnolia. And my sister was pregnant, and we called my niece Baby May.” Magnolia & May is at 718 Mt. Moriah Road; (901) 676-8100.
memphisparent.com/playbook
*Student-athlete nominees must be in middle or high school.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
NOMINATE your favorite athlete at
m e m p h i s f l y e r. c o m
Memphis Parent wants to highlight the region’s top student-athletes. Know a rising sports star?
19
FILM By Chris McCoy
Crank Calls From Hell The Black Phone digs deep into the horrors of suburbia.
O
June 30-July 6, 2022
ne of the most unlikely success stories of the last decade is Stranger Things. When it debuted in 2016, the ’80s horror pastiche was an immediate hit and proved Netflix could create original content that was as good as or better than the best broadcast and cable TV networks had to offer. Encouraged by the success of the Duffer Brothers’ vision, Netflix spent the next few years throwing money into original content. After riding high on new subscriber numbers driven by the pandemic lockdown, Netflix’s stock price (which was financing all that original content) dropped suddenly after reporting a slight loss of subscribers in the first quarter of 2022. As they canceled projects and laid off staff, it seemed that the Netflix magic had dissipated. Then, a funny thing happened. Stranger Things season 4 was released after a multi-year pandemic delay. Now set in 1986, the new season featured a pivotal scene involving a 30-year-old song by Kate Bush. That week, “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)” instantly became
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the best-selling song on iTunes, then the most listened-to song on Spotify, then Bush’s first No. 1 song in England since 1978. Stranger Things had made an esoteric art rock song about trading bodies with your boyfriend into an international smash hit. That is cultural power on a scale rarely seen in our fragmented media age. Stranger Things didn’t invent the modern thirst for horror, but it did take it mainstream. The Duffer Brothers’ influence can be seen everywhere from the recent Stephen King revival of Doctor Sleep and It to the self-aware ’70s horror of X. Now, The Black Phone is the latest to answer the call that is coming from inside the house. Finney (Mason Thames) and his
sister Gwen (Madeleine McGraw) live in the sleepy suburban Denver of 1974. On the surface, it’s a world of little league baseball games and dewy morning walks to school. But there is darkness lurking just under the surface. Finney is bullied mercilessly at school by roving packs of jerks who think he’s not manly enough. At home, their father Terrence (Jeremy Davies) has reacted to the death of their mother by crawling into a bottle. On top of that, there’s a rash of missing children in the area, which the media has dubbed the work of The Grabber. Gwen starts to have dreams about her missing classmates, and when she tells someone about the details, it earns her a visit from the
Ethan Hawke plays The Grabber, who happens to be just one figure of horror, plaguing the kids in this film. police. It seems she knows details of the crimes that no one but the cops and the killer should know. The cops can’t pin anything on her, but her father reacts with a savage beating. Her mother had prophetic dreams too, he tells Gwen, and that’s why she killed herself. That scene between McGraw and Davies is where the vibe departs from the feel-good scares of Stranger Things and ventures into much darker territory. It’s one of the most real depictions of child abuse I’ve ever seen on film. The next day, Finney gets grabbed by The Grabber (Ethan Hawke) and wakes up in a concrete basement, featureless except for a bare mattress and an ancient wall phone that was long ago disconnected. Hawke (whose daughter Maya Hawke is currently stealing scenes
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FILM By Chris McCoy on Stranger Things) brings his considerable acting chops to bear on The Grabber. The passive aggressive kidnapper is a little bit Norman Bates and a little bit Buffalo Bill. He doesn’t kill Finney immediately but instead holds him hostage and puts him through mind games. When the disconnected phone rings, Finney thinks it’s just another of The Grabber’s tricks. But when he answers (what else is there to do?), the voice on the other end claims to be the spirit of one of The Grabber’s other victims. The Black Phone is directed by Scott Derrickson, whose last project was Marvel’s Doctor Strange, and based on a 2004 novella by horror writer Joe Hill. The film embraces the theory that horror films serve as a way
to process trauma. It’s hard to think of another set of child characters who have been so obviously traumatized even before the film starts. But they are not beaten down by it — Gwen is feisty enough to call the police detectives “fart-knockers” in front of her school’s principal. The chemistry between the brother and sister duo of McGraw and Thames feels very natural, which is a credit to the two young performers. Like Stranger Things, it is the bond between the kids that ultimately saves the day, in a world where the adults have seriously messed things up. The Black Phone Now playing Multiple locations
CHECK MALCO.COM OR THE MALCO APP FOR THE CURRENT SCHEDULE
Shelby County Department of Housing Rehabilitation Program — Application Opportunity Open This Summer! Overview: The purpose of the Shelby County Department of
Housing
Rehabilitation
Program
is
to
address conditions that may be detrimental to health, life, property, and/or public welfare. To achieve this, the Department of Housing provides assistance in the form of a forgivable grant to qualified low-to-moderate-income homeowners for home rehabilitation services. This support brings homes up to current building codes, eliminates blight, provides energy efficiency improvements, adds key accessibility components, and enhances older growth of economically integrated communities.
How to Apply: To provide prospective applicants with exceptional service, the Shelby County Housing Department
home rehabilitation services. Applicants may also
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
HOME OF THE TIME WARP DRIVE-IN SERIES
call (901) 222-7600 if further assistance is needed.
21
will begin taking applications on July 1, 2022, through August 31, 2022, via the online application platform Neighborly to streamline the process. Please visit https://www.develop901.com/housing/ homeOwnership for more information, or to apply for SHOP & SHIP
Gift Cards & Gourmet Popcorn from www.malco.com or in the Malco app
m e m p h i s f l y e r. c o m
housing stock to promote future investment and the
LEGAL NOTICE • REAL ESTATE • SERVICES
901-575-9400 classifieds@memphisflyer.com LEGAL NOTICES
ENGINEERING
1999 DODGE 3500 VAN Vin # 2B6LB31Z7XK536351. My name is Marquis Butler and I’m trying to get in touch with Ryan Owens regarding this van I purchased from Jessica Turner. I can be reached at 901-390-3626.
DATABASE ADMINISTRATORS needed at Shelby County Government in Memphis, TN. Must have Bach in Info Sys, Mgmt Info Sys, or related & 5 yrs’ software development exp in a large-scale, enterprise environment, including: Test procedures and documentation standards and application to system design and maintenance; SQL Server 2008 or greater, SQL Reporting Services, SQL Server Integration Services, Crystal Reports, & Visual Studio; Star, OnBase, & Debt Manager; Mainframe development, integrations, & database conversions; Application of enterprise software & hardware: IBM Infosphere Datastage; GitHub & SQL, including stored procedures, scripts, ETLs, & SSIS packages; Websphere servers &
AUTO AUCTION June 13, 2022 - 8:30 am at Superior Towing, 3787 Homewood Rd. Memphis, TN 38118. 2009 Honda Accord, VIN # 1HGCS12889A025317. AUTO AUCTION Cannon Collision on 7/14 @ 9am. 16’ Maxima VIN # 1N4AA6APXGC376820.
Teradata Database knowledge; .NET languages: jscript.net, vb.net, iron ruby.net; HTML and XML. Email CVs to TrusteeHR@ShelbyCountyTrustee. com. EOE - M/F/D/V.
SHARED HOUSING FURNISHED ROOMS Airways/Lamar, Bellevue/McLemore, Jackson/Watkins. W/D, Cable TV/ Phone. Call 901-485-0897.
BUY, SELL, TRADE WANTED: OLD WINDUP Victrolas & old 45 & 78 records. Call Paul 901-734-6111.
Blood Fats and Diabetes Risk Study
ARE YOU
HEALTHY? The diabetes research team at UTHSC is looking for:
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$50 for participation
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THE LAST WORD By Emma L ockridge
Masked for Life
THE LAST WORD
Imagine waking up in the middle of the night to put on a face mask to block the horrific smell of chemical odors that seeped into your bedroom from nearby factories. That used to be my nightly routine. Wearing a facial mask is nothing new to me. I’ve been using them since 2007, the year my courageous nephew donated a kidney to me to extend my life. After surgery, my transplant team gave me a packet of masks to protect myself from germs because organ transplant anti-rejection medications also would suppress my immune system throughout my life. Since then, Covid has escalated my need to wear masks. I initially wore masks to shield myself from human germs, but in 2017 I was regularly wearing facial masks for another reason. I had to shield myself from the chemical odors that overwhelmed my bedroom on most nights at around 2:30 a.m. when there was a massive release of factory toxins into our community. My subdivision, Detroit 48217, was and still is the most polluted area in the entire state of Michigan. It is surrounded by more than 30 major polluters that self-report emissions to the Environmental Protection Agency and a Michigan state environmental department. The area is subjected to chemical releases from a tar sands oil refinery, steel mills, a municipal water treatment plant, asphalt production facilities, a multi-lane freeway, and a facility that bakes human waste into fertilizer. I nicknamed the biosolids fertilizer facility “the queasy-bake oven” after inhaling its PHOTO: COURTESY putrid-smelling emissions. EMMA LOCKRIDGE In addition to polluted air, I discovered our former elementary school grounds were Emma Lockridge contaminated with enough lead in the soil to deem it an EPA brownfield. The school led an eight-year grounds were fenced off so no one could walk on the poisoned land, but the swings fight for justice for and climbing apparatus from my youth are still in place as a reminder that as children her heavily polluted we played endlessly on that land. Detroit hometown. I was diagnosed with kidney failure in 2005 after my sister died of the disease. My next-door neighbor’s kidneys also failed and my neighbor across the street died after years of dialysis treatments. It is important to note that when I was diagnosed with end-stage renal failure, I was not diabetic, my blood pressure was controlled, and I was a healthy weight. Many studies, including data from the CDC, have made a connection between kidney failure and lead contamination. The largest polluter based in our ZIP code is an oil refinery that underwent a $2.2 billion expansion around 2010. The refinery conducted a home buyout plan near its facility but did not include our sector. The purchased area had a large white population. It felt unjust to me living in the predominantly Black area not to have our homes included in the buyout plan. Trapped! That’s how we felt in our homes. Our home values had plummeted to $15,000 because no one wanted to move into toxic air. Many of us did not want to stay, but we also could not afford to leave My calling to become an environmental justice organizer was launched. I strategically organized my neighbors, and after nearly eight arduous years of protest rallies, testimony before local government and congressional panels, trips to refinery shareholder meetings, and garnering support from outside our community, the refinery extended the buyout offer to our community in 2020. I have transitioned to Memphis only to find a community that reminds me of home. The Boxtown neighborhood in Southwest Memphis is based near a refinery and they are dealing with the possibility of an oil pipeline being routed through their area. Many Memphians are also concerned about protecting the aquifer. I feel compelled to help inform people about what is happening there. I will continue to advocate for a healthy environment so that others do not end up tethered to a mask for life. Emma Lockridge is a veteran news reporter who focuses on the environment and social justice initiatives. Formerly based in Detroit, she also is a photojournalist who has had exhibits of her impactful images.
m e m p h i s f l y e r. c o m
Even before Covid, being able to breathe clean, pollution-free air has always been vital to a community’s health and well-being.
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710 S. Cox | Mon-Sat 11:30-7:00
MEET
CHARLIE! ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES 21,000 sq ft. 100 + booths • 5855 Summer Ave. (corner of Summer and Sycamore View ) exit 12 off I-40 | 901.213.9343 Mon-Sat 10a-6p | Sun 1p-6p
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