Memphis Flyer 11/23/2023

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JERRY D. SWIFT Advertising Director Emeritus KELLI DEWITT, CHIP GOOGE, PATRICK PACHECO Senior Account Executives CHET HASTINGS 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 LYNN SPARAGOWSKI Controller/Circulation Manager JEFFREY GOLDBERG Chief Revenue Officer MARGIE NEAL Chief Operating Officer KRISTIN PAWLOWSKI Digital Services Director MARIAH MCCABE Circulation and Accounting Assistant

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CONTENTS

SHARA CLARK Editor SAMUEL X. CICCI Managing Editor JACKSON BAKER, BRUCE VANWYNGARDEN Senior Editors TOBY SELLS Associate Editor KAILYNN JOHNSON News Reporter CHRIS MCCOY Film and TV Editor ALEX GREENE Music Editor MICHAEL DONAHUE, JON W. SPARKS Staff Writers ABIGAIL MORICI Arts and Culture Editor ANNA TRAVERSE FOGLE, GENE GARD, EMILY GUENTHER, COCO JUNE, FRANK MURTAUGH Contributing Columnists SHARON BROWN, AIMEE STIEGEMEYER Grizzlies Reporters ANDREA FENISE Fashion Editor KENNETH NEILL Founding Publisher

OUR 1813TH ISSUE 11.23.23 As we ready ourselves for Thanksgiving feasts with family and friends, gift-giving season creeps closer. You may be one of those who got an early start, and have already made your lists and checked them twice (good on ya!). Or you might be like me, a serial procrastinator who has a list of giftees faintly scribbled in my brain, but only a vague idea (or none at all) of what to get for them (whomp whomp!). Lucky for you, dear readers, the Flyer staff has a few things in mind that may kick-start your shopping inspiration here within our annual “alternative Black Friday” gift guide. While it’s tempting to click around the web and “add to cart” to your heart’s content, we hope you’ll consider shopping local and supporting Memphis makers, artists, retailers, institutions, and small businesses this season (and all year round).

Just a little food for thought: According to Amazon Investor Relations, the online shopping giant’s net sales increased 13 percent to $143.1 billion in the third quarter of 2023, compared to $127.1 billion in the third quarter of 2022. The popular Temu app, which claims you can “shop like a billionaire” from its selection of low-cost offerings, has drawn enormous success since its September 2022 launch.

According to data from statista.com, “in May 2023, Temu generated approximately $635 million [U.S. dollars] in gross merchandise volume [GMV], a drastic increase over its September 2022 GMV of only $3 million.” The fashion-forward app, Shein, headquartered in Singapore, has expanded its marketplace beyond clothing and apparel, and as reported by CNBC this summer, its “Executive Vice Chairman Donald Tang told investors the company reached record profitability in the first half of 2023, driven by U.S. sales momentum. … The company brought in $23 billion in sales in 2022 and is now worth $66 billion, according to a May report from The Wall Street Journal.”

Wouldn’t it be nice to use some of our gift-buying budget this year to focus on driving more of that sales momentum right here in Memphis? Beyond those highlighted in our “Gift Local 2023” feature, there are so many local retailers who’d appreciate your business. Your hard-earned dollars can be used to support the economy here at home, rather than line the pockets of foreign organizations and multibillion-dollar companies. We’d also like to encourage you to browse these pages and consider purchasing from our advertisers, who help to keep the Flyer free — on newsstands and online.

Tickets to concerts, stage performances, and other events at venues like the Orpheum Theatre, Bartlett Performing Arts & Conference Center, GPAC, Lafayette’s Music Room, MoSH, Playhouse on the Square, Theatre Memphis, Crosstown Arts, Halloran Centre, or Graceland Soundstage would make great gifts — and lasting memories — for just about anyone on your list. If a trip to Vegas isn’t in the cards, a planned night or weekend at one of our regional casinos — Gold Strike Casino & Resort, Southland Casino, 1st Jackpot Casino Tunica, Hollywood Casino Tunica, to name a few — could be a big win for your giftee. A trip to Sheffield Antiques Mall, A Moment in Time Antiques & Collectibles, aquaTreasures Estate Center, or one of the city’s many eclectic secondhand shops could uncover the perfect one-of-a-kind find for a one-of-a-kind loved one. Get in tune with the music-lovers in your life with a gift from rEvolve Guitar & Music Shop or Goner Records. Or spice things up in the bedroom with lovely lingerie for yourself or your partner from Coco & Lola’s.

If you want to peruse a variety of booths and vendors in one place, mark your calendars for one of the many local gift markets happening around town in the coming weeks. The Memphis Arts Collective Holiday Artist Market runs November 24th through December 24th at 5847 Poplar Avenue #110. This year’s WinterArts will be open daily at 870 S. White Station Road November 25th through December 24th. And there’s the Choose901 Holiday Market at Crosstown Concourse Thursday, November 30th, through Saturday, December 2nd. Find additional info on these events and more like them at events.memphisflyer.com.

Speaking of the Flyer, NEWS & OPINION we’ve got merch available at THE FLY-BY - 4 grindcitydesigns.com/memphisflyer for POLITICS - 6 any Flyer fans you might know. If you’re a FINANCE - 7 fan yourself, you could support our work COVER STORY with a one-time or monthly donation by “GIFT LOCAL 2023”

BY FLYER STAFF - 8 becoming a Frequent Flyer (look for the WE RECOMMEND - 12 “Support Us” widget on memphisflyer.com MUSIC - 13 or email frequentflyer@memphisflyer.com AFTER DARK - 14 to find out more).

CALENDAR - 15 We hope you’ll put Memphis at the NY TIMES CROSSWORD - 15 forefront of your holiday shopping ASTROLOGY - 16 NEWS OF THE WEIRD - 17 sprees this year. Buying local supports METAPHYSICAL CONNECTION - 18 the people — not only business owners, FOOD - 19 but also their employees and families — FILM - 20 who make our city so special. And we CL ASSIFIEDS - 22 think that’s pretty darn important.

LAST WORD - 23 Shara Clark shara@memphisflyer.com

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THE

fly-by

MEMernet Memphis on the internet.

PAINT UPDATE

POSTED TO FACEBOOK BY MEMPHIS HERITAGE

Memphis Heritage reached an agreement last week with the owners of Tekila Modern Mexican that will stop the painting of the former Nineteenth Century Club and remove any paint already applied. A GoFundMe for the project had raised $715 of its $10,000 goal as of press time.

LITTER BUGGY

November 23-29, 2023

POSTED TO REDDIT BY U/G713

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Memphis Redditor u/g713 posted a cool video this weekend of a trash pickup around Overton Park using a litter buggy. The remote-controlled trash cart helped remove about 40 gallons of litter between the park and Union.

BOLO Memphis-area phones, tablets, watches, and more buzzed or chimed over the weekend to alert locals of a killer on the loose.

On Saturday, Mavis Christian Jr. began a string of shootings at three locations that left one woman injured and four women dead. Police said the man knew his victims and that the spree was likely a result of domestic violence incidents.

Officials issued a rare be-on-thelookout alert as the citywide manhunt for Christian was underway.

Police said the man took his own life after finding his car and body in South Memphis.

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Questions, Answers + Attitude Edited by Toby Sells

REGIONAL REPORT B y To b y S e l l s

Sailing On Delta Sailing Association keeps alive the hope of Memphis-area sailing.

Memphis-area sailing retained some hope last week as a local group decided to “continue the struggle” while crews fix the Arkabutla Lake Dam in a project that could take years.

Last week, sailing here was at risk to “not have much of a future,” according to Mark van Stolk, a member of the Delta Sailing Association (DSA).

“The [U.S. Army Corps of Engineers] has made it clear that if we don’t carry on, there will never again be a sailing club at the lake and dinghy sailing near Memphis will effectively cease to exist,” van Stolk said in a Facebook post last week.

The group decided last week to keep its lease on a small piece of land on the lake in DeSoto County. That move kept the promise of sailing sport alive here until waters return to the lake.

A potential breach of the dam was discovered in May by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Vicksburg District. If the dam failed, water could have roared into Coldwater River and disastrously flooded several Delta counties. This triggered the Corps to activate an Emergency Operation Center and begin quickly to reduce the threat.

The USACE began immediately releasing water from Arkabutla Lake to relieve pressure on the dam and to assess its structural soundness. By mid-May, the Corps said “dam failure or breach are currently not imminent.”

However, the agency continued to release water from the lake to shore up the dam and continue to reduce the risk. As of August, the Corps was still working around the dam and creating “the best design for long-term repairs.”

“I want to thank you for your patience as we work to repair the dam,” Col. Chris Klein, commander of the USACE Vicksburg District, said in an August YouTube video. “A permanent fix to the dam will take years, which I understand is a long time to lose some recreation features of the lake. Please know though that we’re committed to working as quickly as possible to get the lake safely back to higher levels.”

“The future of small dinghy sailing is on the scales!”

The loss of those “recreation features” hit home for the DSA. The Corps has allowed the club, founded in 1949, a rare lease on lakefront property there on Hernando Point.

Since the Corps does not condone building on the property, the club site has a canopy, some picnic tables, some boat launches, a dock, and a lot for the members’ boats, usually between 12 feet and 20 feet. The property is handy for sailing, van Stolk said, as the boats don’t have to be set up and taken down again for trailering to a sail site.

There are other lakes around Memphis. But Arkabutla

PHOTO: MATTHEW LEE | FACEBOOK

Arkabutla Lake has the Goldilocks effect for local sailors. has the Goldilocks effect. Sardis Lake is big and deep, but that attracts large power boats and mischievous jet skiers who have stolen sail boat racing buoys in the past, van Stolk said. Hyde Lake at Shelby Farms is peaceful but not large enough for several sail boats at one time, not to mention the other kayakers and paddle boaters.

If the club gave up its lease, sailing near Memphis would be cumbersome, likely enough for some to forgo the sport here altogether. But van Stolk said the decision would will really affect “the youth of the future to be able to sail.”

“Getting kids to actually do something outdoors that isn’t as organized as a soccer team or something like that is difficult,” he said. “But not having a location within a reasonable distance is sort of the death knell of the sport in Memphis.”

With all of this, club members met at Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library last week and decided to keep the lease.

“Attendance at the meeting showed that there is still a significant group of people that support the club and are still willing to support it for the foreseeable future,” reads a Facebook post. “Wish us luck! The future of small dinghy sailing is on the scales!”

Going Mobile {

CITY REPORTER

By Kailynn Johnson

Downtown parking, EV charging trending upwards.

T

he Downtown Mobility Authority (DMA) reported that the new Downtown Mobility Center is pointing revenue and net income to “trend above budget,” and that the group is looking to get creative to attract new users.

In a meeting last week, officials gave updates on the Downtown Mobility Center at 60 Beale Street. The $42-million center opened on August 3rd. The multiuse parking garage houses 960 parking spaces, a biker commuter station, and commercial space.

To encourage use of the center, the DMA offered incentives with places like the Orpheum Theatre, where they encourage season ticket holders to use a special promo code for parking discounts.

“We’re really pleased that the Mobility Center has been trending above budget in terms of revenue,” officials said. “We have parking agreements already established with AutoZone with the parking on street corners. We’re working with Premium [Parking] to get creative with adding more subscriptions and helping the user utilization at the facility.”

The authority says it continually looks to plan and manage future hospitality and maintenance items for the facility. It is also looking to increase occupancy and is selecting tenants for the retail space in the facility.

The DMA also reported other highlights in other garages such as First Park Place, Criminal Justice Center, and 250 Peabody Place. Officials said revenues for the First Park Place garage at 21 South Second Street are higher than projected, and said it is a “high-performing facility across the portfolio.”

Use of the $42 million Downtown Mobility Center is higher than projected.

The garage at 250 Peabody Place has also seen significant growth, specifically between September and October, where officials said transient parking grew 60 percent. According to officials, this is due

to the start of the FedExForum event season, as well as Memphis Redbird games.

Officials also discussed electric vehicle (EV) charging use, as the Downtown Mobility Center includes four EV charging spaces. Other DMA facilities have two of these spaces. “[The] goal is to have 2 percent existing and 5 percent EV-ready capacity, ramping up as demand dictates,” said the DMA. “In every parking facility 2 percent of spaces are already open, with chargers on site, and five percent EV-ready, so they can be plugged in and installed as needed.”

The most-used garage for EV charging is the Barboro Flats Garage at 100 Gayoso Avenue. DMA officials said that the DMC is working with Premium Parking and Blink, another electric vehicle charging group, to install additional chargers at the garage, with no purchase or installation charge to the DMA.

PHOTO: DOWNTOWN MEMPHIS COMMISSION

The Downtown Mobility Center DMC president and Mayor-elect Paul Young also announced that demolition can begin on the DMA’s 100 North Main Street, the city’s tallest building. According to Young, officials met around this same time last year to discuss interior demolition to start the project. Young said that they have not closed on the project, but expects it in the coming months.

“The development team is ready to begin,” said Young. “They’re going to be doing a groundbreaking on November 30th, where they’re going to kick off the start of the process. It’s been a long journey.”

Edge Development Growth Engine (EDGE) is providing a loan to the developer team for the project to cover some of the costs.

blvdchristmas.org

NEWS & OPINION

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

scan for tickets

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POLITICS By Jackson Baker

Ladies First The role of female officials grows in the wake of the city election.

NOW OPEN

Holiday Concert

Weekend December 1&2

Enjoy a festive weekend filled with music, parties and holiday magic!

Dec. 1

Elvis’ Wonderful World of Christmas w/ Terry Mike Jeffrey

FOR MORE INFO:

Graceland.com/holidayconcerts

Dec. 2 Dean Z’s Rockin’ Christmas Show

The victories in last week’s city council runoff elections of three women over their male opponents further dramatizes an ever-increasing trend toward female dominance in the elective positions of both city and county governments.

To recap the results: In District 2 (East Memphis), Jerri Green defeated Scott McCormick by a total of 1,752 votes to McCormick’s 1,696. In District 3 (Whitehaven), Pearl Walker won out over Rev. James Kirkwood with 781 votes to Kirkwood’s 767. And, in District 7, incumbent Michalyn Easter-Thomas defeated Jimmy Hassan by 966 votes to 504.

Besides reflecting the trend, the razor-thin victory margins of Green and Walker suggest a slight — but potentially crucial — prevalence of progressivism over conservatism in the council’s showdown votes to come.

NO PAYWALL November 23-29, 2023

memphisflyer.com

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PHOTO: MEMPHISPOLICE.ORG

C.J. Davis Green is a Democrat who has been serving as chief policy advisor to Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris, while McCormick had significant support among Republican activists; Walker, a community organizer, is an avowed progressive whose opponent was a former ranking MPD officer.

Arguably, the wins of Green and Walker somewhat offset the earlier general election victory of conservative former Councilman Philip Spinosa over progressive Meggan Wurzburg Kiel in District 5 (Midtown/East Memphis). That race had figured as a bona fide ideological showdown of sorts.

Whatever the ultimate political bent of the newly elected council, it will have a female majority of seven women and six men. That will put it in alignment of sorts with the Shelby County Commission, which has the same ratio, with a woman, Miska Clay Bibbs, serving currently as chair. And there is no doubting that the other women on the commission, activists all, are making their influence felt as well.

• Perhaps the most important official position held by a woman at the moment is that of police director, and one of the most frequently vented questions during the recent mayoral contest concerned whether C.J. Davis, who holds the job, could expect to be reappointed by the new mayor.

During the campaign, the mayoral contenders reflected a variety of opinions on the matter, most of them leaning to non-committal statements of one kind or another.

The victor, Mayor-elect Paul Young, held to a position that he would commit himself neither to hires nor fires of major personnel.

Be that the case or not, Davis, who addressed a luncheon of the Rotary Club of Memphis last week, sounded confident in laying out an agenda for the new year — one that among other things, envisions a significant increase in the MPD’s handson corps of sergeants — that she would actually be the person to execute it.

Asked after her remarks about the likelihood of her continuing in office, Davis went the neither-confirm-nor-deny route but made a point of saying that she had enjoyed good relations with Young in their frequent contacts over the years.

• Davis’ speech to the Rotarians followed one to the same group last month by Greater Memphis Chamber president/ CEO Ted Townsend, who made a point of downplaying the effect of recent crime outbreaks on the city’s economic development picture.

On a recent recruitment tour, looking for new business, Townsend said, “I didn’t get one question about crime. Not one. I was bracing for it. I prepared for it. I expected it.”

He acknowledged that one national headquarters company located here may have been influenced by “the C-word” and “were thinking about leaving, or wanting to go to Dallas. We fought hard.

We set the value proposition, we said work with us, things will be improved.

We have not given up on it. You don’t give up on it. … We should fight for Memphis and never give up.”

FINANCE By Gene Gard

How to Prevent Fraud Three steps business owners can take to shield their companies.

c

Fraud Ethics at the Top Fraud ethics should start at the top of your organization. Is the tone at the leadership level one of honesty and integrity?

Would your top management do the right thing if no one was looking? Indicators of effective guidance include instilling code of ethics policies, communicating those policies to the entire organization, and having an open-door policy and reporting mechanism, such as an internal fraud hotline, for all employees to report potential fraud and/or fraud risks. An independent assessment of your organization’s culture toward fraud and ethics policies

is a great way to evaluate where you stand and where improvements can be made.

Strong Internal Controls Internal controls are another important component to minimizing fraud risks.

Strong internal controls can be achieved in a number of ways, but common methods include establishing a code of conduct, regularly performing audits, and ensuring management is involved where needed. It’s also a great idea to have a checks and balances system across key work processes or roles who handle sensitive information. The most susceptible areas of your business to keep an eye on are cash receipts, inventory, new vendors, and payroll. No singular team member in these areas should own the entire process of a crucial task — there should always be an opportunity for other team members to assess and review work if suspicious activity arises.

Making fraud prevention a business priority doesn’t have to be intimidating, nor does it mean creating a whistleblower culture in the workplace. At the end of the day, it comes down to ensuring your employees and business are safe and that team members not only feel empowered to speak up if needed but also have the tools to do so.

Gene Gard, CFA, CFP, CFT-I, is a Partner and Private Wealth Manager with Creative Planning. Creative Planning is one of the nation’s largest Registered Investment Advisory firms providing comprehensive wealth management services to ensure all elements of a client’s financial life are working together, including investments, taxes, estate planning, and risk management. For more information or to request a free, no-obligation consultation, visit CreativePlanning.com.

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

Updated Training Ongoing anti-fraud training is needed to keep employees educated and aware of new threats. When was the last time your fraud awareness training was updated?

The landscape for fraud is constantly evolving along with technology. Easy and effective practices that can help prevent fraud include strong internal controls, fraud hotline reporting tools, annual training for all employees on fraud risks, and easily accessible trends and resources.

PHOTO: GROWTIKA | UNSPLASH

Be alert to workplace fraud.

NEWS & OPINION

N

ovember 12th to 18th marked the 22nd anniversary of International Fraud Awareness Week. Effectively preventing fraud in your organization takes everyone doing their part to establish an open culture of awareness and security.

Although fraud prevention should be a year-round priority, the week is a great reminder of the prevalence of workplace fraud, the many forms it comes in, and how many times it still goes unaccounted for.

With the right tools and guidelines, you can keep your business safe and shielded from fraudulent activities.

To commemorate International Fraud Awareness Week, let’s take a look at three essential practices that can help combat workplace fraud minimize future risks.

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COVER STORY By Flyer Staff

gift local 2023

PHOTO: COURTESY DALE STRAND

Prometheus Glassworks

TREAT YO SELF (AND OTHERS) TO LOCAL MERCH WITH OUR ANNUAL HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE.

November 23-29, 2023

W

e see your cursor hovering over the “buy now” button.

Don’t you click that!

Jeff Bezos doesn’t need your money.

Yes, we know Black Friday and the holiday season are both coming right up, but skip the deluge of cardboard boxes and turn your gaze local, instead.

We Memphians know that this city is blessed with an abundance of both creative and entrepreneurial spirits, and there’s just so dang much cool stuff that they’re producing on a daily basis. Our 2023 alternative shopping guide features plenty of unique creations, from up-and-coming fashion designers, to glassware grotesqueries, to your next board game fix. So put those dollars back into local pockets and check out this year’s roundup of Memphis goods.

#JaydaStitchedIt

If you’re looking for a trendy way to include your favorite memories in your clothing, or pay homage to your alma mater or sports team, then look no further than a custom item designed

by Memphis designer Jayda Stotts.

The 23-year-old fashion designer is a graduate from Clark Atlanta University, and her work has been worn by celebrities to red carpets and events.

Notable names include GloRilla, Gloss 8 Up, and K Carbon. It’s been hard to track down who exactly started the

tapestry set trend, but when Stotts saw it take over social media, she knew she wanted to put her own twist on it. She artistically combines the use of collages, photos, and other elements to create high quality hoodies, pants, and two-piece sets.

Shortly after posting a few sets, Stotts’ inboxes would be flooded with requests for sets for graduation pictures, homecomings, birthdays, PHOTO: JAYDA STOTTS

#JaydaStitchedIt

and more.

“I love doing them because they bring joy to people when they get a custom design for a loved one,” says Stotts. “It makes me feel good to know I made someone’s day with something they can have forever.” Orders can be placed by contacting Stotts at 901445-0509, or by visiting her website: jaydastitchedit.myshopify.com.

— Kailynn Johnson

Prometheus Glassworks “I saw glass as a young kid, and it looked like some kind of arcane magic,” says Dale Strand, the artist behind Prometheus Glassworks. “I decided I’m gonna figure out how to cast those spells.”

When you think about glass art, it tends to be either your grandma’s precious tchotchkes or hyper-expensive museum abstractions. “We’re working in a more sculptural direction. That’s the next frontier,” Strand says.

His creations can be abstract, like his Christmas ornament covered in eyeballs, or character-based, like the friendly, grinning cyclops shot glass.

And they are cozy, in their own way. “I think it’s kind of creepy-cool or creepycute because they’re not like totally grotesque, but they’re, you know, creepy enough. That’s my customers

right there.”

The self-taught Strand makes his glass monsters in his garage. “I’ve got a kiln and a bench mounted torch. So it’s not quite as big of an operation as like Dale Chihuly, who would do that big, hot shop glass.”

His artistic inspirations are also not what you would expect from an artist with the skill to make a realistic strawberry and delicate mushrooms out of glass. “Frank Frazetta is one of those fantasy art guys from the ’70s. It’s the stuff you would see painted on the side of a van, but more fine-arty.”

Find his creations on Instagram (@PrometheusGlassworks) and buy directly from Prometheus Glassworks on Etsy. — Chris McCoy

Abducktion Prepare for intergalacDuck shenanigans! Anyone who knows me knows that I love ducks. So when, in late 2022, I caught wind of Very Special Games’ mash-up of sci-fi mischief and the famous waterfowl, I thought, “Here’s a game made specifically for me.”

Abducktion is, as of now, the latest creation by Very Special Games founders Evan Katz and Josh Roberts (you may have read about some of their other games, like Charty Party, in the Flyer’s pages before). And it’s a deviation from their normal cardbased designs, with a whole board’s

Roses, Dust & Ashes Oracle Deck Some choices are best left to fate, and most, like your holiday shopping, are best left to a bit of reflection and soul-searching. And for the person in your life who is all about reflection and soul-searching, this oracle deck crafted by artist Stacey Williams-Ng just may be the perfect gift. It’s also a great gift for the taphophile, or cemetery lover, in your life, she adds. After all, this oracle deck of 36 hand-painted cards pays homage to Victorian mourning symbolism through hand-painted PHOTO: COURTESY VERY SPECIAL GAMES

Abducktion

cemetery excursions.

Plus, the World Divination Association named the deck the Best Indie Deck of 2023.

“It’s been amazing selling oracle decks in general, honestly,” Williams-Ng says.

“The feedback I get is actually way more profound than I ever expected. People talk about how much it’s touched their lives. It’s a spiritual product, so it’s incredibly rewarding that it touches people on a pretty profound level.”

Purchase the Roses, Dust & Ashes Oracle Deck ($60) at lapantherestudio.com. — Abigail Morici

Black and Beale PHOTO: STACEY WILLIAMS-NG

Roses, Dust & Ashes Oracle Deck illustrations of cemetery symbols from around the world, with even a few from Memphis’ very own Elmwood Cemetery.

As a graphic designer, WilliamsNg’s interest in symbolism led her to volunteering at Elmwood Cemetery, where she’s headed tours on Victorian mourning symbolism for the past few years. “Basically, I wanted to take those meanings and translate them to these cards,” Williams-Ng says. “The cards, believe it or not, are not macabre at all. There’s only two cards in there that are ‘sad.’ It’s not like a whole card deck about weeping and crying and sadness at all.”

The deck is truly unique and high-quality, comes in a velvet-lined coffin box, and includes a pocketsized book with a full glossary of over 100 cemetery symbols, perfect for

Growl towel? Check. Favorite Memphis beer tee? Check. Bumper sticker with that Memphis hashtag that was so fire for, like, five minutes? Check. Something with the Pancho’s guy? Yep. What do you get for that Memphian who seems to have every Memphis thing? Let me introduce you to Black and Beale. It’s the most Memphiscentric dry goods shop you need to know about, especially if you — or someone you love — just can’t stop

PHOTO: COURTESY BLACK AND BEALE

Black and Beale notebook with the city pride.

But Black and Beale’s stuff is not stylized retreads of the Grizz logo, the bridge, the Pyramid, and all that.

There’s a Memphis City Schools (remember that?) enamel pin, for example, and one of a Supreme from Jerry’s Sno Cones. Memphis slang is on display, too. A lunch box reads, “You hungry, ain’t it, mane?” A T-shirt logo looks like Stranger Things’ title font but reads, “We ain’t scared hoe.”

Not being from Memphis originally, there’s a ton of stuff on the site I do not understand but still like. An enamel pin of a hand is “a throwback to the

PHOTO: COURTESY PEARL’S PUFF PARLOR

Pearl’s Puff Parlor

continued on page 10

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

worth of miniature duck figurines and a large UFO comprising the pieces.

And, guys, the whole point of the game is getting your ducks in a row.

Genius. You’ll draw a card from the deck and try to arrange several multicolored ducks on your board into a specific pattern to get points, upon which said ducks will be whisked away by the central spaceship. Where do they go? Who cares, you got points!

It’s a fairly simple game, like their others, perfect for a quick gettogether of 20 or so odd minutes.

We busted it out for the first time at Memphis Made, with plenty of folks wandering over to marvel at the cute lil’ hand-painted birds. A friend borrowed it for a family trip, and reported that their young cousins couldn’t stop playing. So if you’re looking to pick up a new game, why not support a local creator at the same time?

Order Abducktion ($39.99 for the base game/$44.99 for base game + expansion) at veryspecialgames.com.

— Samuel X. Cicci

9

WEET NOTE NO N OTE TES S WEET from Memphis

PHOTO: STACY KIEHL

Stacy Kiehl’s toys continued from page 9 MEMPHIS, MEMPHIS,, TN N | 800.355.0358 80 00.3 355.0 035 58 | DINSTUHLS.COM DIN NST TUHLS..COM LAURELWOOD · GERMANTOWN · COLLIERVILLE · DOWNTOWN · PLEASANT VIEW

Thank T hank you you for ffo or y your our v votes otes ffo for or B est S pecialty T reat S hop!

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10

Memphis’ Leading Metaphysical Shop

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Gemstones ♦ Singing Bowls Jewelry ♦ Incense ♦ Books Tarot, Aura & Chakra Readings Sound Therapy Sessions Workshops ♦ Gifts and More!

good ol’ days of Memphis checkin’ and Memphis City Schools butter cookies.”

What? And — just in time for the holidays — is a special Juicy J sweater reading, simply, “Yeah Ho Ho Ho.” (I had to ask a co-worker.)

Sha’ Hughes is the founder of Black and Beale. She says she’s “fueled by my passion for all things Memphis, Tennessee,” and considers herself a “Memphis aficionado.”

Just looking at her website (blackandbeale. com), I have to agree.

— Toby Sells

Pearl’s Puff Parlor The ritual of smoking deserves a certain sophistication, do you agree? There’s nothing better than an elegant water pipe to enhance whatever you puff and there’s no finer place to acquire one than at Pearl’s Puff Parlor (look through their wares at pearlspuffparlor.com).

Miss Pearl takes antique pieces from around the globe and transforms them into alluring and singular water pipes that your mother would admire (and maybe steal, so you should get one for her as well).

Pearl’s vintage wares are steeped in history and lovingly repurposed to provide a glowing experience for those who inhale. It will be easy to appreciate the wide and pleasing variety of styles and sizes from the small and lovely (bud vases, of course) to larger decanters in the event you have guests over. And should you or your company prefer other methods of puffery, Pearl also has attractive holders for rolled cigarettes and splendid ashtrays since — as your mother would insist — neatness counts.

So, for the discerning smoker

who likes nice things to use as well as to look at, browse the remarkable collection at Pearl’s Puff Parlor. And enjoy the experience. — Jon W. Sparks

Stacy Kiehl’s Toys Stacy Kiehl doesn’t carry a big sack and say, “Ho, ho, ho.” But, like that guy in red, she’s in the toy game. In a way.

Among her works are brightly colored paintings and sculptures of “old vintage wind-up toys,” says Kiehl, a Memphis artist. “I’ve always collected toys. And there are a lot of toys that are a little too collectible for me that I can’t ever find. So, I’ll find photos of them so I can paint them and have them.” Among the nostalgic vintage toy subjects in her paintings are tin windup toys of people on motorcycles and scooters.

Kiehl, who moved to Memphis from Los Angeles, also paints the old tin cowboys on horse toys, but, “Anytime they have guns,” she says, “I paint a carrot in their hand instead of a gun because it seems like a healthier choice.”

She’s made actual wooden push toys with wheels, including one of an elephant and another of a dog. “I have some wooden dice that I painted and bouquets of wooden flowers.”

And she made a two-foot-tall Lone Ranger doll out of papier-mâché and wood.

Kiehl paints many other subjects, from cats to blue suede shoes. Her paintings range from six-by-six inches to 12-by-12 inches, but she also paints larger works. She also makes key chains and stickers, which “make good stocking stuffers.”

Beginning November 24th, Kiehl will hold a sale of her works — with free shipping — on her website: stacykpaints.com.

— Michael Donahue

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11

steppin’ out

We Recommend: Culture, News + Reviews

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By Abigail Morici Skies of blue, clouds of white, trees of … blue? Yes, blue — at least along the Wolf River Greenline, where a new free, immersive public art experience has opened, complete with blue trees and wind chimes. The experience, titled “Shelby Canopy: Our Shared Connection,” features two temporary installations: “The Blue Trees Environmental Art Installation” by international artist Konstantin Dimopoulos and “Tree Tones” by local artist duo, Belleau + Churchill. This is Germantown Public Art Program’s first public art installation since developing its master plan in 2019.

For Australian-based Dimopoulos’ “The Blue Trees,” the artist along with volunteers PHOTO: ABIGAIL MORICI applied an eco-friendly pigment to the trunks of more than 100 trees, creating a striking “The Blue Trees” landscape of ultramarine blue trees juxtaposed against the natural browns and greens of the forested area. The concept of the project was born out of Dimopoulos’ concern for deforestation. “In my environmental art installation, The Blue Trees,” he writes in his artist statement, “the colour and the Tree come together to transform and affect each other; the colour changing the Tree into something surreal, while the Tree, rooted in this earth reflects what we may lose.”

And so, the trees are blue, simply because there are no blue trees in nature; thus, the viewer will pay more attention to them. Since its conception in 2003, “The Blue Trees” has traveled around the world, making Memphis its 36th stop. “This is the first time we’ve done it in a forest area, which is really exciting,” the artist says. “Normally it’s outside a library or a municipal thing; whereas, here it’s kind of like little sparks [of blue] everywhere.”

To complement “The Blue Trees,” the Germantown Public Art program commissioned Belleau + Churchill, Raina Belleau and Caleb Churchill, to create “Tree Tones,” an auditory installation on the same trail as Dimopoulos’ trees.

“Tree Tones” features 60 wind chimes, hanging from the trees. “There’s six different tones, and they relate to six different tree species on the trail,” says Cat Peña, Germantown’s public art and design manager. “There’s a cord between the six tones that’s scientifically proven to be very calming. And when it’s windy, you’ll be able to hear a little bit of the ecology of the forest.”

Peña hopes these installations will encourage conversations about our ever-so precious trees, the environment at large, and what we can do to preserve and protect the resources we have. Plus, she says, “We are encouraging people to get outdoors and experience nature. We’re really encouraging people to use the trail throughout the county because we’re so lucky to have this trail system.”

“SHELBY CANOPY: OUR SHARED CONNECTION,” WOLF RIVER GREENLINE, 7014 WOLF RIVER BLVD., ON DISPLAY THROUGH APRIL 19, 2024, FREE.

November 23-29, 2023

VARIOUS DAYS & TIMES November 23rd - 29th

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HOLIDAY SALE 12

NOV 24 - DEC 10

Glow Goat Yoga Overton Park Shell, 1928 Poplar Avenue, Friday, November 24, 4:30 p.m. & 6 p.m., $25 Yoga with 901Goats for some family fun and neon vibes on Black Friday. Grab your yoga mat (or rent one for $5 … ’cause, you know, do you want goat poo on your yoga mat?) and dress in your favorite neon colors to join the goats for yoga. Complimentary glow necklaces/bracelets will be provided; compliments must be earned (goats are merit-based creatures).

Yes, some of goats will even jump up on you while doing yoga poses.

But don’t worry, the goats are lightweight and very friendly. You’ll be sure to have a lot of laughs and leave feeling relaxed and entertained.

Goat yoga is not recommended for children under the age of 6. Get your tickets at overtonparkshell.org.

Tatsuya Nakatani Gong Orchestra No. 2 Vance, 325 Wagner, Sunday, November 26, 7 p.m., $25 Nakatani Gong Orchestra returns for its third Memphis visit. This is not a show to miss. Tatsuya Nakatani is an avant-garde percussionist, composer, and artist of sound.

His orchestra is composed of local players at each stop along his tour, making each performance unique.

If you are interested in participating in the Gong Orchestra, send an email to memphisgongorchestra@ gmail.com. There is no expectation of previous experience playing a gong. Nakatani instructs the players in his unique techniques for bowing the gong and following his method of conducting.

Purchase tickets for the performance at tinyurl.com/4j8jmnfj.

Cirque Dreams Holidaze Landers Center, 4560 Venture, Southaven, MS, Friday, November 24, 7 p.m., $42.50 As the nation’s premier family holiday tradition, Cirque Dreams Holidaze will convey the magic of the season with a Broadway-style production infused with contemporary circus arts.

As lights dim and the music swells, a fantastical cast of holiday storybook characters comes to life.

Imaginative and fun for children to seniors and everyone in between, Cirque Dreams Holidaze features a world-renowned cast of performers accompanied by an ensemble of aerial circus acts, sleight-ofhand jugglers, fun-loving skippers, breath-catching acrobatics, and much more. Amid a backdrop of new sets, scenery, and storylines, this family-friendly production is sure to put a twinkle in your eye.

MUSIC By Alex Greene

Something in the Water Shemekia Copeland joins Acoustic Sunday Live to protect our aquifer.

goes hand in hand with that. “For me, it’s about clean water. And whatever politics are involved, what they’re trying to do is a great thing.”

Yet she also appreciates Acoustic Sunday Live from a purely musical perspective, as much as a fan as a star performer. “I’ve listened to all of them, especially Loudon and Tracy Nelson,” she says. “So I’m really looking forward to it.” And part of the magic, she notes, is the freewheeling atmosphere shared by all the performers who are on stage.

She feels free to simply wing it, and that suits her just fine. “It’s a running joke with my band. They laugh at me and

inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame.

His daughter, though, forged her own path into the music. “We are completely different,” she says. “My dad was born and raised in Texas and I was born and raised in New York City. But everybody migrated from somewhere, right? A lot of Chicago artists came from Memphis or from Mississippi.

There’s Southern roots and there’s a little bit of everything everywhere.

I’m a good mix of everything, my dad being from Texas and my mom being from North Carolina. And then I was born and raised in Harlem, right smack dab in the middle of it.”

PHOTO: VICTORIA SMITH

Shemekia Copeland

“For me, it’s about clean water. And whatever politics are involved, what they’re trying to do is a great thing.” say, ‘There’s no point to her trying to make a set list because she’s not going to follow it anyway!’” She prefers to be in the moment, especially in a songswap type of show, saying, “I don’t know who’s going to be singing before or after me, so I try to find things that mesh well with everybody. I want the show to flow nicely.”

Music has always come naturally to Copeland, whose father, Johnny Copeland, was a guitarist and singer

Her upbringing in a city not necessarily known for the blues has shaped her to this day. “I was not your typical kid,” she says. “I always had very different interests, but I also have different interests as an adult. One of my biggest fears in life is being like other people.”

That makes her a perfect match for a city where Sam Phillips once decreed, “If you’re not doing something different, you’re not doing anything.”

And, having won multiple Blues Music Awards and worked with Steve Cropper, Copeland is no stranger to Memphis and its history. “I think this is my third time to play Acoustic Sunday Live. Memphis is a great city. Great food. Great music. Great people. And it’s a lot of fun to do concerts like this because you get to hang out and play with other musicians.”

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

Y

ou don’t miss your water,” croons local music auteur Susan Marshall in a recent YouTube video, “till your well runs dry.” It’s an especially apt rendering of William Bell’s 1961 hit on Stax Records, tying together two inextricably linked themes: Memphis and water. Marshall posted the video to promote an upcoming show that aims to celebrate both through music. Acoustic Sunday Live, produced by Bruce and Barbara Newman, is now a 20-year tradition in Memphis, a songwriters-in-the-round event that has always brought the finest folk singers to town in support of a worthy grassroots organization. In recent years, that organization has been Protect Our Aquifer, and the list of world-class performers eager to rally around both Memphis and its water has always been impressive.

This year’s show (see acousticsundaylive. com) takes place on Sunday, December 3rd, at the First Congregational Church and will include Shemekia Copeland, Tracy Nelson, Tim O’Brien with Jan Fabricius, Loudon Wainwright III, and Will Kimbrough, along with local favorites Marshall, John Nemeth, Reba Russell, and Joe Restivo.

For newcomers to the cause, Protect Our Aquifer spells it out on their website: “Memphis is the only city in the US to rely 100% on groundwater.

With people power, we’ve stopped a pipeline, landfills, and TVA wells from poisoning our water. Now, the latest science shows our protective clay layer is more like Swiss cheese and modern water is sinking down, threatening our water with industrial pollution.”

The organization is a sentinel of sorts, guaranteeing that the ancient freshwater below us stays pure.

Shemekia Copeland, for her part, is down with the cause. “You know, we live on Earth,” she says. “This is where we live. We have to take care of it.” Protect Our Aquifer, in her eyes,

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

“

13

AFTER DARK: Live Music Schedule November 23 - 29 PHOTO: COURTESY TATSUYA NAKATANI

Tatsuya Nakatani Gong Orchestra

Almost Famous

Saturday, Nov. 25, 10 p.m.

Andrew McNeill, Cedric Taylor, Aubrey McCrady, Khari Wynn Friday, Nov. 24, 2-5 p.m.

GRIND CITY BREWERY

Computermane

Friday, Nov. 24, 10 p.m.

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RAILGARTEN

Lucky 7 Brass Band Friday, Nov. 24, 8 p.m.

RAILGARTEN

Memphis Reggae ft.

Chinese Connection Dub Embassy & DJ CBEYOHN

Eric Hughes

LAFAYETTE’S MUSIC ROOM

$10-$15. Sunday, Nov. 26, 7:30 p.m.

Devil Train

B-SIDE

B-SIDE

Narrow Head with Modern Color and Cherry Smoke

M-Town Funk & Blues Fest

Midnight Star, Original Lakeside, Larry Dodson and band, OB Buchana, and Bobby Rush will rock the house.

Saturday, Nov. 25, 5 p.m.

CANNON CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

Stax Soul Mobile, Soul for the Holidays Pop Up Friday, Nov. 24, 4-9 p.m.

SOUL & SPIRITS BREWERY

Wendell Wells & The Big Americans

Saturday, Nov. 25, 9 p.m.-1 a.m.

WESTY’S

Sunday, Nov. 26, 8 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 23, 9:30 p.m.

Don Ramon Band

Saturday, Nov. 25, 9:30 p.m.

B-SIDE

Freak Squid

Tuesday, Nov. 28, 9 p.m.

B-SIDE

Friendsgiving

Featuring Kenshi, DJ Standalone Complex, Godbody Jones, DY3, rotbringer, and Outside Source. 21+. Thursday, Nov. 23, 9 p.m.

LAMPLIGHTER LOUNGE

Gutta Nation

Featuring Gill_Yum, Nolan Void, Don Twan, and Delyrius.

18+. $10. Friday, Nov. 24, 9 p.m.

BLACK LODGE

Area 51

Thursday, Nov. 23, 7 p.m.

NEIL’S MUSIC ROOM

JD Westmoreland Band

$10. Friday, Nov. 24, 8 p.m.

LAFAYETTE’S MUSIC ROOM

TiLt

Monday, Nov. 27, 10 p.m.

ROCKHOUSE LIVE

Josey Scott’s Saliva with Allen Mack Myers Moore

Saturday, Nov. 25, 9 p.m.

B-SIDE

Featuring Zach Myers of Shinedown. $25-$30. Sunday, Nov. 26, 8 p.m.

GROWLERS

Saturday, Nov. 25, 11 a.m.4 p.m.

Kevin & Bethany Paige

OVERTON SQUARE

LAFAYETTE’S MUSIC ROOM

Alexis Jade

Thursday, Nov. 23, 7-10 p.m.

THE SLIDER INN

Alicja & Friends

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Saturday, Nov. 25, 8 p.m.

Deep Roots

(CANNOT BE COMBINED WITH OTHER OFFERS) EXPIRES 12/10/23

Fall Bulbs TULIPS DAFFODILS CROCUS PAPERWHITES AMARYLLIS

Lord T & Eloise

CENTRAL BBQ

Addison Israelson

THANKS MEMPHIS FOR YOUR VOTES! ST

Deconstructing Dylan’s 1966 tour. Hosted by David Swider.

Wednesday, Nov. 29, 6 p.m.

Indigo Avenue

2023

WINNER!

BAR DKDC

Deep Roots Trio

RUM BOOGIE CAFE

Christmas Shop

Saturday, Nov. 25, 10 p.m.

Bob Dylan - Judas!

Listening Event and Discussion

Brenna, Fugitive Droids

Thursday, Nov. 23, 6-10 p.m.

The Dan West

LAFAYETTE’S MUSIC ROOM

TIN ROOF

Saturday, Nov. 25, 6-8:45 p.m.

Laundry Bats, Tyler Keith, The Apostles

Friday, Nov. 24, 10 p.m.

BAR DKDC

Saturday, Nov. 25, 2 p.m.

Landslide: A Tribute to the Music of Fleetwood Mac Friday, Nov. 24, 6 p.m.

LAFAYETTE’S MUSIC ROOM

$16-$18. Wednesday, Nov. 29, 8 p.m.

GROWLERS

No Cure, Rosary, Morbid Vizionz Primitive Rage, Human Shield Monday, Nov. 27, 7 p.m.

HI TONE

Samantha Fish

Tuesday, Nov. 28, 7:30 p.m.

MINGLEWOOD HALL

Shara’s Songwriter Showcase

Wednesday, Nov. 29, 6 p.m.

LAFAYETTE’S MUSIC ROOM

Swingtime Explosion Big Band Monday, Nov. 27, 6 p.m.

LAFAYETTE’S MUSIC ROOM

Tatsuya Nakatani Gong Orchestra Sunday, Nov. 26, 7 p.m.

NO. 2 VANCE

The MDs

Friday, Nov. 24, 8 p.m.

B-SIDE

The New Pacemakers Sunday, Nov. 26, 3:30 p.m.

LAFAYETTE’S MUSIC ROOM

Twin Soul

Friday, Nov. 24, 10 p.m.

LAFAYETTE’S MUSIC ROOM

WiMM Presents Elevation Band and Aybil

$10. Wednesday, Nov. 29, 7 p.m.

B-SIDE

CALENDAR of EVENTS: Nov. 23 - 29

a reading of How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and a visit from the Grinch himself. Saturday, Nov. 25, 10:30 a.m.

B O O K E V E N TS

Dan Conaway & Bill Haltom: Never Over the Hill

Novel welcomes Dan Conaway and Bill Haltom to celebrate the release of their new book Never Over the Hill: A Memoir in Bright Orange.

Wednesday, Nov. 29, 6 p.m.

NOVEL

FI LM

NOVEL

Dinner & A Movie: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

Jared Fishman: Fire on the Levee

Novel welcomes Jared Fishman in conversation with District Attorney Steve Mulroy to discuss his book, Fire on the Levee. Tuesday, Nov. 28, 6 p.m.

Experience an unforgettable genre-bending action love story, as you enjoy a special seven-course meal (one for every ex of Ramona’s) specifically designed for the event. Wednesday, Nov. 29, 5:30 p.m.

NOVEL

C O M E DY

Stand Up & Spit That 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 EVENT LISTINGS, VISIT EVENTS. MEMPHISFLYER.COM/CAL.

Don Estes’ show at David Lusk Gallery closes on November 28th.

A night of stand-up comedy and hip-hop hosted

by Briana Montana. Sunday, Nov. 26, 8 p.m.

BLACK LODGE

HI TONE

On Thanksgiving night, disgruntled toy store employees begrudgingly arrive for work to open the store at midnight for the busiest shopping day of the year. Friday, Nov. 24, 6 p.m.

Screening of Black Friday

COM M U N ITY

Aquifer Action Meeting: Lunch & Learn

BLACK LODGE

P E R FO R M I N G A R TS

Cirque Dreams Holidaze

As the nation’s premier family holiday tradition, Cirque Dreams Holidaze will convey the magic of the season with a Broadway-style production infused with contemporary circus arts. $42.50. Friday, Nov. 24, 7 p.m.

LANDERS CENTER

Wyred: They Came from Outer Space An out-of-this-world drag cabaret. 18+. $15.

Saturday, Nov. 25, 10 p.m.

HI TONE

Food will be provided for those in-person.

Tuesday, Nov. 28, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

H O L I DAY E V E N TS

T H EAT E R

Starry Nights

SOUTH LIBRARY

Starry Nights brings the spirit of the season to life with dazzling displays featuring millions of lights. Friday, Nov. 24-Dec. 31.

SIX

The six wives of Henry VIII take the microphone to remix 500 years of historical heartbreak into a euphoric celebration. $35-$150. Through Nov. 26.

The New York Times SHELBY FARMS PARK Syndication Sales Corporation Story Time with the Grinch THE ORPHEUM Kick off the holiday season with hot chocolate, 620 Eighth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10018 FA M I LY

For Information Call: 1-800-972-3550 For Release Tuesday, February 26, 2019

AR T AN D S P EC IA L E X H I B I TS

“Commune (verb)”

“Lens Language”

A photography exhibition exploring the depths of love from behind the lens of MadameFraankie and Kai Ross. Through Dec. 12.

TONE

“Nite Flights: An Exhibit by Colleen Couch and Bill Webb Jr.”

An exhibit of handmade paper sculptures by Colleen Couch and photography by Bill Webb.

Through Nov. 26.

GALLERY 1091

“Tall Tales, Short Stories”

In this exhibition, Don Estes revisits paintings he made years ago and references abstractions in ancient writing styles inscribed on damp clay using a pointed tool. Through Nov. 28.

DAVID LUSK GALLERY

“When the Spirit Moves”

Duo exhibition by Rosa Jordan and Calvin Farrar. Through Nov. 26.

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

“Young, Gifted and Black”

Championing an emerging generation of artists of African descent who are exploring identity, politics, and art history. Through Dec. 6.

CLOUGH-HANSON GALLERY

AR T HAP P E N I N G S

Art Tiles

Bring the whole family to create your very own relief sculpture with an art tile mold.

Saturday, Nov. 25, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

METAL MUSEUM

Holiday Wreath Workshop

Grab a friend and learn to make a lush evergreen wreath during this two-hour workshop. Festive treats, hot cocoa bar, and wine included! $85. Saturday, Nov. 25, 3 p.m.

MIDTOWN BRAMBLE AND BLOOM

Yule Holiday Market

A market that caters to the Yule season of handmade goods, Yule magic, and gifts for the naughty and goody-two-shoes. It’s no Santa, it’s Krampus that will greet you but you better be nice. Saturday, Nov. 25, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

BLACK LODGE

ACROSS 1 Jan. honoree 6 Mild reprimands 10 Industrial vessels 14 “Old MacDonald” refrain 15 State said to be “high in the middle” 16 “Thus with a kiss ___” (Romeo’s last words) 17 Glider measurement 19 “Have you ___ wondered …?”

20 Close calls 21 Certain closeknit social media group 22 “Brigadoon” co-star Charisse 25 Actor Wilson who has appeared with Ben Stiller in 12 films 26 Maker of the Pathfinder and Rogue

27 Grilled order with corned beef 29 Accomplished 30 Before, in poetry 31 Long past time?

32 Guinness record holder for the U.S. city with the most consecutive days of sun (768), informally 35 “Look out!” … and warning when encountering the circled things in this puzzle 40 “Fingers crossed!”

41 Baseball’s Matty, Felipe or Moises 43 Some people have a gift for it 46 Wall St. starter 47 Addressee modifier on an envelope 49 Media sales team, informally 51 Auto company since 1899

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE P A S H A O S L O S O N F R E E D C A R O M U Z I F I T F O R A K I N G P A X T A O A B E L M E R E N A T I O N A L P A R K S S C H M I D T N E A R H E A P S S K E T C H U P U R L T R E A D I N O T A L K S H O W L O T U S I C E D A B O U T M E T H E W H O L E T R U T H H E M I A M O R E C O E L M C I V I L R I G H T S F L Y O D E L L T I A R A T A S D O R Y S L Y L Y

53 Org. for Jaguars, but not Panthers 54 Big blows 55 Idiot 57 French military hat 58 Massive electoral victories 62 The “E” of Q.E.D. 63 Biblical twin 64 Creepy looks 65 M&M’s that were discontinued from 1976 to 1987 over fears about their dye 66 Chip’s cartoon partner 67 Rear admiral’s rear DOWN 1 Kitten’s call 2 Super Bowl of 2018 3 Burns in film 4 Lively dances 5 ___ Lee Browne, actor/director in the Theater Hall of Fame 6 Yankee Joe whose #6 was retired 7 Glossy look 8 Hyundai alternatives 9 Lawn order 10 YouTube popularity metric 11 Counsel 12 Accessory for a cravat 13 Peaceful 18 Places where goods are sometimes fenced 21 Listings in a nautical table

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22 Shout 23 “Dang, that hurts!”

24 ___ mater (brain membrane) 26 Hobbyists’ racers controlled remotely 28 Transaction with a bookie 29 ___ ex machina 33 Ore, for one?

34 “The Cask of Amontillado” writer

36 Contents of a poker pot 37 Damage, as a reputation 38 Zeno of ___ (philosopher) 39 [And it’s gone!]

42 Mixed martial arts org.

43 Rubbernecker 44 Stick (to) 45 Bikini insert 48 Ring-shaped islands 50 Sends out

51 What follows the semis 52 “It should be my turn soon” 55 Org. behind the New Horizons probe 56 Nutritionist’s plan 58 Was in front 59 Ruby of the silver screen 60 Blunder 61 Nine-digit ID

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

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FREE WILL ASTROLOGY By Rob Brezsny ARIES (March 21-April 19): When we experience authentic awe, our humility deepens. This is turn tends to make us kinder, smarter, and more positive. So how can we stimulate awe? Among the many possible ways are gazing at magnificent art, hiking in a natural wonderland, or being in the presence of a beautiful human soul. In accordance with astrological omens, I recommend that you go in quest of awe and related feelings like reverence, amazement, adoration, and veneration.

Your mental, physical, and spiritual health will flourish in response.

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TAURUS (April 20-May 20): It’s the Season for Cherishing and Smoking Out Secrets. So let’s talk about the subject.

1. Some secrets are sad, haunting, even risky — and worth keeping secret.

2. Other secrets can be beautiful, healing, and potentially life-changing if they are revealed gracefully. 3. Some secrets are buried so deeply that only very persistent seekers dig them up. 4. Some secrets are “hidden” in plain view, and only visible to people who are clear and brave enough to identify them. I suspect you Tauruses will have a special knack for managing all types of secrets in the coming weeks, including those I mentioned.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): I hope you won’t fill yourself up with appetizers and hors d’oeuvres in the coming weeks, Gemini. My soul will be at peace if I see you save your hunger for the main courses. Your motto should be “Feasts, not snacks!” or “The Real Deal, not the pretenders!” or “The jubilee, not the distractions!” If you ever find yourself feeling halfhearted or inattentive, you’re probably not in the right situation. Here’s an affirmation to go with your mottoes: “I am liberating my divine appetite!”

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Playwright Anton Chekhov (1860–1904) is regarded as one of history’s great writers. That does not mean everything he said was wise, useful, or worthy of our attention. For example, he was once asked to give his opinion about ballet. “During the intermissions, the ballerinas stink like horses,” he replied. I hesitate to bring up such a vulgar reference, but I wanted to make a vivid point. In the coming weeks, I hope you will ignore the advice of people who don’t know what they are talking about, no matter how smart or charismatic they may be. I hope you will not attribute expertise to those who have no such expertise. I hope that as much as possible, you will rely on first-hand information, rigorous research, and reliable influences.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Researchers have determined that there are two basic dispositions among tigers. One is what they call “majesty.” Creatures with this orientation tend to be dignified, imposing, and agile.

The other type of tiger personality revolves around “steadiness.” This is the opposite of neuroticism, and includes the qualities of being affable, easy to get along with, and well-adjusted. I know many astrologers associate lions with you Leos, but I prefer to link you with tigers. If you agree with me, here’s my prediction: You are beginning a phase when you will be more majestic than steady — but with plenty of steadiness also available if you want it.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): “It is better to entertain an idea than to take it home to live with you for the rest of your life,” wrote author Randall Jarrell. That’s decent advice, though I will add a caveat. If you entertain an idea for a while and it turns out that you love it, and you also love the beneficent effect it has on you, you may be smart to take it home to live with you. I’m guessing you Virgos are at a pivotal point in this regard. Not yet, but soon, you will know whether it will be wise to get cozier with certain influences you have been flirting with — or else decide they are not ones you want to keep.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): If I could give an award for Most Curious Genius in the World, it would be to Libran author and naturalist Diane Ackerman. She would also get my prize for Most Voracious Learner and Best Questioner and Most Exuberant Seeker and Searcher. “To hear the melody,” she writes, “we must hear all the notes.” In response to the question, “What is life?” she offers this answer: “corsages and dust mites and alligator skin and tree-frog serenades and foreskins and blue hydrangeas and banana slugs and war dances and cedar chips and bombardier beetles.” In accordance with current astrological omens, I encourage you to be like Diane Ackerman in the coming weeks.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Composer Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827) was charismatic and forceful, but also hot-tempered and prone to rude behavior. The writer Goethe, his contemporary, said “his talent amazed me,” and described him as an “utterly untamed personality.” Beethoven seldom lived in one home for very long and loved to sing at the top of his lungs as he washed himself. Although he played piano with exquisite skill, he was quite clumsy as he moved through the world. Can you guess what astrological sign he was? Same as you! Sagittarius!

I’m not saying you are exactly like this wild, unruly genius, but you do have tendencies in that direction. And in the coming weeks, I expect you’ll be inclined to be more Beethoven-esque than usual. Please work on emphasizing the winsome aspects.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): I hope you have developed good boundaries,

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Have you located any of your soul twins? If not, is that an interesting prospect for you? Please note that soul twins are not necessarily the same as dream lovers. They may simply be people with whom you share deep values and perspectives. They might aspire to influence the world in ways similar to you. With a soul twin, you feel at home in the world and extra happy to be yourself. I bring these meditations to your attention, Scorpio, because the coming months will be an especially likely time for you to encounter and engage with soul twins. Be on the alert!

Capricorn. I hope you are so skilled at taking care of yourself that you steadfastly refuse to let people manipulate you or hurt you. Just to make sure your discernment is working at peak levels, though, I will offer you a tip. In the English language, we have the idiom “to rub salt in a wound,” which refers to the fact that daubing salt in an open gash in the skin makes the pain even worse. But did you know that smearing sugar in a wound is equally distressing? The metaphorical lesson is that you should be vigilant for seemingly nice, sweet people who might also violate your boundaries to hurt or manipulate you.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): I estimate this horoscope is worth $22,225. It has been made possible by my many years of disciplined meditations, extensive reading of holy texts, and an ever-growing devotion to astrology and my readers.

But here’s the fun part: You can read these words for free! No cost at all! I will, however, ask you to do something for me in return. First, give your gifts joyously and generously in the coming weeks, holding nothing back. Second, don’t be in the least concerned about whether you will receive benefits in return for your gifts. Find the sweet spot where you love bestowing blessings for no other reason except this one: You are expressing your gratitude for the miraculous life you have been given.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Do you possess gambits, tactics, and knacks that we might refer to as your “bag of tricks”? I hope so because such an asset will be extra valuable during the coming weeks. You will be wise to employ every cagey move you can imagine and call on every favor that’s owed to you and cash in on every advantage you have accrued. I don’t want you to engage in outright cheating, but I encourage you to use ploys and stratagems that have full integrity. Be on the lookout for secret shortcuts, magic cookies, and wild cards.

What Could Go Wrong?

Frick and Riverview parks in Pittsburgh have a problem: The deer population has grown to the point that the animals are dangerous to themselves and humans, Fox News reported.

“With no natural predators, we are seeing an increase in car-deer collisions, relentless damage to our ecosystem and unnatural aggression toward pets and people,” the city’s website reads. What to do? The city is going to randomly pick 30 archers to participate in “a pilot program with archery-controlled hunts … during the 2023-2024 deer archery season,” the city announced. Hopeful hunters will be part of a lottery system, and final participants must have a clean background check and a deer permit.

In addition, “the selected archers will be required to attend an accuracy test” and will be confined to a specific area of the park to hunt. Those who kill more than two deer in their area will be given preference for subsequent seasons, according to the city. Keep that orange vest handy. [Fox News, 9/5/2023] Least Competent Criminal Nicholas Coffey, 23, couldn’t resist bragging on social media about his “new” Mercedes-Benz on Sept. 2, which made it easier for cops to track him down, Fox News reported. Coffey and an accomplice used the stolen car to break into other vehicles on Deltona, Florida, residential streets during the early morning hours, then stopped at a gas station, where Coffey was captured on surveillance video. Volusia County detectives caught up with him the following morning and arrested him on multiple charges. [Fox News, 9/4/2023]

Clothing Optional The Chicago Park District just couldn’t let the city’s nudists have a little fun on Labor Day. Early that morning, someone posted a sign at Loyola Beach along Lake Michigan declaring “Nude Beach Past This Sign,” WLS-TV reported.

But, Alderman Maria Hadden scolded, the sign was unofficial and “cheeky,” and workers had it removed by that evening. Hadden did share that in 1932, Alderman George A. Williston proposed a resolution to create a nude sunbathing beach in the same location.

Great minds … [WLS, 9/5/2023] Inexplicable Patrick Spina IV, 45, of Absecon, New Jersey, is facing criminal mischief charges after a bizarre series of stunts starting in June, WPVI-TV reported.

After the Quality Inn in Galloway Township was targeted about a dozen times with a bright green dye launched into its outdoor pool by a drone, Sandra Woolston, the general manager, said she “had a meltdown” because the pool was largely unusable. In August, police got a call about a similar incident from a resident who was swimming in his pool when the dye was cast. The sea dye, normally used in search and rescue efforts, is damaging to swimming pools. Police got in touch with the FAA and learned the drone was operated by Spina. Detectives could not supply a motive but said they believed he was “pranking people.”

“He was getting too happy with doing it,” Woolston said. [WPVI, 9/5/2023] Saw That Coming A 20-year-old unnamed Swiss man was taken to the hospital on Aug. 21 after trying not once, but twice, to put his face on the water nozzle at Geneva, Switzerland’s Jet d’Eau, the BBC reported. The attraction projects 110 gallons of water per second, reaching a height of 459 feet.

His first attempt resulted in him being thrown backward; on his second try, he was thrown into the air and landed on a nearby cement walkway. He then dove into Lake Geneva, where officers found him and sought medical care for him.

The company that operates the fountain intends to file a complaint against him for trespassing. [BBC, 8/23/2023] NEWS OF THE WEIRD © 2023 Andrews McMeel Syndication.

Reprinted with permission.

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M E TA P H Y S I C A L C O N N E C T I O N B y E m i l y G u e n t h e r

Embracing Darkness Harness winter’s energy and shed things that weigh you down.

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utumn has always been my favorite time of year. As I grow in my practice, I’ve come to love winter almost as much. I enjoy the darkness, the forced isolation the weather brings.

I look forward to having more free time and fewer responsibilities. I can get back into crafting and meditating — things I think I don’t usually have time for. Winter is not quite here yet, I know. It’s been 80 degrees outside in November, so it’s difficult to believe we are closer to winter than summer. Perhaps the warm fall weather has us craving the cold more.

In Wicca, winter is associated with death. Nature is hibernating, and it can look like the world around us has died.

The trees are the barest of skeletons. The Crone has taken her seat at the cauldron, and it is time for some introspection.

Although I do appreciate the changes winter brings to both myself and my environment (the skies are never as clear as a crisp winter’s night), my fascination with winter has more to do with its association with stillness than anything.

We have passed Samhain, and Thanksgiving is here. Many of us view Samhain as the end of a cycle, and it has become known as the Celtic New Year, which makes this a great time to put things to rest in our lives. Because the weather makes staying home and indoors so appealing, this is when we spend more time alone.

A time when there’s not much else to do but think.

I encourage you all to embrace the coming winter and spend some time with yourself. Be the Hermit from the Tarot; ruminate, re-evaluate, ask yourself the hard questions. How have you grown? Are there areas in your life you’ve been stagnant in? What is important to you? There is a chance that your answer may be different this time from the last time you considered these things. As we grow, our lives change, our priorities change, and we need to be aware of that so we can steer our life in the appropriate direction.

While you’re doing a sort of selfevaluation, you will likely find things you don’t like, or that you know are unhealthy for you. Bring the winter into your thinking. Get rid of those things, bury them. Winter is the season

of the Crone, and although she is wise, she can be harsh and unwavering in her knowledge. These things aren’t always easy, but they are necessary. Pruning helps the plant to be healthy, and we don’t want dead leaves and branches weighing us down.

This time of year is great for introspection and soul-searching but don’t forget to look at your life through the lens of gratitude, too. Every November, we are reminded to be grateful. It is nice to have these reminders, but living or working from a place of gratitude all year long is a good goal to have. Being grateful for what you have can encourage the universe to send you more blessings because you appreciate what it’s given you already. Being grateful can change your outlook and how you handle the hiccups of day-to-day life. It’s like being an energy converter. Sure, you can could be mad that you had a flat tire

PHOTO: AARON BURDEN | UNSPLASH

Winter is a great time for introspection and soul-searching. one morning when you were trying to leave for work. Or you can be grateful that it went flat in the driveway and you didn’t have a blowout or wreck driving.

Sometimes those things that go wrong in our day are protecting us from something worse, we just can’t see it.

As we look toward winter, don’t dread the cold and bleakness. This is a time that can be empowering if you harness winter’s energy. Get to know yourself again, and clean out your metaphorical closet. Actually, go ahead and clean out your bedroom closet, too. It’s a good time to donate unwanted clothing to local shelters or clothes closets that help the needy.

Emily Guenther is a co-owner of The Broom Closet metaphysical shop. She is a Memphis native, professional tarot reader, ordained Pagan clergy, and dog mom.

FOOD By Michael Donahue

Biscuit Fame Is Rising Tamara Taylor strikes gold with her new bakery business.

Tamara Taylor Tam’s Homemade Biscuits is a combination of Taylor’s techniques and the way her relatives made biscuits.

Whether it was biscuits or regular, sweet, or crackling cornbread, bread was ever-present in her family’s household.

“Bread was a highlight of our family,” Taylor says, adding, “On any given day, with the grandparents, kids, parents, you could have any one of the different types of bread.”

She developed her biscuit technique about 30 years ago when her children were growing up. “Salmon and biscuits” was a regular Sunday morning breakfast.

The “love” she puts into making her biscuits is what sets them apart, Taylor says. “If you have a passion for something, you’re going to do your best to make it the best you can make it. I have a passion for feeding people.

“It’s not just the filling of the belly I want. I want to fill the soul. I want you to feel warm when you eat my food.”

As for her biscuits, she says, “My biscuits are dense, but not heavy. You’re

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going to get a wholesome piece of bread. But it’s going to be light, soft, fluffy, and a little flaky. I put a delicious dot of butter on top.”

Instead of posting on social media, Taylor began selling her biscuits through referrals. She’d been baking biscuits for birthdays, graduations, or baby showers for years. “Wherever an event was going on, Tamara would be there fixing somebody some food.”

She also cooked while she and her husband, Terrance, were the owners of T’s Shear Elegance salon for about 20 years.

“I’d be cooking and styling hair. We would serve food in the break room.”

Taylor, who now is on all social media outlets, including tamshomemadebiscuits on Facebook, first went online in 2021.

“Now I make and sell about 1,000 biscuits a week,” she says.

She makes about 10 different types of biscuits in addition to her original biscuits. She bakes dessert biscuits with real fruit, cheese biscuits with different types of cheese, banana nut biscuits, and bourbon butter biscuits with “real bourbon liquor.”

She also makes her own butter creams with fruit, which can be used as a glaze or jam on her biscuits.

Taylor eventually branched off into making soups, including her tomato basil and her chicken Alfredo pot pie soup, aka CAPPS. “We have beef stew, broccoli cheese, potato soup, and ‘All N Broth’ — it’s got all your vegetables. All your peppers, onions, garlic, carrots.”

“Sometimes I do a bone-in broth where I mix a ham bone, chicken, or turkey part in it,” she adds.

Taylor also makes side dishes, including her greens, and desserts, which include peach cobbler and lemon pie, as well as a selection of prepared meals called Tam’s Healthy Habits — portioncontrolled meals on the lighter side.

She currently sells her biscuits and other items every Saturday at the Agricenter Farmers Market. She also sets up the first Saturday of the month at Lightfoot Farm in Millington, Tennessee.

As for future plans, Taylor plans to open a brick-and-mortar cafe, where she can prepare her cuisine and customers can either dine in or get a “Tam’s to go.”

Yes, Taylor will be serving her biscuits at Thanksgiving dinner. And her biscuit dressing will also be on the table. “It’s similar to making a cornbread dressing, but I use my own biscuits in it.”

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

T

amara Taylor’s golden-brown biscuits turned gold in more ways than one. They turned into a lucrative new job when she no longer could operate her hair salon and other businesses.

“I had a bypass in 2019,” says Taylor, owner of Tam’s Homemade Biscuits. “After that, I was really not able to go back to real estate, hair business, and the cosmetology business.”

She had to find another way to make money. “Food stamps ran out. I was in the trenches.” Baking biscuits was a nobrainer. She’d been making biscuits for 45 years with her mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and sisters. “I had different experiences from so many different elders in my family.”

Making biscuits also was therapeutic.

“Rolling up biscuits kind of helped my arms and all.”

19

FILM By Chris McCoy

Turkey Day

Eli Roth’s Thanksgiving carves up a whole lot more than just turkey.

Eli Roth’s Thanksgiving is the bloody horror comedy the holiday deserves.

I

n 2007, Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez were at the top of their game. The two directors had come up from the indie underworld at the same time in the early ’90s. Tarantino’s Kill Bill films were critical and commercial successes, and Rodriguez was doing both mainstream blockbusters with Spy Kids and cutting-edge animation with Sin City.

They teamed up to make a tribute to the shameless, cheap exploitation films of the drive-in era. Grindhouse was a double feature condensed into a single movie by leaving the middle reel out of each film. Rodriguez’s contribution was Planet Terror, a hyper-violent zombie sci-fi flick starring Rose McGowan as a go-go dancer with a machine gun leg; Tarantino’s was Death Proof, a car chase movie starring Kurt Russell as a murderous stuntman driving a sinister black hot rod.

Tarantino and Rodriguez invited their film bro buddies to make trailers for movies that could never get made which ran before and between the two features. Rob Zombie did one for “Werewolf Women of the S.S.”; Edgar Wright did a hilarious

voice-over riff called “Don’t.” But strangely, three of the trailers for films that “could never get made” actually ended up getting made. Rodriguez made “Machete” around legendary Mexican-American stuntman Danny Trejo, and it spawned two successful feature films. (I’m still waiting for Rodriguez to complete the trilogy with Machete in Space.) Then there was the selfexplanatory Hobo with a Shotgun from Canadian filmmaker Jason Eisener, who got his slot in Grindhouse by winning a South by Southwest Film Festival contest.

And now, there’s Thanksgiving by Hostel director Eli Roth.

The original trailer had to be cut down a bit to avoid the entire film being slapped with a NC-17 rating. Roth’s feature just squeaks under the bar for an R rating, but it is every bit as demented and shameless as the trailer. As the name suggests, Roth’s film is smack dab in the middle of the slasher horror tradition of Black Christmas and Halloween. Like John Carpenter, who Roth is clearly channeling here, the jump scares and arterial spray are flying cover for unsparing social satire.

Thanksgiving in Plymouth, Massachusetts, is like Halloween in Salem — the epicenter of holiday vibe. That’s why it feels so off that RightMart owner Thomas Wright (Rick Hoffman) has decided to open his big box store on Thanksgiving, while he enjoys a greeting-card-worthy Thanksgiving dinner with his family.

One of the hallmarks of the grindhouse slasher pics is that almost everyone you

DECEMBER 14

meet is an insufferable jerk, so it’s more satisfying when they inevitably get killed.

Thomas’ daughter Jessica (Nell Verlaque) is the least unsympathetically portrayed character in the film, but still, she’s the one who inadvertently starts a riot on Thanksgiving when she lets her obnoxious friends into the RightMart before it officially opens at 6 p.m.

For Roth, the FightMart riot is his

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T H E L A S T W O R D B y A n n a Tr a v e r s e F o g l e

BDSM 101 And why the kids are all right.

PHOTO: JUSTIN FOX BURKS

THE LAST WORD

Late last week, a series of news alerts broke that centered around a term not often seen in Memphis headlines: BDSM. Specifically, there was a kerfuffle at Rhodes College about the area of erotic expression (BDSM stands for bondage, dominance/discipline, sadism, and/or masochism): A seminar had been planned for students curious to learn more, with guidance from the campus chaplain, Beatrix Weil, who organized the event, and a professional dominatrix.

Information about the scheduled seminar began to circulate in an alumni Facebook group called “Rhodes Alumni for Amy,” assembled in support of ultra-conservative Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett ’94, and elsewhere, and the college quickly canceled the event, noting as their oh-so-convincing reason that it had not been properly sanctioned by the administration. (I am going to hazard a guess that if a knitting circle had not been properly sanctioned, no one would have been made to pack up their yarn.)

I was fortunate to grow up a campus kid at Rhodes, where my mother, the late Dr. Cynthia A. Marshall, was a Shakespeare professor and chair of the English department. Many of my tenderest, most crystalline early memories are of moments at Rhodes: tucking myself into the stone window recesses in the ground floor of what’s now Southwestern Hall; cavorting with dogs and Frisbees on the back forty; acting in tiny, child-sized roles at the black-box McCoy Theatre and feeling very grown-up, indeed; curling up with a book on the floor of my mom’s office, whose windows were just below the giant iron clock ticking away on the granite wall outside.

Beyond the physical spaces, I remember sensing an atmosphere of free discussion in the classroom and beyond — at least, that was the idea. My mother taught Shakespeare, but she taught his plays through lenses of psychoanalytic theory, feminist and queer studies, and a spirit of ongoing reimagination. No question was off the table; no intellectual discussion was off-limits. For her later writings, on the nature of selfhood in Early Modern literature, she read broadly into narratives of martyrs but also of, yes, bondage, sadism, and masochism. On our drives to my high school, we might talk about what tests I had that day — and we might talk about the latest account she had read in John Foxe’s Actes and Monuments (commonly known as Foxe’s Book of Martyrs) or a passage from the Marquis de Sade. She wasn’t giving me an instruction manual, or if she was, the how-to was a lesson in curiosity and rigorous research — together, the essence of liberal arts. Her former students tell me that Coney Barrett took at least one of Mom’s classes, which … makes my head spin.

I imagine my mother, if she were still alive today, at 70, would have been delighted to see a seminar scheduled for students to experience a safe discussion about BDSM. I bet she would have been pleasantly surprised (but definitely surprised) that the campus chaplain organized the event — a breath of fresh air! Pastoral care, indeed! But I am quite certain she would be gobsmacked to learn that a faction of alumni malcontents successfully stifled the conversation. What precedent does it set if students — all of them young adults, emphasis on adults — cannot gather in a safe and respectful setting to learn about and discuss a valid, common element of sexuality?

Yes, the social-media graphic announcing the event appeared intentionally provocative: “BDSM 101” does, indeed, sound like a practical introduction to kink. But — so what? Not only is that not what was planned for the event, had it been what was planned, I still fail to see cause for outrage. In an age when college campuses are reckoning with rampant sexual assault and striving to educate students about the importance of consent, surely providing language and context for safe, healthy sexual practices — BDSM or otherwise — can only help. Also — and this cannot be overstated — the event was voluntary; no one was mandated to sit through a BDSM seminar who didn’t want to sit through a BDSM seminar.

One of the knocks on Gen Z is that they are too fragile, too coddled, made too immune from reality by trigger warnings and so on. In my experience, that’s garbage. From conversations I have had with contacts at Rhodes, the seminar was organized because students asked. Rev. Weil teaches a first-year seminar that touched on the topic, but in a smaller setting; many more people were curious, and thus the event was born.

I try to imagine myself at age 19 or 21 being bold enough to ask for … anything — of a romantic partner, of a professor, of anyone. I didn’t know how to do that yet, and wouldn’t for many years more. College students who learn to be clearer advocates for themselves, their needs, and their desires will be better equipped to leave campus more confident in every area of their lives.

Anna Traverse Fogle is CEO of Contemporary Media, Inc., parent company of the Memphis Flyer.

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

Anna Traverse Fogle

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