Memphis magazine, April 2016 by Contemporary Media

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

TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE!

THE CITY MAGAZINE

VOL XLI NO 1 | APRIL 2016

! e ’ n v i i l y a t A S since

1976

USA $4.99

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T HE CI T Y M A G A Z INE—SINCE 1976

VOL XLI NO 1 | APRIL 2016

on the cover Robert Raiford

PHOTOGRAPH BY BRANDON DILL

14 in the beginning 16 fine print 18 city journal 20 wayfinding 22 out and about

Features

26 The Dead Publications Society A posthumous review of local magazines that are no longer with us.

~ by eileen townsend

34 great homes Ikebana!

Berte Sharpe and Patti Lechman open their home for the first-ever Japanese Gardens of Memphis tour.

~ by anne cunningham o’neill Memphis (ISSN 1622-820x) is published monthly for $15 per year by Contemporary Media, Inc., 460 Tennessee Street, P.O. Box 1738, Memphis, TN 38101 © 2016. Telephone: 901-521-9000. For subscription info, please call 901-521-9000. Subscription customer service mailing address is Memphis magazine, P.O. Box 1738, Memphis, TN 38101. All rights reserved. • Periodicals Postage Paid at Memphis, TN. Postmasters: send address changes to Memphis, P.O. Box 1738, Memphis, TN 38101.

118

40 Up Front

Columns/Departments 110 ask vance

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

114 books

Forty Books That Don’t Bluff Titles with a Memphis connection. ~ by richard j. alley

40 Disco Grandfather

After 40 years, the beat goes on at Raiford’s.

~ by shara clark

55 40 Favorite Covers & 40 Game-Changers A look back at four decades of issues and events.

76 E.H. Crump

The making of a boss. ~ by kenneth neill

95 retirement living Country Living

The Village at Germantown offers all the charm and amenities of a private resort. ~ by anne cunningham o’neill

118 dining out

Play It Again For almost 40 years, Folk’s Folly has turned prime-cut steaks into a Memphis celebration. ~ by pamela denney

120 c ity dining

Tidbits: Buntyn Corner Cafe; plus the city’s most extensive dining listings.

128 last stand

Halfway to 40 (and Then Some) Reflections on two decades as Memphis magazine’s managing editor. ~ by frank murtaugh APRIL 20 16 • MEMPHISMAGA ZINE.COM • 7

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

you make our work possible. After 28 years,

2015City Guide THE CITY MAGAZINE

VOL XL NO 5 | AUGUST 2015

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CIT Y GUIDE The most comprehensive guide to living in the Memphis area. Plus: the annual “Who’s Who” listing.

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901-272-7170 | churchhealthcenter.org For more information on advertising or our upcoming special sections, please contact Margie Neal at margie@memphismagazine.com 8 •MemphisMag_12.11.15.indd M E M P H I S M A G A Z I N E .1C O M • A P R I L 2 0 1 6

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Memphis T H E CIT Y M AG AZIN E

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

PUBLISHER/EDITOR kenneth neill EXECUTIVE EDITOR michael finger MANAGING EDITOR frank murtaugh ARTS & LIFESTYLE EDITOR anne cunningham o’neill FASHION EDITOR augusta campbell FOOD EDITOR pamela denney ASSOCIATE EDITORS shara clark, eileen townsend CONTRIBUTING EDITORS richard j. alley,

jackson baker, john branston, chris davis, tom jones, vance lauderdale EDITORIAL INTERN sam cicci

CREATIVE DIRECTOR brian groppe PRODUCTION OPERATIONS DIRECTOR margie neal ADVERTISING ART DIRECTOR christopher myers GRAPHIC DESIGNERS dominique pere, bryan rollins PHOTOGRAPHY justin fox burks, larry kuzniewski,

andrea zucker

SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES joy bateman,

shaina guttman, sloane patteson taylor ADVERTISING ASSISTANT cristina mccarter

published by contemporary media, inc. 460 tennessee street, memphis, tn 38103

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EDITORIAL DIRECTOR bruce vanwyngarden DIGITAL MANAGER kevin lipe DISTRIBUTION MANAGER lynn sparagowski EVENTS MANAGER jackie sparks-davila MARKETING/COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER kendrea collins EMAIL MARKETING MANAGER britt ervin IT DIRECTOR joseph carey OFFICE MANAGER celeste dixon

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n case you haven’t seen, our website (memphismagazine.com) has an all-new look — designed to look great on any device and make it easier to find great articles from the Memphis staff. The redesign was a long time coming, and we’re quite proud of it. We’ll be able to present more long-form web features, and our new site allows us to better showcase the photography that has made Memphis magazine such a visual treat over the last 40 years. The new Memphis site is really a platform to enable us to keep doing the good work you expect from us, and present it to you online in a way that’s just as beautiful as our print edition (and, after all, we still like print). The site is fully responsive — meaning no more separate mobile site — and its sections now feature a blend of print and web-only content, so there’s always something fresh on the home page.

W H AT ’S ON T HE W EBSIT E RIGH T NOW ? JULIE R AY ’s weekly “Things To Do This Weekend” guides SH A R A CL A RK ’s thoughts on the return of the Time Warp Drive-In CHRIS DAV IS ’ Q&A with Memphis Symphony Orchestra conductor Robert Moody S A MUEL CICCI ’s roundup of local events celebrating Shakespeare’s 400th anniversary . . . and lots more! 12 • M E M P H I S M A G A Z I N E . C O M • A P R I L 2 0 1 6

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IN THE BEGINNING | by bob towery

Older Than My Teeth One man’s view of the mess he started.

appy Fortieth Birthday, Memphis magazine? I don’t really think I’ve known anyone who was happy to see that mark reached. Even as I approach, personally, my seventieth year, the weight of youth-spent is not as heavy, it seems, as when I first put my foot on that initial rung of middle-agedness. I do recall it as the time when I began finally to think of myself as an adult — even if my bankers were still in doubt.

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So, the question occurs to me: Has MemIt may have been the pure weight of the phis magazine finally grown up? I certainly paper it took to print them that caused the hope not. articles we ran to win more journalism awards To be fair, the publication has always than any other city magazine in the country strived to exhibit mature taste, to serve up a during its first decade. Whatever may be said cultivated atmosphere, like the best movies about the current state of the editorial arts, of the black-and-white era. But our original they’ve certainly been on a diet. Long-winded we may have idea was that the magazine’s been, but I still insist that the persona should be more William Powell than Orson Wells. arguments were never bloatDon’t get those referenced. The remarkable folks who es? Did I mention that I am staffed the magazine during almost seventy? So in any its first decade believed in the number of important ways, full exploration of every side it is difficult for me to gauge of an issue, eschewing advothe current state of Memphis. cacy journalism in favor of I do know that forty is a ripe allowing the facts to prevail. old age for any magazine, the And what a collection of talent it was, almost to a person species in general enduring more in dog-years than hurising to the top reaches of man ones. Not to mention that their respective professions. most print media has been on I’m fortunate in numbering life-support for a decade now. them all as friends to this day. Bob Towery, April 1981 It’s heartening to see Memphis Today’s Memphis is more not only surviving, but prevailing against the succinct, demonstrating distinctly adult winds of change. restraint. And a more carefully focused eye But change it has. on the appetites of its audience. Back in the In 1976, we launched City of Memphis mag- day, in addition to the laurels we accumulatazine as a children’s crusade. I mean, we ed for journalistic excellence, we also won were all so young that we were certain we more National Society of Illustrator awards knew what was best. What was right. And than any of our peers. Thumbing through since there were so few voices competing for those issues recently, I wonder at that. Comattention in the community, almost no one pared to the gracefully designed pages of even contested our assertions. Altogether, a current copies of the magazine, our efforts simpler time. seem distinctly dated. I’m certain that if I The list of windmills at which we tilted re-read some of our “high-styled” content, was long. As were the tomes we directed at I’d feel the same way about it. them. Somehow, back in 1970s, a 10,000-word Nevertheless, there was a fire and energy article about the waste-water treatment “cri- to the publication at that time attributable sis” seemed reasonable. (I don’t recall when largely to youth. My message to the staff of that article actually ran or how long it really Memphis today is just this: You may be turning was, but to say that it was exhaustive of the forty, but don’t ever grow up. fundamental subject is an understatement.) We couldn’t even put our foot down on the Bob Towery is the founder of Memphis magaside of preserving Overton Park in anything zine, and was its publisher from 1976 to 1986. He under 1,800 words. And our first survey of the still resides in Memphis, where he devotes much of barbecue restaurants in the city ran for ump- his energy these days to racing cars, his other great passion besides journalism. teen pages in what I recall as 4-point type.

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FINE PRINT

False Alarm Eight not-so-great ideas that should never have left the drawing board.

by john branston ELVIS ON BEALE. Two legendary names that simply could not make it work together. There was a restaurant on the corner of Beale and Second off and on for a decade from 1997 to 2010, but Graceland is, was, and will always be the place where true believers go for their Elvis fix. POWER COUPLES. In the 1970s and 1980s, there were the Vander Schaafs (Pat and Claire) on the Memphis City Council and Shelby County Commission. In the 1990s, Dean

They were the bungee jumps and fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches of our time.

They seemed like good ideas at the time, or at least some of them anyway, but they were the bungee jumps and fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches of our time. Those of us who have lived in Memphis a long time and worked in the sweatshops of journalism remember far too many of them far too clearly for our own good. Here are just eight of them. RIP. ALTERNATIVE FOOTBALL. Never have so many big names achieved so little: Reggie White, Herschel Walker, Steve Young,

Billy Dunavant, Fred Smith, Pepper Rodgers, and a guy from New York named Trump — all bright lights of the short-lived USFL, the United States Football League, the league that played in the spring. Memphis was a veteran of such experiments, having joined the World Football League a decade earlier. And when the USFL folded, Memphis would take a shot at the Canadian Football League, the Arena Football League, and the league with the guy nicknamed “He Hate Me,” whose name I forget. Thankfully.

and Kristi Jernigan were the driving force behind AutoZone Park and the riverfront development. More recently, A C Wharton and his wife, attorney Ruby Wharton, were a prominent pair. But divorce, disappearance, and political defeat did a number on the power couples Can anybody name two today? PEABODY PLACE. Remember Isaac Hayes’ club? Cosmic bowling? Jillian’s? The 22-screen Muvico movie theater? Tower Records? The indoor mall? The game room? All of those gimmicks were so “now” in 2001, and all so “then” now. MAIN STREET SWEEPER. If you remember this follow-up to Operation Tennessee Waltz, the federal investigation of political corruption, you are probably in the news business. The Sweeper

failed to convict Edmund Ford and investigated Willie Herenton but did not indict him. ANNOUNCED ATTENDANCE. Faking attendance does not pay off in the long run, as the University of Memphis learned this year. Thanks to a complicit media, the Memphis Redbirds and the Tiger football and basketball teams got away with all sorts of gimmicks to boost “attendance” for years until this season’s empty seats at FedExForum became impossible to ignore. SCHOOL BUSING. In 1976, three years after busing had begun, there were still more than 40,000 white students in the Memphis City Schools. Today there are about half that many in the combined Shelby County and (former) Memphis school system. Optional schools, magnet schools, suburban schools, charter schools, performing arts schools — nothing really worked. More than 80 percent of the minority students in the Shelby County system attend a school that is 90 percent or more minority. ANNEXATION. The hostile takeover of the suburbs, never popular after white f light began in earnest in the Seventies, ran off the rails ten years ago when Memphis tried to take in South Cordova, Southwind, and Windyke. Then-mayor Herenton opposed it, the City Council backed down, and the annexes found some tough lawyers to delay it and, as now appears likely, defeat it.

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lsewhere in this magazine you will find a most excellent list of 40 events, people, and ideas that have had a lasting impact upon Memphis since 1976. But for every true game changer, there are dozens of fakes, false alarms, wannabes, near misses, and bright ideas that turned out to be every bit as crazy as skeptics thought they were.

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CITY JOURNAL

The Art of the Steal

Almost 30 years before Donald Trump became a force in the 2016 Presidential campaign, 2,500 Memphians lost their jobs because of him.

by tom jones

or them, this was no realit y television program. There was only reality itself, as Donald Trump’s stock machinations forced the sale of Holiday Inns in 1988, and Memphis’ once-shining example of American ingenuity became a British company whose U.S. regional office was in Atlanta.

While Holiday Inns is regularly cited as proof of how Memphis innovators like Kemmons Wilson changed American culture, Trump’s role in its demise is largely forgotten. The stock frenzy that he triggered when he bought about 5 percent of Holiday Inn’s stock in 1986 paid off big-time for the Donald. He made $32 million, almost the amount of the annual payroll — $40 million — that evaporated from the Memphis economy as a result. In classic Trump fashion, he also was motivated by an opportunity to show up someone he didn’t like — in this case, highly respected Holiday Corporation CEO Mike Rose — and to show he was all about the “art of the deal,” the title of his boastful memoir published a year before the Holiday Inn sale. “Trump had to have his name on everything … his ego simply requires him to be No. 1 or he can’t stand it,” Rose said in 1991 to Susan Adler Thorp, then a business writer for The Commercial Appeal and today a communications consultant and political commentator on WREG’s Informed Sources. The newspaper’s six-part series, the culmination of a seven-month investigation, was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. A highlight of her legwork was a 90-minute interview that Thorp and co-writer Ted Evanoff (now the business editor for The CA) had with Trump in early 1991 on the 26th floor of Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue in New York City. A social acquaintance of Thorp’s had set up the interview.

“We were called into the boardroom, and it was the most beautiful view of Central Park anyone could imagine,” Thorp remembers today. “There was a large model of an airplane at the window. My friend came in

“Trump had nothing but a careless disregard for all the people who lost their jobs at what was an American icon, not just a Memphis icon.” — Susan Adler Thorp first, and then Trump came in. He had on a blue sharkskin suit and he had the same strange hairdo that he has today. He was cordial and answered all of our questions. He was very helpful, but I do remember he was full of himself. He sucked all the air out of the room, and he let us know how important he was. He clearly thought there was a bunch of buffoons at Holiday Corporation who didn’t see what the real value of the stock was.” Trump’s strategy was the result of his earlier business dealings with Holiday Corporation in Atlantic City. The Memphis-based company had built a casino, but it needed land for a parking garage and the only available land was owned by Trump. “They entered into an unholy alliance,” says Thorp. “They couldn’t stand each other.” She wrote that, as a result of the deal, “Trump came away with intimate knowledge of Holiday, and a view that the company’s parts were worth three times the whole.”

Trump had discovered that the true value of Holiday Corporation was in real estate, so he started buying up stock. Holiday officials one day “woke up to learn that he owned 5 percent of their stock,” she recalls. “What struck me was that by buying up the stock and forcing the sale, he had nothing but a careless disregard for all the people who lost their jobs at what was an American icon, not just a Memphis icon. He didn’t care. He was simply a ruthless businessman.” To avoid a takeover attempt by Trump, Holiday Corporation m a n a g ement h a d borrowed heavily to make lump-sum payments to shareholders and ultimately engineered the sale of the company in 1988 to the English brewery, Bass PLC. To reduce its debt, Holiday then sold much of the company’s real estate in a move that mirrored Trump’s intentions. Thorp wrote in 1991: “Holiday could market a brand name; Trump could admire his.” As for Trump, it was characteristically all about a deal. “I don’t think I had any great intentions for the company,” he told Thorp at the time. “I made this deal. It was a very unfriendly deal.” Friendly or not, Trump’s stock manipulations netted him $32 million. By the time the smoke cleared, this once-proud chapter in Memphis’ legendary entrepreneurial history had come to an end, and Holiday Corporation employees were told the grim news that most of their jobs were gone. The few remaining would move to Atlanta. In last month’s Tennessee

Republican primary, Trump received the most Republican votes in Shelby County. It’s a safe bet there weren’t many former Holiday Inn employees among them.

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WAY F I N DI NG |

“MELROSE & V IN TON” — BY DOLPH SMITH

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Q&A: Dolph Smith with eileen townsend

olph Smith is a longtime educator, painter, and bookmaker from Memphis. He taught for many years at Memphis College of Art and now lives in Ripley, Tennessee, where he calls his home Tennarkippi.

MM: Can you tell us about this piece? Dolph Smith: Do you have room for 30 years of memories of that corner in the heart of Midtown? We lived at 1458 Vinton. My wife, Jessie, and I moved there in 1965. We were the first family there with young kids. We hadn’t lived there for long when, one day, I was watching the kids while Jes was out on an errand. I got involved in the studio and time slipped away. Jessie returns and finds no boys, and me wondering where the boys were. Well, they were nowhere to be found! I went to the front porch and checked the street. Here they came. Almost dancing, full of themselves. As it turned out, they had found a box with their Halloween costumes. Now this was August, but no matter, they had been “trick or treating.” They came in with all sorts of goodies. Well, days go by and we begin to meet the neighbors. First words out of the neighbors’ mouths? “Hello, nice to meet you, we have already met your boys ... and your dog!” The neighborhood was so open and welcoming. They did not run the kids away. They spent some effort finding treats for these newcomers. We knew from that afternoon that we were in a special place. Can I tell one more? A few years went by. We were resting in the front room and heard a mild commotion outside. We looked and there was a young couple with an older man gazing at the house. He began to point. We were puzzled, of course. The young couple then knocked on the door, and, when we answered, they explained they were taking their Dad back through the places where he had made his career moves. It turns out that my studio had been the older man’s tiny office at the beginning of his medical practice. Of course, we invited them in. We began to lead him through the house and into his former clinic. We chatted and then our son Tim remembered something that we had found in the attic when we moved in. He ran and fetched it and brought it to the doctor saying,

“This is something you should have!” It was his shingle the doctor had over the door. He turned it around and looked down. It was a moving moment and we all let the tears roll. When we took him to the dining room, he looked around and said, “We used to have dances in this room. Yes, I remember a band group. Played over in that corner. I think the name was Handy.” A pause. Then one of us found our voice and and asked, “Was it W.C.?” “Yes, yes, that was it!” Another walk back through history. We were dazed. So for Christmas that year, I had a small bronze plate made for Jessie. It said: THE W.C. HANDY MEMORIAL BALLROOM. It still hangs in that room. You’ve lived in and around Memphis for a long time — how does your work relate (or not) to this region? Memphis and the environs were the only places I ever went to paint and draw inspiration. For 30 years from my studio window I could see a corner of the Methodist Hospital where I was born. My kids would tease me so! “Dad, you sure haven’t come very far in life!” Since I haven’t come very far, I began years ago to create a mythological region I call Tennarkippi. It is an apolitical partisan community. Upbeat and a bit loony. It is my version of the Mid-South. ... and I can go as far as my imagination can take me. Tennarkippi has somehow allowed me to scratch my wannabe itch to narrate ... to tell stories. One of the joys in what I do is to make up titles for my work. There were times when I would have a title that was in need of a painting! For example, I always saw our regional landscape, with great fields of Johnson grass, as an inland sea. The wind blowing causing rolling waves. The shacks and barns were ships at sea. A shack tossed about at the top of a hill: Pull Of The Briny Deep.

A barn toiling through a low trough in the field: All The Ships At Sea. Yes, it is all about this region, and all about memory. What do you have coming up? I have curated an exhibition which will be opening at Askew Nixon Ferguson on April 8th. It is in honor of a collection of artists/friends who have been profound partners in seeing to the execution of the three public commissions I have had over the years. They are Tom Lee, Don DuMont, Bill Price, and Adam Hawk from Memphis College of Art, and Jim Masterson and Jeannie Saltmarsh from the National Ornamental Metal Museum. Between them they saw me through the accomplishment of “Confluence”

at the Cannon Center, and two pieces at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, The Le Bonheur Story: A History Written In Steel and Lift. For the show, I am doing a series of books and sculptures on Tennarkippi theme. There will be The Detritus Tower In Tennarkippi and The Tennarkippi Retirement Home For Ladders ... as well as a post office and a savings and loan bank and more thoughts stirring in my feeble mind. (I often told my students, “It is better to think than to know; knowledge can get in the way.”) One more thing: There won’t be people in the images. I never used people in my work. I wanted the viewer to wonder what was happening to them rather than what the folks were doing in the piece.

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OU T A ND A BOU T |

4.2016 | compiled by eileen townsend

Overton Square Crawﬁsh Festival

4.9

Overton Square Crawﬁsh Festival

he best time to eat boiled crawfish and cajun-style sides is at the Overton Square Crawfish Festival, a celebration of local culture and Southern cooking. A Memphis institution, the outdoor festival features a variety of crawfish available from many vendors. In addition to thousands of pounds of crawfish, the festival features live music and arts and crafts for sale. Overton Square, Cooper at Madison, overtonsquarecrawﬁshfestival.com

4.1 - 10

Midtown Opera Festival

Opera Memphis’ fourth Midtown Opera Festival takes place over ten days at Midtown’s Playhouse on the Square. The festival features two chamber operas, family programming, jazz, and a variety of musical evening events. The 2016 featured operas are Peter Brook’s The Tragedy of Carmen and Maurice Ravel’s L’Heure espagnole. Playhouse on the Square, 66 S. Cooper, operamemphis.org

4.8

Mississippi RiverKings vs. Pensacola Ice Flyers

The Mississippi RiverKings, member of the Southern Professional Hockey League, are in their 23rd season of operation. Join them in Southaven as they face off against Florida’s Pensacola Ice Flyers. Landers Center, 4560 Venture, Southaven, MS, riverkings.com

4.8 - 9

Gandhi-King Conference

The Gandhi-King Conference is an annual two-day conference that draws together modern visionaries of nonviolence and social change with community leaders, activists, academics,

4.9

Black Violin

and organizers to train, learn, plan, and organize to create a culture of liberation and justice for all. The goal is to create a stimulating environment where community members can build and explore interconnections. University of Memphis, University Center, 499 University, midsouthpeace.org

Wil B and Kev Marcus hail from South Florida, where they honed the groundbreaking collaboration that has brought their music to everybody from the troops in Iraq to both the ofﬁcial President’s Inaugural Ball and the Kids Inaugural in Washington, DC. The Orpheum Theatre, 203 South Main, orpheummemphis.com

4.8 - 24

Compleat Wrks of Wllm Shkspr (Abridged)

The Compleat Wrks of Wllm Shkspr (Abridged) is a play that parodies the canonical (and much revisited) plays of William Shakespeare. The twist is that, in this retelling, the classics are shortened and performed by only three actors. Drama nerds and theatre freshman alike will appreciate this comedy. Theatre Memphis, 630 Perkins Extended, theatrememphis.org

4.13 - 17

Africa in April

An annual Memphis cultural staple, Africa in April is a family-friendly spring celebration that showcases the music, traditions, and arts and crafts of the African Diaspora. Each year, the festival focuses on a different country in Africa and offers themed activities, live music, native cuisine and authentic goods. This year the festival honors the Republic of Tanzania. Beale Street & Robert R. Church Park, africainapril.org

4.15 - 17 4.9

Memphis Grizzlies vs. Golden State Warriors The Grizzlies last home game of the regular season sees them taking on the historically great Golden State Warriors in a rematch of last year’s Western Conference Semiﬁnals. The injured Marc Gasol won’t be there, but you should. FedExForum, 191 Beale, fedexforum.com

2016 Memphis Flower Show

Enjoy the Dixon Gardens while broadening your horticultural knowledge

in this celebration of all things ﬂoral. Master gardeners will be familiar with the Dixon’s annual event honoring ﬂoral design, conservation, photography, and other related areas. Dixon Gallery and Gardens, 4339 Park, dixon.org

4.16

Memphis Brewfest

Memphians know: Our city is emerging as a great beer town. Memphis BrewFest highlights quality beers from the MidSouth and beyond. Set near the Mighty Mississippi, the festival features a wide variety of American craft beers as well as exotic international brews. memphisbrewfest.com

2016 Memphis Flower Show at the Dixon Gardens

4.16

Pilobus

Since the early 1970s, this avant-garde dance company has built a devoted national and international following by exploring the breadth of

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Philobus at GPAC

contin u ed from page 22

Hunt Phelan

E D D I N G S

A N D

V E N T S

the human body, and expounding its potential to be the most expressive and universal of media. Germantown Performing Arts Center, 1801 Exeter, Germantown, TN, gpacweb.com

from five surrounding states. This year they have around 400 booths available. Cook Convention Center, 255 North Main Street, gift2jewelry.com

4.16

4.23

Duets for Mellotron

This live performance by local favorites Jonathan Kirkscey and Robby Grant is organized in collaboration with photographer Winston Eggleston. This unique performance experience, the world’s first Mellotron duet, features an obscure but ingenious keyboard instrument invented in the 1940s which was designed to reproduce the sound of virtually any acoustic, electromechanical, or synthesized instruments. Crosstown Arts, 430 North Cleveland, crosstownarts.org

4.22 -24 Ceremony & Reception Location: Hunt Phelan, Photographer: Phillip Van Zandt Photography, Catering: Montfort Catering, Coordinator: Inﬁnity Events, Florist: Holidays

533 BEALE STREET, MEMPHIS, TN 38103 (901) 786-8801 HUNTPHELAN.COM

Memphis Gift and Jewelry Show

This quarterly gift and jewelry show made its debut in 1974 and has since become a mainstay for wholesale buyers from this region. This market attracts 10,000 buyers

Relay For Life

Join local volunteers and participants from the community and celebrate cancer survivors, remember those lost to the disease, and take action to save more lives from cancer. Liberty Bowl Stadium, 335 South Hollywood, facebook.com/ RFLofMemphis

4.28

Brooks Outside

This multi-platform, event consists of an ongoing series of outdoor contemporary art installations that, depending on the project, promise to bring new life to the historic museum and surrounding Overton Park. These temporary installations, many of which have yet to be announced, are intended to help the community re-envision the role art plays in the city. Brooks Museum of Art, 1934 Poplar, brooksmuseum.org

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What’s Haute Central BBQ was voted “Best Barbecue Sandwich” in Memphis magazine’s 2016 restaurant poll. Visit Central BBQ for competition-style ribs and BBQ. 4375 Summer Ave., 901.767.4672; 2249 Central Ave., 901.272.9377; 147 Butler Ave., 901.672.7760.

Baskin-Robbins warm cookies, cool ice cream. Choose any combination of warmed-to-order cookies, your favorite ice cream flavor and toppings. We’ll create the ultimate warm cookie ice cream sandwich or sundae. Yum! baskinrobbins.com.

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HUMPT Y DUMPT Y ILLUSTRATION BY TIM GABOR

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p P

A posthumous review of local magazines that are no longer with us. #43

by e i l e e n t o w n s e n d eople who care about magazines know that the odds are stacked against them. To love magazines is to be always aware of the bottom of the recycling bin — to accept that your grand contribution to arts and letters will someday end up as pulp or packing material, or the basis of some kid’s collage art, and to know that that is just the natural order. Here at Memphis magazine, after 40 years in the trenches, we feel lucky for our time on newsstands and in mailboxes around the city. But we never forget that our longevity is an anomaly in an industry whose products may be designed to last forever, but rarely do. There’s nothing like browsing through an archive of lost periodicals to give a magazine junkie a weird kind of high. Magazine back issues are unique sources of local history because they earmark the kind of cultural ephemera deemed too low-brow for books and too extraneous for print dailies. Where else can you find snarky reviews of mid-nineties TV shows written by college students than a publication like Whut! Magazine? Or delve into a full-color examination of the great Mid-Southern homes of the 1960s, if it wasn’t for the Delta Review? We examined a random cross-section of the good and the bad of dissolved periodicals as an exercise both in memory and in caution. We know it is bad form to speak ill of the dead, especially if the deceased in question are failed print magazines and you happen to be a magazine writer in a period of time frequently decried as the end of print journalism. But we did it because — however we might make fun of them — we love old magazines. The eight magazines posthumously reviewed here are only a small sample of the monthlies and quarterlies that have, at one time or another, populated Memphis newsstands: among them, magazines for teens, for women, for the rich, for the literary, for people in bars, for musicians, for indie musicians, for black students, for Midtowners, for people who love weekends, for artists, for writers, for homeowners and home-owning hopefuls … the list goes on. We only hope we will, too.

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Skirt! Magazine

was a Memphis and DeSoto County monthly that published exclusively essays by women writers, both locally and nationally sourced. It intended to be “all about women ... their work, play, families, creativity, style, health and wealth, bodies and souls,” but at face value the tabloid is all curly fonts and clipart margarita glasses. Somewhere between the bath-candle-endorsed, boutique grrrlpower of the early aughts and the corporate feminism of Sheryl Sandberg’s Lean In, the art direction of Skirt! finds itself: colorfully inscribed and bubbly, (to borrow from text on the issue’s cover) “a stargazer lily with sky-high dreams.” We live in a golden age for the exclamation point. American English, already shot through with saleable booster-isms like “really,” “very,” “great,” “wow,” and “super,” is primed for our heavy-handed use of the exclamation point. Even utilitarian nouns like “skirt” (formerly a clothing item without leg-dividing fabric parts) can become “Skirt!” (which I think translates roughly to “Holy Skirt, Batman! It’s Ladies!”) and go on to title a Mid-Southern periodical. Editorially, we get slightly more grit. The issue kicks off with an essay by a waitress/editor about a helpful friendship she developed with a coworker. It then segues into a piece called “Citizen Mom” about a new mother who took a war zone reporting gig, written by a Peabody Award-winning journalist named Kim Lute. There is also a section called “Women to Watch” that highlights successful professionals, an essay on the community of folk concerts, a shopping guide, a book guide, a travel guide, and an inspirational comic. Closing the magazine is a featurette called “Skirt!alerts” that flags human-rights stories from around the world. If the personal essays in Skirt! can be a little windswept, well, most reporting is on the dour side. Perhaps it’s ipso-facto.

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Eye Magazine

— October 1996

n October 1996, the arts and culture journal EYE Magazine ran as its cover story a fashion spread dubbed “Vampire Fashion,” and for this we have to give it its due. The vampiric stylings are presented snapshot-style in an eight-page spread, accompanied by little epistolary descriptions such as, “October 3 — My name is Cloe. I am over 200 years old. I was brought over in Paris, now Ripley and I

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Bob McBride knows that business is personal. He had relationships with other banks in the past, but needed a financial partner that approached customers the way he did – by getting to know them. As his business grew, Bob went from being a customer to being part of the family. See Bob’s story at my.triumphbank.com

The My Triumph campaign exists to spotlight everyday people fulfilling their dreams. These are our customers, and these are their stories of triumph. What’s your triumph?

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STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE SINCE 1950 Memphis Magazine’s

THE 2016

FACE OF

ORIENTAL RUGS

hunt here.” The models, who, to their credit, manage to look mostly serious and dead, are decked out in darker selections from the highend boutique James Davis. One photo credit reads: “Castle courtesy of Prince Mongo.” The takeaway here: In the mid-nineties, it was sexy to be a vampire, even achievable, so long as you had a loaner castle from Prince Mongo. Otherwise, EYE trafficked in media criticism, pulpy photo essays, and Q & A’s. The treasures in the October 1996 issue include an interview by author Robert Gordon with late bluesman B.B. King, a photo essay from Reverend Al Green’s church, and a coffee bar guide that will make you pause over the dustto-dust nature of human achievement. There’s even a screed on the current state of the media, interest rates, and politics from a cranky publicist. “We spend too much time trying to soak in as much information as possible and not enough time living,” writes the publicist. Word to that. Grade: B+ for vampires

Memphis Star: The Voice of Memphis Music — March 1987

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ver 500 Live Entertainment Listings!” boasts the cover of Memphis Star, Memphis’ late but great “Most Complete Monthly Guide To Music And Entertainment.” The jam-packed, newsy magazine — a compendium of music charts, studio news, obituaries, and mini-profiles — has no heir in the Memphis publishing scene, although the Memphis Flyer covers music extensively online and in print. The Star’s demise is what insurers would call a total loss. Features like “Joe Walsh: The Mort Sahl of Rock-nRoll,” by Susan Hopper, which appeared in the March 1987 issue, have simply disappeared into the open maw of time. (Quotes from Joe Walsh, drawn from the article: “The highpoint of being with the Eagles was probably that ‘Hotel California’ would affect so many people on the planet”; and, “I don’t want to be any more famous.” Got it, Joe Walsh.) Also all-but-forgotten is the magazine’s interview with Raffi, the superstar of late-eighties children’s music, and a fashion feature that promoted a “stand-by button-down shirt, electrified in gold lame.” The only aspect of Memphis Star that seems to have survived the years are the prominently placed ads for Wizards, still available in certain newspapers in Memphis, which then advertised not only “Contemporary Smoking & Snuff Accessories” but also “hard to find Gentleman’s accessories” including “walking sticks, panama hats, flasks, umbrellas, and shaving kits.” Otherwise, many of the advertisers, from recording studios to record shops, have gone out the way the Star did — at the hands of the cheap, the digital, and the inadequate. Grade: B+ for “Hotel California”

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ANN TAYLOR ANTHROPOLOGIE APPLE STORE BANANA REPUBLIC BRIGHTON BROOKS BROTHERS CHICO’S FRANCESCA’S FREE PEOPLE GRIMALDI’S PIZZERIA OPENS SUMMER 2016 GYMBOREE INDIGO J.CREW J. JILL JANIE AND JACK KENDRA SCOTT LILY RAIN OPENS SUMMER 2016 LOFT LUCKY BRAND JEANS MADEWELL MARMI SHOES MICHAEL KORS

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discover the new you Reed Family Dentistry is not here to judge your past. We want to focus on today, and what we can do to help prevent future dental health problems. Working together, we would like to help you discover the new you, and help lead you on a path to good dental health. At Reed Family Dentistry, we treat people, not just teeth. To start a relationship that will have you on your way to insuring your long-term dental health, give us a call today.

Gamut: the arts and culture of memphis - September 2002

amut was glossy, worthwhile, full-color, and therefore doomed before it even began. A mnemonic couplet for arts and culture magazine publishers everywhere: “Aim high, you die. Aim low, you flow.” Or something. Gamut is dead. Long live Gamut. Gamut was a product of the early-2000s, and a testament to the fact that print media was in better shape than it would be a half-decade later. Most creative types back then concerned themselves with (to quote a Gamut article about Midtown’s late Media Co-op) sitting around “in a church basement with free coffee and fifteen or so people that looked so different from one another that there is no way they could be gathered in the same place unless this was some sort of support group.” In other words, we were optimistic. One article from the September 2002 issue, titled “Time for a Revolution,” bemoans the fact that young artists move away from Memphis and proposes something called “Tha Movement” as a potential solution. “There may still be hope for the creative minds of the city,” the writer maintains. Perhaps hope for the creative minds, but sadly not for a local arts journal as nice as Gamut. Grade: A for glossy photos

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race was a magazine written for and by black professional women in the Mid-South. Its inaugural issue (March 1997), includes a symposium from female business leaders, a zodiac column, an essay dubbed, “Putting Heart and Soul into Your Relationship,” memos on health and beauty, a retrospective on Memphis radio station WDIA, and boutique fashion. All-inall, Grace was a well-balanced, even-keeled publication: Fun without seeming too trendy, serious without being too newsy … and it had a zodiac column written by Thelma Balfour, probably the most grounded astrologer ever to publish in Memphis. (“Chill out,” writes Balfour, “and enjoy astrology for what it is, an exercise in fun!”) Also an enjoyable read, for the fan of 1997: A column, “Are You Ready To Surf the Net?” reasoned that, while “many Americans have overcome their fears about using PCs, they are still dubious about the internet.” Grade: A for grounded astrology

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— March 1997

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IKEBANA! BE RT SHARPE AND PAT TI LECHMAN OPE N THE IR HOME FOR THE FIRST- E VE R JAPANE SE G ARDE NS OF ME MPHIS TOUR . Ikebana is a disciplined art form steeped in the philosophy of closeness with nature and demonstrating asymmetric balance and understatement.

by anne

cunningham

o’neill

photogr aphy

a n d r e a

z u ck er

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romoting “friendship through flowers,” Ikebana International is dedicated to the

art of Japanese flower arranging. Dating to the fifteenth century, the various forms of ikebana are minimalist and find beauty and spiritual

The skylight punctuating the home’s center allows for an interior garden in the wonderful little atrium.

inspiration in simplicity. The group’s website (ikebanahq.org) provides an excellent starting point for information on the history, styles, and rituals of this centuries-old art form.

The Ikebana International Memphis Bamboo Chapter #44, which is celebrating its 55th anniversary, and Memphis Botanic Garden are joining together to host the first-ever “Japanese Gardens of Memphis” tour on Sunday, April 10. The three Japanesestyle private homes and gardens on the tour will be open to the public from 1 to 4 p.m., with docents at each site explaining the elements of traditional Japanese floral design. Jimmy Ishii, owner of Sekisui, will present special tea and sweets at each home. On the tour are the homes and gardens of Patti Lechman and Bert Sharpe on Waring and Amy Batson on Green Meadows, and the garden of Valerie and Thomas Arnold on Walnut Grove Road. At 4 p.m. attendees are encouraged to visit Memphis Botanic Garden’s Seijaku-en Japanese Garden which is celebrating its own fiftieth anniversary. Festivities will focus upon Japanese traditions, design, and horticulture, and at 4:30 p.m. there will be a dedication and ribboncutting for the Garden’s newly rebuilt Half Moon

and ZigZag bridges. Lechman and Sharpe generously invited this magazine into their home for a colorful preview of what visitors can expect on the April 10th tour. Theirs is a mid-century-modern home, built originally for Dr. and Mrs. Thomas N. Stern in 1962 by famed Memphis architect Francis P. Gassner. Lechman and Sharpe were guests of the Sterns on several occasions and fell in love with the home — an attraction that stemmed from their mutual love for Japan and its culture and architecture. As luck would have it, their dream became a reality when they were able to purchase the place in 2013. They have spent the last two and a half years “gently but firmly bringing it into the twenty-first century,” according to Lechman. She kindly provided me with information about the house taken from A Survey of Modern Houses in Memphis, Tennessee from 1940 to 1980, produced in 2012 and edited by local architects Keith Kays, Martin Gorman, Lee Askew, and Louis Pounders: “The floor plan of this house is an inventive and unique approach to residential planning. The bedrooms

The glassed-in porch is perfect for growing orchids and bird-watching.

The light-ﬁlled living room is a mini-museum with the couple’s displayed artworks and furniture by famous modernists.

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The home’s dining room/ den area features rich, wooden elements and more wonderful art.

A ceramic by Rob McGowan, Untitled (See backwards. Or, you have a friend here, you know.) (1982). Collection: Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM), Smithsonian Institution. Photograph by Truusy Lory

The entryway makes visitors feel they have been whisked away into a wonderful world of Japanese architecture, art, and culture.

are located to the front, street-facing side, of the house and shielded by a low garden wall. … A large skylight punctuates the center of the house and accommodates an interior garden as well as providing daylight to an otherwise dark interior hallway serving the bedrooms.” Harmony with nature is a key element of Japanese style, and the couple loves the home’s integration of inside and outside, with double sliding glass doors leading from every room to a covered veranda. Volumes could be written about all that Lechman and Sharpe have done to the front and back Japaneseinspired gardens, in consultation with Nick Esthus, curator of the Memphis Botanic Garden’s Japanese garden, Chris Cosby, and Chris O’Bryan. Lechman told me that originally the grounds contained mature azaleas, camellias, hydrangeas, aucuba, and holly as well as a significant stand of bamboo, mature oaks, pine, dogwood, and a magnificent magnolia. They have since brought in additional hydrangeas, Japanese maple, fruit trees, and numerous perennials, including ferns, hosta, and a variety of flowering plants in keeping with Japanese gardens. In addition they have added a dry creek bed, two bubbling stone fountains, and a moss garden. Numerous bird houses and feeders make the yard something of a bird sanctuary. In addition to the

allure of the home’s architecture and its lush grounds, the fact that these homeowners are themselves wellknown local artists in their own right adds a special element to their home. Sharpe was chief of design and installation for 21 years at Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, and the couple lived downtown for many years on South Main, where they had a gallery and were pioneers of the district’s recent renaissance. Not surprisingly, their home is chock full of wonderful pieces, some of which they have collected on their regular trips to Japan, while others are those of well-known local artists, alongside their own creations. As we toured the home, Lechman and Sharpe pointed to Eames, Le Corbusier, and Mies van der Roe furniture and Noguchi lighting fixtures, as well as to Sharpe’s own sculptures and ceramic works and Lechman’s woven knotted fibre pieces. There is art on the walls created by their dear friend, the late Robert McGowan, as well as by Mahaffey White. Their home is an amazing mini-museum and, clearly, the talents and tastes of this couple are quite simply off the charts. For example, in addition to her work as a weaver, Lechman has also taught photography and made jackets from antique kimonos. She confessed that her mother had once said, “Give Patti a manual and she can do anything!” The guest room and the small Japanese style tea room (chashitsu) which

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The lovely little grove of bamboo is viewed from the hall, separated from the master bedroom by a screen made of Chinese doors.

below: Lechman and Sharpe in their kimonos demonstrate a tea ceremony in their tea room, chashitsu.

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Nick Esthus, curator of the Japanese Garden (left) with Chris O'Bryan, arborist, stand together on the Half Moon Bridge to survey their domain.

overlooks the tea garden (roji) have tatami mats, and cork floors were added in the living and dining rooms and the remodeled kitchen. The screened back porch was glassed in for yearround bird-watching and to assist the growing of Lechman’s orchids. Sharpe told me the twocar garage is insulated and climate-controlled for a ceramics studio which is in the works.

Japanese f lute music filled the house, contributing to the air of peace, serenity, and beauty. The consummate congenial hosts, Lechman and Sharpe performed a tea ceremony for us and also provided cups of ice-cold saki. All in all, it was a beautiful experience which didn’t feel one bit like work for this writer!

All proceeds from the Japanese Gardens tour will be used to support ongoing maintenance of the Japanese Garden at Memphis Botanic Garden and its mission of giving Memphians a natural retreat in the heart of the city. (Additionally, monthly Ikebana flower-arranging classes are offered to the public at the Botanic Garden.) Tickets for the April 10th event are $12 in advance ($15 at the door); for more information, call 901.636.4100, or go to memphisbotanicgarden.com.

The Japanese Garden at the Memphis Botanic Garden with its newly rebuilt ZigZag and Half Moon Bridges is seven acres of loveliness in the heart of Memphis. A P R I L 2 0 1 6 • M E M P H I S M A G A Z I N E . C O M • 39

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don’t dance,” I say, as our group readies to head out to Paula & Raiford’s Disco downtown one Saturday night in February. In traditional pre-game fashion, we

each take a shot of liquor to loosen up before the big night.

After we clink glasses and toss them back, someone asks, “Who’s driving?” None of us should. We could call Raiford’s limo service, but in a liquor-induced moment of sheer genius, someone suggests we take the MATA bus downtown. “How late do you think we’ll stay?” “Probably not too late.” (Ha! Ask us again later — and remind me that I said I wouldn’t dance.) We arrive, and the neon-lit Paula & Raiford’s Disco sign glows above the entrance on Second Street. It's just after 10 p.m., and they’ve opened only a few minutes ago, but the red carpet has been rolled out and the velvet ropes have been set up in preparation for what will soon be a long line to get in. A handful of people are in queue in front of us, but we’re early. Security searches our bags and pats down the boys. We show our I.D.s, then head into the lobby to pay the cover. Tonight, it’s $15 and Paula Raiford is at the window box. She gently flips my hand over and inks the word “SEXY” onto my wrist with a stamper. It’s on. Walking into the club, there’s immediate sensory overload. The music is loud — very loud; there will be little conversation tonight. Red and white rope lights line the walls, and dangle, stretched and twisted into lighted curls, from the second-level rafters. Bunches of red balloons and strings of thin white streamers hang from the ceiling. A party’s soon to be going down in here. We can feel it. Fog billows from a smoke machine and mixes with cigarette smoke, casting a haze over the room. On this night, bartenders are serving more than just 40s, which have always been the Raiford’s staple. There’s liquor, but when at Raiford’s, you drink a 40 (it’s actually a 32-ounce Bud Light) because that’s how it’s done. Big bottles of beer in tow, we make our way over to a table next to the dance floor. Tonight’s going to be a good night … ) ) ) ( ) ) ) * ) ))()))*

“ " Y OU’ V E G O T T O BE A BL E T O F E E L T HE IR S PIR I T.” —R a if or d s ay s of cho o si ng t he r ig h t s ong s f or t he crow d .

) ) )

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above left: A painting of Raiford hangs inside the club. right: Patrons walk the red carpet like celebrities when entering the disco. Waiting behind the velvet ropes, they prepare for a night of dancing.

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) ) ) * ) ) ) * ) ))*)))*)))

“ T HE R E ’ S T HI S E NE R G Y W HE N Y OU S T E P IN T H AT D OOR . I C A N L E AV E M Y HOU S E A ND BE IN A N OK MO OD , BU T W HE N I GE T T O T HE C L UB A ND G O IN T H AT D OOR , I T ’ S L IK E A L I T T L E S P IR I T C OME S O V E R ME — A L I T T L E DI S C O S PIR I T.” — Pau l a R a if or d

Stayin’ Alive

n the 1970s, “disco fever” swept the nation. So much so that in Memphis magazine’s third year of existence, contributor (and future editor) Larry Conley wrote about the phenomenon (in “When the Fever Strikes: The Best of Memphis Discos,” June 1978): “In a storm of strobes and smoke and sound, a flash of gold chain, a swirl of white dress, and stars that splash from a mirrored ball. Everywhere the disco crowd — the talking and the drinking, the paired and the unpaired — everybody crisp and cool and stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive. And at the heart of the heart of the beat, the dancers — stayin’ alive.” Conley went on to list Memphis’ (then) top 10 discos (of more than 30 discotheques in the city at that time), and though Raiford’s Hollywood Disco at 115 Vance Avenue hadn’t yet made its mark on the city, it would. Those listed in 1978 (Galaxy 5, 2001 Club, Front Stage Supper Club, Club Expo, Todd’s, Ernie’s, Daddy Long Legs, Club Paradise, Elan, and Mr. Bojangles) have long since shuttered, but Raiford’s has endured. Robert Raiford, often referred to as the Master of Ceremonies or DJ Hollywood Raiford — or now, simply Raiford — opened his dance hall in a mostly quiet downtown in 1976 (the same year this magazine was founded). Then, he says, “People were running from downtown going east. They were looking at it like, ‘You can’t make it.’ But I was looking at it like, ‘What a golden opportunity! Ain’t nobody down there! Somebody’s fixing to go down there.’” And go they did. The club’s early days saw a hodgepodge of patrons. Many were riverboat workers who stopped off in Memphis; the rest a mix of locals and out-of-towners who’d spotted the club at the corner of Vance and Mulberry after leaving the Green Beetle or Memphis Lounge or Earnestine & Hazel’s. Raiford says he’s “always brought a nice crowd, but [back then] they were kind of — a little hype.” Adding to the hype, “Sexomatic” nights

attracted bigger week-night crowds in the 1980s. On Wednesdays, the club would burst at the seams with people lined up to show off their sexiest dance moves. Though “Sexomatic” was a temporary promotion, the party would go on for more than 30 years on Vance, until the summer of 2007, when Raiford, then well into his 60s, decided he’d retire and rest. Raiford’s daughter Paula, the disco’s current co-owner, says that when the club closed, there was an outpouring of love from the community. “People came down and got pieces of the dance floor, of the walls. One guy took the pole,” she says. “It’s amazing. Sometimes, you know people love you and they appreciate you, but sometimes you need to see it in your face — its reflection.” Paula, now in her 40s, grew up at her father’s disco heels, and helping him around the club was her first job. The experience shaped her into a “people person,” making her more social and “overall not judgmental of people.” Though so much of her life revolved around the disco, she’d worked other jobs, including a yearslong stint in an office setting. But less than two years after the club closed, Paula realized where her heart was and approached her dad with interest in reopening. “When he closed, I was sad about it, of course, but that was his choice and I had no right to say, ‘Hey, you’ve got to work forever,’” Paula says. “I didn’t think at the time that I wanted a disco, but as time went by and it was actually closed, it was like a death in the family, like we just lost something.” It didn’t take much coaxing for Raiford to dust off his soundboard and sequined capes and get back to it. In 2009, the doors to Paula & Raiford’s Disco opened at a new location: 14 South Second Street.

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top left: Raiford lets “the spirit” of the crowd guide his nightly song selection. left and top right: Electric vibes surge at Raiford’s, as patrons boogie down on the light-up dance ﬂoor, bang on the club’s drums, and take party selﬁes under the red glow of the rope lights.

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Paula Raiford grew up at her father’s disco heels, and after the original Vance location closed, she realized this was her calling. The “disco spirit” encompasses her when she steps into the club, as it does with many who walk through the doors to Paula & Raiford's Disco on Second Street. A P R I L 2 0 1 6 • M E M P H I S M A G A Z I N E . C O M • 45

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“I U S E D T O C A L L M Y D A D T HE M A R T IN L U T HE R K ING OF DI S C O . . . W E H AV E A L L A GE S , A L L C OL OR S , A L L S A L A R IE S . T HE Y GE T IN T HI S ONE L I T T L E S P O T A ND JU S T BE H A PP Y.” — Pau l a R a if or d

Dancing Queen

nd that’s where we were on that late winter Saturday, 40 years after Raiford first brought the boogie to the people of Memphis. This night, as he’s done for just about as many Friday and Saturday nights as he can remember, he’s on the DJ stand, masked in fog, wearing an outfit from his famous custom-made disco wardrobe: a red fedora, and a silver-sequined red cape over a matching ornamented twopiece suit. Now, he’s spinning records for the early birds — many of whom are older than the crowd that will trickle in as the night progresses. Before 11 p.m., a group of 50-something women stride over to the dance floor when ABBA’s “Dancing Queen” starts playing. “I don’t call them old,” Raiford says. “People come in here all night, all ages. Sometimes they come in the early part of the night — maybe they’ve got to go home early. I’ve got to hit their music. I can look at them and go, ‘That person yonder, she would’ve come up in the ’60s or the early ’70s. I got something for her.’ You’ve got to be able to feel their spirit.” That ability is something Raiford cherishes, and something that keeps the hodgepodge crowd coming in. Paula says, “I used to call my dad the Martin Luther King of Disco. Martin Luther King wanted to bring us all together as one, and my dad brought everybody together as one through disco. We have all ages, all colors, all salaries. They get in this one little spot and just be happy.” The bi-level Second Street spot is a reimagining of the original. At the old Vance location, the words “No Discrimination” and “No Illegal Drugs” had been painted, homespun, with a paintbrush on the outside of the building. Here, those same words are hand-painted in an artful cursive across the bar’s interior walls. Like the original, the whole of the inside is dotted with painted handprints, an idea credited to one of Raiford’s closest friends, Maxine Humphrey. “One day she just started putting handprints up, and that became her thing,” Paula says. “Before we knew it, she had done the whole club.” Maxine, who Raiford called Mac, has since

passed away, and Paula dedicated the club’s balcony-level VIP area — the Mac Lounge — to her memory. Today, the handprint tradition continues. Over time, nearly every surface in Paula & Raiford’s Disco has been marked with handprints, some done by patrons. “Behind the bar and throughout the club, customers put their handprint on the wall and they sign it,” Paula says. The disco has always been staffed by members of the Raiford family: formerly Paula’s aunts and uncles, and today, the new generation of nieces, nephews, and cousins. Paula’s daughter, Keshia, works the bar, and Raiford’s brother is a limo driver. “It’s 90 percent family,” says Paula. “And the 10 percent that’s not family have been around a long time and are like family.” Together, they contribute to the sense of belonging one feels once inside. The club itself is like a living, breathing thing — like stepping out of a time machine and into another, more magical era. Paula, who is a vibrant character much like her dad, and whose smile is as transfixing as Cupid’s arrow, says part of its allure is the old-school disco music, but there’s something more intangible. “There’s this energy when you step in that door,” she says. “I can leave my house and be in an OK mood, but when I get to the club and go in that door, it’s like a little spirit comes over me — a little disco spirit. My energy peps up.” It happens to everyone who comes through. Around 11:30, more of my friends arrive. I’m ready for my second 40, and they’re taking shots of vodka. A bachelorette party group comes in behind them, with them the first of at least three brides-to-be we see this night. They flock to the lit-up dance floor, under the disco ball, and move their hands in motion with “Y.M.C.A.”

Though “Sexomatic” was a promotion from Raiford's early days, the tradition continues, in essence, as visitors show off their best dance moves on and off the dance ﬂoor.

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above: 40s (giant bottled beers) are a Raiford’s staple. right: Hand-written signs warn that patrons should use the pole at their own risk, as alcohol-fueled young men and women take turns climbing and wildly spinning on it.

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Boogie Shoes

n the midnight hour, though I didn’t think it was possible, the energy in the place heightens. Maybe in part due to the level of the crowd’s intoxication, but the music on rotation is changing, too. We don’t hear Elvis’ “Suspicious Minds” again, but we do begin to hear late ’90s and early ’00s hits, like the “Cha Cha Slide,” that set the crowd off. By now, I’ve found my boogie shoes and am dancing as if it’s natural. More people — 30and 40-somethings, college co-eds, groups in formal attire, and others who are more casually dressed — crowd the dance floor. A cluster of khaki-clad, button-up-shirt-wearing young men take turns climbing and wildly spinning around the pole. A fairly talented drummer tries his hand with the sticks, clanging and banging on the drum set that’s positioned on the front end of the dance floor, trying to keep time with the music.

TRENDS EVOLVE. EXPERTS LEAD. CBRE knows the Mid-South. As the industry’s leading provider of commercial leasing services, investment sales and property management, we have the insight and perspective to anticipate what’s next and what it means for Memphis and the other Mid-South communities we serve.

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)))()))*)))()))*

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ART • MUSIC • FOOD FUN • OUTDOORS

EAST

BUNTYN

ART WALK

2016 SATURDAY, APRIL 16, 2016 ART SALE 1-6PM • MUSIC 1-7PM EastBuntynArtWalk.com

The 2016 East Buntyn ArtWalk is funded in part by an Arts Build Communities grant — a program funded by the Tennessee General Assembly & administered in cooperation with the Tennessee Arts Commission & ArtsMemphis.

“ " I D ON ’ T PL AY MU S IC L IK E A D J , I PL AY MU S IC F R OM T HE HE A R T. I WAT CH Y OUR F E E T, WAT C H Y OUR MO OD , R E A D Y OUR B OD Y L A NG U A GE , A ND I C A N T E L L . I’M DOING S OME T HING F OR Y OU — I’M NO T JU S T DOING S OME T HING F OR T HE D A NCE F L O OR .” — R a if or d Raiford stands astute, unmoved — a silhouette through the fog — overlooking his disco kingdom. No shout-outs from the DJ stand, just his playlist blaring through the loudspeakers, and the occasional, perfectly timed screech of a siren — rrreeeaaarrr! — which he adds in with an air horn. “I don’t talk,” Raiford says later. “I’m trying to get it right on time and hit the notes just right, and I ain’t got time to be talking because I don’t need to.” He’s also adamant about not taking song requests. “People don’t realize, I don’t play music like a DJ, I play music from the heart,” he says. “I can watch you — you don’t even have to dance all night long, but I know good and well you’re having a good time. I watch your feet, watch your mood, read your body language, and I can tell. I’m doing something for you — I’m not just doing something for the dance floor.” Raiford doesn’t consider himself a dancer either. “I do get out there and mess around sometimes, especially when I was younger, but whether I dance or not, I still love music,” he says. The music he likes to listen to and share with his audience is music that has a message. “I love to hear Michael Jackson and James Brown. Those people tell you about life,” he

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says. “And B.B. King, he tells you about the hard times people had, that he had, too.” But sometimes, the song selection is for the sake of dance. At 1:30 a.m., what feels like a couple hundred people bounce in unison, a blur of dancing bodies. It’s the “Cupid Shuffle”: “To the left, to the left, to the right to, to the right. Now kick, now kick! Now walk it by yourself, walk it by yourself.” The entire club is a dance floor at this point. There’s not a soul in the house who isn’t kicking and stepping along with the song’s instructions. The party’s at a peak, and everyone is all smiles. As much fun as we’re having, it’s past our bedtimes. Someone in our group calls for a ride, and our Uber driver shows up right at 2 a.m. There’s still a line of people waiting to get in as we are leaving. Just another Saturday night at the disco.

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fter my big night of dancing, I catch up with Raiford to find out more about the man, the myth, the legend. When he’s in DJ Hollywood Raiford mode, he’s somewhat unapproachable, not talking or interacting much with guests. So, we meet on a Tuesday afternoon at the club. The party lights are glowing as usual, but today, it’s quiet. No loud music, no traffic jam of dancing bodies to wade through. I pull up a high-back rolling office chair (there are a few of these throughout the bar, along with leather couches) and slide it over to the table next to him. )))()))*)))()))*

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This day, Raiford isn’t wearing his typical disco attire — no cape, no sequins — but he’s still the epitome of style with a black fur fedora, a velour zip-neck pullover, dark bell-bottomed jeans, and black pointy-toed boots. His Jheri curls spill out from under his hat in ringlets. He speaks confidently with a country twang, and smiles often, a row of gold teeth glinting through with each crack of his lips. Not surprisingly, it seems his hearing isn’t what it used to be: He leans in a bit when I haven’t asked a question loud enough. Under the red glow of the rope lights, Raiford, who is much gentler and more cordial than I had imagined, talks about his nearly 75 years on this Earth — where he’s been and who he is. He was born in Blytheville, Arkansas. He’d worked on a farm growing cotton and beans before catching a bus to Memphis — a city that was “not too big and not too small” in comparison to the “little ol’ one-horse town” he

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called home — in the 1960s. He’d worked at, and later co-owned (with his brothers), a Shell station in East Memphis before deciding to be an entertainer. He’s fixed on his legacy — a recurring theme in our conversation. “I done come in and made a mark on the universe,” says Raiford. “All I need to do now is finish the course. That’s the dream — everybody wants to finish their dream out and leave something for the next generation.” He’s a grandfather, and he looks to “the Book” to guide his life. He doesn’t smoke or drink, and he isn’t a fan of television. He’s recently gotten a new puppy, a German Shepherd he’s affectionately named Raiford. He likes to listen to gospel when he isn’t spinning records for the weekend club crowd. He says the idea for the club set-up, the wonderland of lights and art and what some may consider gaudy decor, was all a result of his creative imagination. “It’s just in me,” he says. “I just like to decorate, and I like to create stuff. When I first put the place together, I had to come down here day and night. Because didn’t )))()))*)))()))*

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nobody else know what my imagination was. They could try, but you can’t do it.” Raiford never had any official training for the DJ life or schooling on how to use the equipment. “That was just a gift from the universe,” he says. And as for still doing what he’s doing at his age, he says, “I don’t have to do it but 10 hours, from 10 to 3 [Friday and Saturday nights]. I can work those hours. I can go up to 100 years old, probably.” Raiford says when he was on hiatus before the disco reopened, he’d been in and out of the hospital, but since coming back, he hasn’t fallen ill. “You need to have something to do,” he says. “You don’t just need to go and sit down.” When I dub him the best party host in Memphis, he asks, “How about the world?” I don’t disagree with him. Raiford has, in fact, created one of the most electric party experiences in the world — an experience that has drawn people from all walks of life and every corner of the planet for 40 years, and counting. He has become Memphis’ — and perhaps the world’s — disco grandfather. “It makes me feel like it wasn’t my doing — it was already written for me to do this. All I had to do was take fate and walk out on it. And that’s what I did,” Raiford says. “That’s why I try to stay here as long as I can now because I want to enjoy y’all, and I want y’all to enjoy the music I play — because I’m not goin’ to be here always. People don’t live much over a hundred. I’m 25 years from that, and I’m goin’ to try to be the best all the way to the end.”

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FORTY ALL-TIME FAVORITE COVERS

FORTY GAMECHANGING CITY EVENTS

In celebration of this magazine’s 40th anniversary, the staff of Memphis this month selected forty events that occurred over those four decades that we think qualify as turning points in our city’s recent history. See what you think of our choices (and keep in mind that we’ve postponed any judgment on what’s happened in 2015 and 2016; still too close for comfort), and add your comments to the web version of this story at memphismagazine.com/features/gamechangers. We’ll publish the most thought-provoking responses in a forthcoming issue. — K e n neth N e il l

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JULY 1976 — Back then, readers knew her only as Lola, our listings editor. But that’s actually Patty Towery, wife of publisher Bob Towery (see p. 14), who agreed to don a colorful wig for a cover story on the red, white, and blue mania sweeping the nation. This was the first cover shot by Larry Kuzniewski, who would become the most prolific cover photographer in our magazine’s history.

The Dixon Gallery and Gardens opens (1976).

SEPTEMBER 1977 — On August 16, 1977, the September issue was at

the printers when the world learned that Elvis Presley had died. In a rare “stop the presses!” moment, we yanked the original cover story, and contributor Jackson Baker wrote a 6,000-word feature that has become the definitive account of the last hours of the King of Rock-and-Roll. The great cover is by John Robinette.

this region’s finest private gardens. Inside the home, they filled rooms with museumquality collections of Impressionist art.

Elvis Presley dies at Graceland (1977).

Today, 39 years after his passing, we

Margaret passed away in 1974; Hugo

tend to forget that Elvis Presley was an

died eight months later, bequeathing

everyday presence in this city on the

their entire property to the public. A

eve of his totally unexpected death in

separate foundation was established to

August 1977. He was only 42 years old,

ensure funding. The Dixon Gallery and

and while the King battled weight issues

Gardens opened in 1976 and is today

from time to time, no one imagined his

recognized as one of the premier gardens

career would end so abruptly. Had Elvis

in the South, and the museum’s superb

lived another 30 years, who knows what

permanent collection shares the gallery

he would done with his life, or in what

In 1939, cotton broker Hugo Dixon and his

with world-class touring exhibitions.

directions his career might have shaked,

wife, Margaret, purchased 17 acres at Park

Along with Memphis Brooks Museum of

rattled, and rolled? As it is, reality has

and Cherry. There they built a Georgian

Art, the Dixons’ generosity insured that

hermetically sealed Elvis Presley’s life in

Revival mansion and, working with Hugo’s

the city would have two distinctive artistic

a very special bottle, one that’s made him

sister, Hope, transformed the grounds into

treasure chests. — M ic h a e l F ing e r

an all-time rock icon, yes, but also has

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MAY 1978 — It began as a celebration in a few Beale Street nightspots and

a downtown parking lot, but just one year later, Memphis in May was well on its way to becoming the city’s largest and longest party. This circus-themed cover captured the spirit of the fledgling event. By this time, the magazine had dropped the redundant “City of” from the logo. Memphis had arrived.

AUGUST 1978 — We like to think we can spot a winner, and from the

beginning we thought Fred Smith “absolutely, positively” had the right idea. But nobody at the time dreamed FedEx would become the success it did. If we designed this same cover today, we’d have to call it “Fred Smith’s $45 Billion Dream Machine” — the company’s revenues last year.

kept us from ever knowing just what he

grills in The Orpheum parking lot. All that

direct result, our downtown business

might have become. — K e n neth N e il l

changed dramatically in 1978, when the

district collapsed earlier than most others,

venue moved to a newly expanded Tom

as we responded as a community like the

Lee Park and became this city’s biggest

rudderless ship that we were. A decade

party. The Beale Street Music Festival

later, 16 black and white individuals came

How many people involved with the

and the World Championship Barbecue

together to found Leadership Memphis, an

very first Memphis in May International

Cooking Contest attract worldwide

organization dedicated to changing “the

Festival dreamed the event would still be

attention annually. — M ic h a e l F ing e r

international image and reality of a city

Memphis in May moves to Tom Lee Park (1978).

around, when it kicked off 40 years ago

divided by race and heading for failure.”

Leadership Memphis is founded to promote racial reconciliation (1978).

Since then, happily, dozens of organizations

events included a kite-flying contest and a

Unlike most Southern cities, Memphis

and Bridges, to name but a few) have

Japanese/American business symposium.

got an involuntary jump-start into the

chipped in to further that ambition. But

The barbecue festival started as little more

post-integration era, as a result of the

Leadership Memphis was the first, and this

than a backyard cooking contest, with two

assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King,

year will graduate its 37th class of future

dozen teams gathered around charcoal

Jr. at the Lorraine Motel in 1968. As a

Memphis leaders. — J ohn O’L e a ry

with a salute to Japan? That first festival featured the Beale Street Music Fest, held in bars and small outside stages, and other

(the Women’s Foundation, New Memphis Institute, the Community Foundation,

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DECEMBER 1978 — Everybody thought they knew bits and pieces of

how Sam Phillips “discovered” Elvis Presley, but we recruited acclaimed music writer Robert Palmer to present a complete, and corrected, history of the birth of rock-and-roll. The memorable cover illustration by Ed Hirth provided a suitably dramatic touch (and one of our favorite portraits).

JANUARY 1979 — Supposedly writing from the “distant future” of the year 2000, two editors presented drastically conflicting views of Memphis in the future. Kenneth Neill presented a “A Vision of Gloom: A House Divided” while Ed Weathers offered “A Vision of Hope: The Heart of a Nation.” Who was right? The jury is still out on that. The futuristic keyboard was a nice touch.

The I-40/I-240 loop around Memphis is completed (1980).

the I-240 ring road to the north, and this

launched his Federal Express in 1974,

leg of the circle was finally opened to the

going public with the company in 1978.

public in 1980, giving Memphians easy road

By that time he had his hub systems

The suburbanization of America was

access to all corners of the community and

in place, but focused his energy upon

already well under way by the time that

encouraging further suburban development

building a Memphis “Super Hub,” which

the first leg of I-240 was completed in 1964

in all directions. — K e n neth N e il l

went operational in 1981. Two years later,

between the Poplar Avenue and Getwell

Federal Express topped $1 billion in

Federal Express opens “Super-Hub” at Memphis International Airport (1981).

revenue for the first time, the Super-Hub

protests, causing the federal government

Hardly a Memphis school child is unaware

up, up, and away. — J ohn O’L e a ry

in 1975 to abandon I-40 construction

of how Fred Smith, while a student at Yale,

through Overton Park and Midtown,

was given a “C” grade on an economics

making Memphis the only urban “break”

paper he wrote suggesting that the only

in the I-40 system between Wilmington,

way to deliver air cargo efficiently was

North Carolina, and Barstow, California.

by establishing a system of hubs. After a

downtown Memphis was in “complete

Interstate 40 was ultimately re-routed along

tour of duty as a pilot in Vietnam, Smith

free-fall,” as one local bank president put

exits on the south ring. The main I-40 route through Memphis, however, had been successfully blocked by local legal

in Memphis employed more than 1,500 employees, and the company was truly

The Peabody re-opens downtown (1981).

In the aftermath of the King assassination,

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MARCH 1982 — By the early 1980s, the magazine sported an “edgier”

new logo, corner banners, and even a frame around the cover image, in this case Benjamin Hooks, “The Man Who Spoke for Millions.” When he passed away in 2010, the minister and attorney had served as the executive director of the NAACP, among other achievements, and the Central Library now carries his name.

it. Perhaps the most visible symbol of that decline was The Peabody, hailed as “The South’s Grand Hotel” when it opened in

MAY 1982 — The hepcat of rock-and-roll, Jerry Lee Lewis indeed seems

to have had nine lives, always rising above personal and financial scandals and misfortunes. Gordon Osing, an English professor at then-Memphis State University, produced a biography that has stood the test of time. The cover photo by Gary Pearson is one of our favorite images of The Killer.

Graceland opens its doors to Elvis Fans (1982).

Ironically, the 23-room mansion on a 14-acre

transform Graceland in 1982 into the shrine, museum, and compelling tourist site it has been ever since. — Jac k s o n B a k e r

1925. Closed and abandoned by 1975, many

site on South Bellevue Blvd., in the heart

suggested tearing it down and putting

of Whitehaven, that Elvis Presley bought

a parking lot on the site. But the Belz

in 1957 to serve as a haven for his parents

real-estate family would have none of

has become one of the most public places

that, and bought the hotel at bankruptcy

in America, and, indeed, the world. Always

better and for worse. Roy Harrover’s

for $400,000. Where other companies

a destination for hard-core Elvis fans, who

magnificently designed facility opened

had predicted doom for downtown, Jack

scrawled their names and passions on

in 1982 with an amphitheater, monorail, a

Belz saw light at the end of the tunnel.

the property’s pink fieldstone wall, when

brilliant river model, museum, playground,

The firm spent $25 million restoring the

Elvis died in 1977, the site became the

and two full-service restaurants. Everyone

property, and when it reopened in 1981,

focus of worldwide recognition that an

agreed that it was well worth seeing,

The Peabody was once again the South’s

icon had passed and that Memphis itself

instead of the overgrown sandbar that

Grand Hotel, and the primary catalyst

was a storied landscape in the history

stood at Memphis’ front door for ages,

for the remarkable downtown revival

of music. As executor for Elvis’ estate,

but the lack of easy road access made it

that followed. — M ic h a e l F ing e r

his ex-wife Priscilla hired Jack Soden to

difficult to attract repeat visitors from

Mud Island River Park opens (1982).

This one was a game-changer both for

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JANUARY 1983 — Long before Memphis became known as a basketball town, we featured Keith Lee (another outstanding cover shot by Larry Kuzniewski) and the Memphis State team and wondered, “Will 1983 Be the Year of the Tiger?” Sadly, the answer was no, MSU finishing 6-6 in Metro Conference play, although the team went on to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen (losing in the second round).

JUNE 1983 — By the early 1980s, some of our covers were downright sur-

real. The new technology of “cable television” was very much a hot topic in 1983, and this image, featuring an exceptional illustration by Alex O’Neal, portrayed this innovation as a “Jack in the Box” — something that might leap out and surprise you when you least expect it. “What happens next?” Stay tuned.

Firestone/International Harvester announce plant closings (1983).

near or far. A bridge was completed in

documentaries; it was quite another to

1987, but by then the damage had been

rescue it from urban decay and revive it

done; restaurants closed and the park’s

half a century after its heyday. If you google

operating months were reduced to save

“Beale Street” you get half a million results,

As recently as the 1970s, manufacturing

money. The River Park did fill a blank

pretty darn good considering that Atlanta,

was still a key component of the Memphis

across from the downtown cobblestones,

St. Louis, and Birmingham also tried to save

economy, with International Harvester

however, and with Harbor Town now a

their historic black streets of commerce as

making cotton-harvesting equipment in

viable neighborhood, the Bass Pro Pyramid

going entertainment concerns, with much

Frayser and Firestone Tire and Rubber

nearby, and fresh development proposals

less success. Despite occasional controversy,

still rolling out some 5,000 car and truck

on the table, perhaps the park’s best days

credit goes to developer John Elkington

tires a day at its North Memphis plant.

are yet to come. — J ohn B r a n st o n

and the local owners he recruited to

But the trend towards consolidation was

open clubs and restaurants with staying

in full force, and in 1983, the future of

Beale Street opens as an entertainment district (1982).

power. The icing on the cake came with

both areas was transformed permanently

FedExForum (2002), insuring that locals

with the closing, just a month apart, of

would frequent Memphis’ most integrated

the IH and Firestone plants. Not only

It’s one thing to celebrate a historic

street for basketball games and concerts

were 4,000 jobs lost virtually overnight

street of sin, style, and song in books and

over 100 times a year. — J ohn B r a n st o n

and vast operations areas left abandoned;

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SEPTEMBER 1983 — It’s probably safe to say that Pat Kerr Tigrett has

been mentioned in the pages of this magazine more than any other woman in Memphis. Internationally acclaimed fashion designer, philanthropist, party-organizer, and more, she’s been listed in our “Who’s Who” every year since we began compiling the list of the city’s “movers, shakers, and other news-makers.”

JANUARY 1984 — For years, we featured Elvis-themed stories in August,

to tie in with the anniversary of the King’s death, and in January, for his birthday. In 1984, we produced a compendium of All-Things-Elvis. The dedicated Elvis “collector” shown here was actually Joe Affuso, a jack-of-all-trades employee at our old offices and printing plant on Brooks Road.

the impact on other local businesses was

In 1980, former city councilman Pat

mortal. Property values declined sharply,

Halloran joined the MDF, helping to raise

depopulating the North Memphis area

$5 million and restoring the Orpheum

and accelerating a downward spiral of

to its 1920s-era grandeur, remaining the

blight, crime, and poverty that has not been

theatre’s impresario for over 35 years. In

reversed to this day. — R ic h a r d J. A l l ey

September 2015, the Halloran Centre for

Performing Arts and Education, with

The restored Orpheum Theatre reopens (1984).

over 39,000 square feet of space, opened next door to provide a wider range of

Imagine what Downtown Memphis

classes and workshops. — C hr i s D av i s

might be like today had the decrepit old

Opera House. Instead, the Memphis

theatre at the southwest corner of Main

Development Foundation purchased the

and Beale been demolished and replaced

old vaudeville house in 1977, and returned

with an office building. Those plans were

it to something resembling its original

on the table in 1976 when Malco Theaters

purpose, only instead of booking plate-

1984-85 season. Magic Johnson and Larry

decided to sell its downtown property,

spinners and baggy-pants comics, the

Bird were at the peak of their powers

built on the site of Memphis’ Grand

MDF booked Broadway touring shows.

and a rookie named Michael Jordan had

Tiger basketball goes national (1985).

Basketball reached new heights in the

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SEPTEMBER 1984 — It’s only appropriate that Memphis’ own Cybill Shepherd, who began her performing career as a fashion model while still a student at East High School, has been showcased on the cover of our magazine more times (three, at last count) than any person other than Elvis Presley. “Home Again, Home Again” focused on the star’s move back to Memphis in 1984.

just begun turning the NBA topsy-turvy. Patrick Ewing and Georgetown presided over the college game, but Keith Lee

SEPTEMBER 1985 — Some cover titles which made sense at the time

puzzle us today. Calling Holiday Inns founder Kemmons Wilson “The Last Tycoon” wasn’t exactly accurate, considering other entrepreneurs such as Billy Dunavant and “Pitt” Hyde, but it seemed a good idea at the time. And was Wilson really “America’s Happiest Millionaire”? Well, maybe so. Just look at that smile.

St. Jude decides to stay in Memphis (1987).

Danny Thomas himself — remained committed to the city. As a result, the

Danny Thomas had a dream, and that

hospital remains firmly entrenched in

— a four-time All-America — led an

dream, remarkably enough, became St.

downtown Memphis, focused upon a $1.2

electric Memphis State team that drew

Jude Children’s Research Hospital in

billion expansion. — K e n neth N e il l

national attention well before it crashed

downtown Memphis in 1962. The hospital

an otherwise Big East party at the Final

staff declared total war upon childhood

Four. The Tigers won 31 games before

leukemia, and thanks to the efforts of

being upset by Villanova in the national

brilliant clinicians like Donald Pinkel, the

semifinals. Their coach, Dana Kirk, may

hospital’s first director, significant progress

have been a scoundrel, who left the

in controlling this disease was achieved

school in disgrace, but the fact remains

by 1985. St. Jude’s reputation soared, and

that he made Tiger basketball significant

attracted the attention of other medical

during an era when the country became

centers, including Washington University

intoxicated with college sports. Perhaps

in St. Louis, eager to offer St. Jude a new

we can say that Kirk was this city’s original

home. The offers were tempting, but

John Calipari! — F r a nk M urtaug h

the ALSAC board of directors — and

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OCTOBER 1986 — The business of cotton and its impact on Memphis is unquestionably an important topic, covered in detail by assistant editor Judy Ringel in this cover story. But how to create a matching cover image that catches a reader’s attention standing in line at Kroger? We believe we managed it here, with a striking literal image by Daphne Hewett of Cotton as King.

NOVEMBER 1989 — Willie Herenton was never at a loss for words, one

time telling our sister publication, the Memphis Flyer, to “go to hell” (which became their cover line the following week, in a follow-up story). In our magazine’s cover story, years before he became this city’s mayor, Herenton “speaks out” with editor Larry Conley about his troubled tenure as the city schools superintendent.

A.W. Willis Bridge makes Harbor Town development possible (1987).

more houses and apartments, to create

The phrase “catalyst for development” is

Park that has become a major recreational

a cliché, but bridging the Wolf River at

attraction in itself. — J ohn B r a n st o n

Auction Street was exactly that. Before the A.W. Willis Bridge was built, there was no easy road access to Mud Island. Named in honor of a civil-rights pioneer, this modest

today’s Mud Island community of more than 12,000 residents, with a Greenbelt

TPC Southwind golf course development is launched (1988).

connector was perhaps the most vital civic

Memphis had long been a stop on the

construction project downtown since the

regular PGA tour; in 1977, Al Geiberger

Hernando De Soto Bridge crossed the

shot a 59 — the lowest 18-hole score

was more to the construction of Southwind

Mississippi in 1973. Developers Jack Belz

ever recorded — at a St. Jude benefit

than just a major-league golf tournament

and Henry Turley soon got to work on

tournament at Colonial Country Club. That

every June. Commercial and residential

Harbor Town, the upscale New Urbanist

same PGA tournament would be moved to

development exploded in the area around

residential community just north of the

TPC Southwind in 1989, now the home base

the golf course, coinciding with significant

bridge. Other developers followed with

for the FedEx St. Jude Classic. But there

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OCTOBER 1992 — We sometimes wonder if any park in America has seen

so many battles as Overton Park. Today embroiled in a controversy over parking, and in the 1960s the center of a long-standing federal dispute about I-40, in 1992 we actually said, “For now, the Overton Park Woods are safe.” Well, hardly. Artist Bill Womack provided the striking calligraphy for the title.

NOVEMBER 1993 — Carroll Cloar took his own life in 1993. Months later, senior editor Marilyn Sadler sat down for a series of conversations with his widow, Pat, and wrote what is still regarded as the definitive biography of the man long regarded as this city’s greatest artist. The brooding cover image, taken by George Karfiol, was courtesy of the Cloar family.

Holiday Inns’ corporate headquarters moves to Atlanta (1989).

access to these new areas, stimulating

agreed with the concept, which had proved

the continued eastward expansion of the

popular in other cities, and provided

Memphis metropolitan area. By the year

initial funding for what would become

2000, Hacks Cross Road and Winchester

the Memphis Flyer. After a somewhat rocky

Memphis entrepreneur Kemmons Wilson

had become a major commercial

start, the Flyer’s readership grew quickly,

famously started the first “modern”

thoroughfare. — J ohn O’L e a ry

and advertisers followed. Since 1989, the

franchise-hotel chain with a first location

Flyer has provided Memphis with a strong

on Summer Avenue in 1952; by the time

alternative and progressive editorial voice,

he retired in 1979, there were thousands

aiming every week to inform, enlighten,

of Holiday Inns all over the world, and

In the late 1980s, several staff members

and entertain readers in the Mid-South

thousands of employees at the company’s

of Memphis magazine pitched the idea of

community. The paper blends investigative

world headquarters at Lamar and

launching an “alternative newsweekly”

journalism and reporting with such popular

Democrat. In the decade that followed,

in Memphis to the board members of the

features as the annual “Hotties” list and the

his successors developed other brands

magazine’s parent company, now known

“Best of Memphis” issue. In print and on-

(Crowne Plaza and Harrah’s Entertainment

as Contemporary Media. The board,

line, the Flyer has long been recognized as a

among them), but the company in 1986

locally based and consisting of a politically

leading Memphis authority on local music

attracted a corporate raider (a forty-

diverse group of prominent Memphians,

and politics. — B ruc e Va n Wy ng a r d e n

something Donald Trump; see p. 18) whose

The Memphis Flyer is founded (1989).

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APRIL 1995 — For our cover story on “Women You Need to Know,” our

cover (by photographer Kent Phillips) showcased Susan Stephenson, who had been named CEO of Boatmen’s Bank. We couldn’t have picked a better person to represent “our city’s most outstanding women.” Today, Stephenson is still in Memphis, and co-founder, co-chairman, and president of Independent Bank.

OCTOBER 1995 — One of our proudest moments came when editors

Kenneth Neill, Jackson Baker, and John Branston sat down with Wyeth Chandler, Richard Hackett, and Willie Herenton — Memphis’ three living mayors, where they candidly discussed their long careers. The cover photograph by Murray Riss was the first time these three prominent politicians had been photographed together.

The Great American Pyramid opens (1991).

attempt at a leveraged buyout turned the

ground, air, and hub operations to every

company financially upside down, forcing

corner of America, despite the failure of

the sale of Holiday Corporation to the

Zap Mail, its attempt to dominate the fax

British-based Bass PLC; the handful of

transmission market. But under CEO Fred

Shlenker’s star-crossed Pyramid all you

Memphis employees remaining moved to

Smith’s leadership, the company took that

want, but international financier John

the company’s new American headquarters

licking and kept on ticking, dramatically

Tigrett’s dream was ever too big to

in Georgia in 1990. — K e n neth N e il l

expanding its international operations.

ignore and wound up paying unexpected

The 1989 merger with Flying Tigers

dividends. Today, it’s the Bass Pro

Federal Express goes global with Flying Tigers acquisition (1989).

Line, America’s oldest air cargo company,

Pyramid, after the city made company

gave Federal Express access to valuable

founder Johnny Morris an offer he couldn’t

routes around the globe, helping to allow

refuse. Without Bass taking charge in

Federal Express grew in leaps and bounds

company revenues to grow eight-fold in

2014, the signature arena might have

during the 1980s. In 1983 annual revenues

its second full decade. — J ohn O’L e a ry

remained empty for another decade or

Criticize or mock developer Sydney

reached $1 billion for the first time, exactly

even demolished. We often forget that

a decade after its founding, making the

for 13 years, The Pyramid hosted major

company the fastest to reach the $1 billion

concerts and basketball tournaments,

level in history. The company expanded its

garnered lots of national publicity, and A P R I L 2 0 1 6 • M E M P H I S M A G A Z I N E . C O M • 65

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DECEMBER 1995 — Cybill Shepherd made another, albeit small, appear-

ance on our cover, voted by readers as “Memphian You’d Most Like to Date,” but other categories in this annual “Best and Worst” readers’ poll intrigue us today: Was Cordova really voted “the best place to jog naked”? Perhaps this is why we left the doing of “Best of” issues to our sister publication, The Memphis Flyer.

SEPTEMBER 1996 — At a garage sale, senior editor Michael Finger

purchased a 1958 yearbook of Douglass High, a now-closed school in North Memphis, and wondered what had happened to some of the students, who graduated years before the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The result was this cover story, with the dramatic cover photo (by Hooks Brothers) from the yearbook itself.

made possible the NBA Grizzlies’ move

306 and 307 shortly thereafter, but lacked

from Vancouver to Memphis in 2000,

the resources to do much else, so black

until FedExForum could be completed.

community leaders purchased the building,

Today, the view from the Bass Pro

then joined with entrepreneur J.R. “Pitt”

Willie Herenton is elected Memphis’ first African-American mayor (1991).

Pyramid’s observation deck is one of the

Hyde to begin the creation of what is now

By 1991, Memphis’ black population had

finest in the world. — J ohn B r a n st o n

an iconic educational destination that

edged close enough to majority status to

has seen millions pass through its doors

generate a demand for a consensus black

National Civil Rights Museum opens at the Lorraine Motel (1991).

over the past two decades. In 2014, the

mayoral candidate. There were numerous

museum reimagined itself with a $27.5

qualified candidates, but out-shining them

million makeover, and today represents a

all, first at an ad hoc “people’s convention,”

On July 4, 1991, Rosa Parks cut a chain

unique and essential place in Memphis life.

then at a “summit” meeting called by

acting as a ribbon to signal the opening of

Since 1991, the NCRM’s Freedom Award

Ninth District Congressman Harold Ford

the National Civil Rights Museum at the

has honored individuals who have made

Sr., was Willie Herenton, just retired as

Lorraine Motel. It was the culmination of a

significant contributions in civil rights.

city school superintendent. Running as

long struggle to memorialize the location of

Previous recipients have included Rosa

an underdog against the incumbent, Dick

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination.

Parks, Bono, Jimmy Carter, and Bishop

Hackett, but helped in a late surge by Ford’s

The owner of the Lorraine closed Rooms

Desmond Tutu. — R ic h a r d J. A l l ey

still-potent inner-city political machine,

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APRIL 1997 — Although the answer today would be a resounding YES, in 1997 it was still a question open for considerable debate when we produced a “Special Report” and pondered, “Is Downtown Back?” Years before Memphians flocked to AutoZone Park, Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid, and FedExForum, the signs were encouraging, but back then the outcome far from certain.

SEPTEMBER 1997 — When Splash opened as the first casino in Tunica,

it changed everything, and when bigger players like Harrah’s and Jack Binion followed, a once-dormant corner of North Mississippi became one of the region’s entertainment centers — almost overnight. John Branston examined the world of gaming, with an eye-catching cover by freelance artist Brian Raszka.

Filming of The Firm puts Memphis on the movie map (1992).

and by votes diverted to a third candidate,

the Mississippi River. Memphis was the

the madcap “Prince Mongo” Hodges,

obvious feeder market, and while DeSoto

Herenton won election by just 142 votes,

County deferred, Tunica County went all

triggering a tumultuous celebration. In an

in. First to open was the aptly named Splash

The Firm wasn’t the first major Hollywood

act of considerable statesmanship, Hackett

Casino, a hastily converted barge operated

feature to be shot in Memphis. That honor

declined to press for a recount. Herenton’s

by brothers Rick and Ron Schilling. “What

goes to King Vidor’s 1929 film Hallelujah!

choices of a well-integrated staff were

a business!” Ron marveled on opening night

Nor was it the Memphis Film Commission’s

equally statesmanlike. — Jac k s o n B a k e r

when patrons shrugged off a one-hour

first score either. That was Mystery Train, a

drive from Memphis, a thunderstorm, long

brooding 1989 flick by art-house darling

lines, and a $10 admission fee. Splash is long

Jim Jarmusch. The Firm was the anti-Mystery

Splash Casino opens in Tunica (1992).

gone, but its more glamorous successors,

Train — a Hollywood blockbuster directed

The transformation of Tunica County,

built inland and closer to Memphis, have

by Sydney Pollack, based on a bestselling

Mississippi, from cotton fields to major

made Tunica the Mid-South’s top gambling

novel by John Grisham, with an A-list

casino center was stunning for both its

destination ever since. Across the river

cast that included Holly Hunter, Gene

scale and speed. Mississippi lawmakers in

in West Memphis, a revamped Southland

Hackman, Ed Harris, and Tom Cruise.

1991 passed legislation enabling “riverboat”

Park has also benefited from the renewed

Grisham’s story of a young attorney caught

gambling in certain counties bordering

interesting in gaming. — J ohn B r a n st o n

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OCTOBER 1998 — We generally stay close to home with our stories,

but for the cover feature on B.B. King, music writer John Floyd hit the road and interviewed the legendary performer at his residence in Las Vegas. There, the former “Blues Boy” talked about his latest albums, his grueling schedule, and his enduring love for Beale Street, past and present.

DECEMBER 2002 — Magazine art directors hold seminars about what sells best on newsstands, but when it’s a sexy photo of a young Warren Beatty in a black leather outfit, the rules go out the door. This image was taken by Jack Robinson, a leading 1960s Vogue photographer who worked with the celebrities of the day, but who spent his last years working in obscurity in Memphis.

than $158 million domestically. The Firm’s

or in part. But home-grown AutoZone and

up I-269 and TN 385, the “span beyond

success opened the door for several other

its founder J.R. “Pitt” Hyde went against

the span” of the I-40/240 loop, the key

major Memphis-made films including

the flow, striking a deal to give the city its

component is unquestionably the Bill

Great Balls of Fire, The Rainmaker, and The

former headquarters property on Poplar

Morris Parkway, which goes more or

People vs Larry Flynt. — C hr i s D av i s

that became the Main Library, in exchange

less directly west to east. Named for the

for incentives to build a new world

innovative Shelby County Mayor who

headquarters on Front Street. AutoZone

(pun intended) paved the way for the

AutoZone moves its headquarters downtown (1995).

since has grown in leaps and bounds, as

progressive urbanization of its rural

its work force brought daytime vitality to

parts, the Bill Morris Parkway was begun

a downtown that badly needed that 1995

in 1990 and completed in 2007, but its

Never was a corporate office relocation

shot in the arm. — J ohn B r a n st o n

key portion was the connection as far

more welcome than AutoZone’s move

as Houston Levee Road in 1997, making

Bill Morris Parkway is extended to Houston Levee Road (1997).

for a straight shot between the city core

Building. Other banks, brokerage firms,

Of the complex of thoroughfares in the

residential and business development that

and law offices would soon follow, in whole

peripheries of Shelby County that make

continues to this day. — Jac k s o n B a k e r

downtown. By that time, Union Planters Bank had already moved out east, leaving nothing but a sign atop the 100 North Main

and its burgeoning eastern suburbs and accounting for an ongoing burst of

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DECEMBER 2003 — Memphis means music; everybody knows that. So we put our heads together and came up with a list of the top 50 albums in our city’s musical history — something, we discovered, that was considerably harder than coming up with our magazine’s 40 favorite covers. The albums themselves provided much of the “pop” that made this cover so appealing.

JULY/AUGUST 2004 — It’s hard to say when jazz or blues started, but most people date the birth of rock-and-roll to the 1954 release of Elvis Presley’s “That’s All Right, Mama,” recorded, of course, at Sun Studio. For our special look back at 50 years of rock-and-roll, we went with an iconic image — the King, all alone on stage, with just a guitar and a microphone. What more can you say?

With no support for a new suburban

Memphis entered the information age and

ballpark, Memphis Chicks owner David

the twenty-first century in 2001 with the

Hersh packed up his bats and balls and

grand opening of a new Central Library

moved east to Jackson after the 1997

at 3030 Poplar Avenue. Moved from its

season. To the plate stepped Dean and

cramped, concrete bunker at McLean

Kristi Jernigan, who envisioned (correctly,

and Peabody, the 330,000-square-foot,

as it turned out) a baseball stadium as

five-story, glass-fronted headquarters was

the crown jewel for Memphis’ downtown

built for $70 million through a public-

renaissance. The cost may have been

private partnership. This spectacularly

AutoZone Park opens as a Downtown diamond in the rough (2000).

The Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library opens on Poplar (2001).

extravagant ($72 million) and was without

seldom seen below the major league

designed building was also one of the

precedent in minor-league sports. But the

level. With the stadium, which opened in

first in Shelby County to have a public

result? AutoZone Park looks like it’s been

2000, came St. Louis’ Triple-A affiliate, a

art component included as part of that

tucked at Third and Union since the days of

match made in baseball heaven for local

design. More than a place to check out

DiMaggio, with modern creature comforts

Cardinal fans. — F r a nk M urtaug h

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Memphis does Iavaroni have the stuff? dr. j thinks so. ~ P. 56

Memphis • THE CITY MAGAZINE • WWW.MEMPHISMAGAZINE.COM

THE CITY MAGAZINE

OCTOBER 2007 VOL XXXII NO 7

a murder in Central gardens 1 0> USA $3.50

1 0 0 7

74470 11630

emily fisher’s savage death shocked the city and rocked a family to its core, while the story behind her slaying haunts the ones she left behind.

October final covers.indd 3

9/20/07 11:53:26 AM

OCTOBER 2007 — At first glance, this might be one of the “Great Memphis Homes” that we feature throughout the year. But the title tells readers otherwise. “A Murder in Central Gardens,” an nvestigative feature by Marilyn Sadler, explored one of the most talked-about crimes in our city’s history. We used to tell readers that “we show you the town.” We still do, and parts of it aren’t pretty.

APRIL 2008 — The murder of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the Lorraine

Motel in the spring of 1968 cast a pall over this city that has never quite faded away. Forty years after his death, we examined his enduring legacy, and decided a simple black-and-white image of King, looking pensive, matched with one of his more famous quotations, was all the cover needed.

The Stax Museum of American Soul Music opens (2003).

library’s location acts as a physical and

moving his NBA(!) franchise to Memphis,

metaphorical bridge between the low-

it was first received as pie-in-the-sky

income neighborhood of Binghampton

aspiration. But with the likes of Pitt Hyde,

and the more affluent Chickasaw Gardens

Gayle Rose, and Fred Jones behind the

In the 1960s and 1970s, black Detroit had its

to the south. In 2005 it was renamed

local pursuit team, this marriage had a

Motown, and black Memphis had its Stax.

in honor of former NAACP Director

foundation before the first brick was placed

Here in south Memphis, the Stax Recording

Benjamin Hooks. — R ic h a r d J. A l l ey

for the team’s new arena (FedExForum

Studio on McLemore hosted a revolving

opened in 2004). Inspired originally by the

door of world-class musicians, including

Memphis witnesses the creation of a loyal fan base, Griz Nation (2001).

success of AutoZone Park, the Grizzlies

Booker T. and the MGs, Isaac Hayes, and

have made downtown Memphis the place

Al Green. But a series of unfortunate

to be more than 40 nights a year. Better

events saw Stax go bankrupt in 1975. By

The list of minor-league outfits would

yet, they’ve made the Bluff City (finally!)

the 1990s, however, there was renewed

be forgettable if it wasn’t so lengthy.

big league. — F r a nk M urtaug h

interest in Memphis soul, and with financial

Remember the Memphis Rockers? What

support from true believers like Andy

about the Mad Dogs? Maniax? When word

Cates and Kirk Whalum, the Soulsville

leaked in 2001 that Vancouver Grizzlies

Foundation brought about a bonafide

owner Michael Heisley was considering

resurrection on McLemore, with the

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APRIL 2009 — In addition to his regular history column, for a feature story on “April Fools” Vance Lauderdale wrote about some of this city’s most notorious “shucksters, shysters, and scalawags.” Is this really a portrait of the notoriously camera-shy Lauderdale? Even Vance wouldn’t confirm it. “I really like the gold background; it reminds me of money,” was all he’d say about the cover.

OCTOBER 2010 — Charles Chandler is a delightful man, a talented artist

and fashion designer. For the cover story by Mary Helen Randall on his “fabulously fashionable life” we wanted to show the dapper gentleman in his element, working at his drawing board, and we recruited Jonathan Postal for the image. The bands of color added a nice touch that Charles himself probably appreciated.

Stax Music Academy, a Soulsville Charter

Dolly Parton. Three 6 made history that

public as a modestly used recreational area.

School, and Stax Museum of American

night when they performed a cleaned-up

The path to full park status was a winding

Soul Music, helping to bring thousands

PG version of the song — the first rap

one; two decades of legal wrangling were

into south Memphis to celebrate the glory

song ever to be performed at the Oscars.

required before one of the nation’s largest

that was and is soul. — R ic h a r d J. A l l ey

After the group’s acceptance speeches,

urban parks — five times the size of New

Juicy J shouted “Memphis, Tennessee!”

York’s Central Park — could be officially

Craig Brewer’s Hustle and Flow picks up music Oscar (2006).

into the microphone, a moment that no

created. In 2007, county government

doubt filled locals’ hearts with hometown

negotiated an agreement with the Shelby

pride. Hustle and Flow also helped put

Farms Park Conservancy allowing that

Memphis hip-hop had its shining moment

Memphis on the map as an up-and-coming

non-profit foundation to manage and

at the Academy Awards in 2006 when

indie-film center. — B i a nc a P hil l ip s

reinvent the Park’s 4,500 acres. The deal

Three 6 Mafia took home the Oscar for

also allowed private donors to boost the

The Park Conservancy officially takes over Shelby Farms (2007).

park’s budget and future direction in

breakout film Hustle & Flow, beat out a

It began life as a penal farm, but by the

Germantown officially became an extension

song by more established artists, including

1970s, Shelby Farms had been opened to the

of the Park. — R ic h a r d J. A l l ey

Best Original Song. “It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp,” which the rap group recorded for Memphis director Craig Brewer’s

accordance with a $70 million masterplan. In 2010, the Greenline from Midtown to

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C O N N E D ! Don't get taken to the cleaners ... ~ p. 52

NOVEMBER 2010 VOl x x x V NO 8

an w ho built the m

Modern MeMPHIS

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

THE CITY MAGAZINE

Memphis

F I C T I O N : O U R

B E S T - E V E R

C THE CITY MAGAZINE

S H O R T

S T O R Y ~ p. 54

VOL XXXVI NO 3 | JUNE 2011

THE

CU LTU R E ISSUE

WhoWe *7 Are! ART *7 MUSIC *7 THEATRE *7 FASHION *7 TASTE *7 Carroll Cloar Revisited ~ p. 38

Like Fathers, Like Sons ~ p. 50

Voices of the South ~ p. 34

the wor ld of

R OY H A R R OV E R

Summer in the City ~ p. 26

What’s Hot Out East ~ p. 82

0 6

—1 1

NOVEMBER 2010 — It may be presumptuous to name a single person who “built Memphis,” but we thought architect Roy Harrover merited that distinction as much as anybody, as the designer of Memphis International Airport, City Hall, Mud Island, and other landmarks. For the cover, Harrover’s iconic “martiniglass” façade for the airport set the stage for the whole story.

JUNE 2011 — In 2011 we began producing an annual “Culture Issue,” devoted to art, literature, design, music, theater, dining, and more — all of the components that make Memphis the city it is today. It’s not easy to convey “culture” with an image that works on newsstands, but we thought a photo from our fashion shoot that month was the perfect classy touch.

International Paper moves its world headquarters to Memphis (2006).

AutoZone. International Paper now has

dynasty created by the offspring of South

some 3,000 employees in the area, and

Memphis funeral-home operator N.J. Ford

continues to prosper in an ever-changing

would dominate the politics of inner-

industry. Ensconced in a cluster of glass

city Memphis for a generation. With

One of America’s oldest corporate

towers at Poplar and Massey, the IP

Congressman Harold Ford guiding voters

entities, International Paper (founded in

headquarters move had a magnet effect

via the “Ford ballot,” family partisans and

1898) first established Memphis roots in

upon commercial development, solidifying

siblings won numerous elections, while

1987, when the paper-products company

the reputation of the eastern edge of

son Harold Jr. would succeed his father

moved its operational headquarters and

Memphis along Poplar Avenue, adjacent

in Congress in 1997. But Jr.’s uncle John, a

more than 1,000 employees from New

to Germantown, as the modern office

controversial but influential State Senator,

York City to Memphis, prefiguring IP’s

“center” of the city. — J ohn B r a n st o n

was snagged in the FBI’s 2005 “Tennessee

shift of its global headquarters here from

Waltz” corruption sting and was convicted

John Ford is convicted; the Ford Machine is in disrepair (2007).

of bribery in 2007, later doing time in

companion for the city’s two homegrown

With the election in 1974 of Harold Ford

for Senate, thereby opening up the “family”

Fortune 500 companies, FedEx and

as Ninth District Congressman, a political

seat for Midtown liberal Steve Cohen

Stamford, Connecticut. Both decisions gave Memphis plenty of bragging rights and a badly needed big-name corporate

federal prison. The previous year Harold Ford Jr. had run an unsuccessful campaign

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Memphis

S H E R M A N W I L L M O T T ’ S KREATURE COMFORTS ~ p. 42 | W H O ’ S W H O ? ~ p. 54 | S T Y L E Memphis • THE CITY MAGAZINE • W W W.MEMPHISMAGAZINE.COM

THE CITY MAGAZINE

~ p. 34

VOL XXXVI NO 5 | AUGUST 2011

USA $3.99

Up On The Roof!

0 8

—1

The Peabody Rooftop Party

N IG H T L I F E

~ p. 170

AUGUST 2011 — The City Guide, a directory of all things Memphis, is the biggest issue we produce every year. Over the decades, we’ve embellished our covers with all sorts of images, usually resorting to views of the city skyline. For 2011, we tried a different approach — zooming in on a sunset party on the rooftop of The Peabody. The patterns and colors produced an almost abstract work of art.

JANUARY 2012 — It is impossible to overstate the importance of St.

Jude Children’s Research Hospital — not just to the young patients its doctors and researchers have saved, but to Memphis as a whole. To help the facility celebrate its 50th anniversary, we devoted a special issue to St. Jude, and introduced “Fifty Years of Miracles” with a fine image of hospital founder Danny Thomas.

in the 2006 election, who has held the

with Detroit and the Twin Cities) with

observers considered Willie Herenton the

office ever since. — Jac k s o n B a k e r

international service to Europe and as

city’s “mayor-for-life.” But with a binge

many as 200 different flights daily. Alas,

of arrogance here, a charge of cronyism

Northwest/Delta merger leads to eventual loss of hub status (2008).

Northwest’s 2008 merger with Delta

there, chinks soon began appearing in his

quickly proved Memphis’ undoing, as

armor. After easy reelection in 2003, the

our city’s hub was eliminated in favor of

former schools superintendent seemed

Delta’s Atlanta headquarters. Job losses

bored, and his presence was increasingly

With its central geographic location and

were significant, and since then, more

wearing on segments of the public. A

generally benign weather, Memphis has

limited air connectivity has negatively

movement to draft popular Shelby County

been an important passenger aviation nexus

impacted both business and consumer

Mayor A C Wharton as his opponent

since the early 1960s. In 1979 Southern

travel in the Mid-South — J ohn O’L e a ry

in 2007 was aborted after Herenton

Airways merged with Republic Airlines,

warned off Wharton in a private dinner

A C Wharton replaces Willie Herenton as Memphis mayor (2009).

between the two, yet he squeezed by two

the next two decades, Memphis was a

Having served three full terms as

opportunities and a possible congressional

major Northwest Airlines hub (along

Memphis’ first black mayor, most local

run, Herenton “retired,” and Wharton

which in turn joined with Northwest Airlines in 1986; at the time this was the largest merger in industry history. For

other opponents with a mere plurality. Two years later, eyeing charter-school

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DECEMBER 2013 — In our City Guides, our “Who’s Who” section names people you need to know. But in 2013, we tried something new: spotlighting one particular individual who, we felt, stood out from all others. For the very first “Memphian of the Year,” we chose Rabbi Micah Greenstein of Temple Israel. Other “Memphians of the Year” have been Bob Loeb (2014) and Marc Gasol (2015).

FEBRUARY 2014 — When you write about food, you put a mouth-wa-

tering photograph of food on the cover, right? Well, sometimes. But for 2014’s special Dining Issue, we decided to trace an imaginary “day in the life” of a “Memphis foodie” as he journeyed to some of the best restaurants named in our readers restaurant poll. Tyler Hillderbrand illustrated this lucky fellow beginning his day.

easily acceded to the job in a 2009

paths, and shared lanes have appeared

(Paxton Lynch) no one else wanted, Fuente

special election. — Jac k s o n B a k e r

on the local map, garnering Memphis the

took over a program that had won just

“most improved city” by that same Bicycling

three games in two seasons. Midway

magazine in 2012. The Greenline has

through Fuente’s third year on the sideline

connected to Germantown’s Greenway out

(2014) his Tigers had split six games; they

In the June 1976 issue of this magazine,

east and will soon tie into Arkansas via the

then proceeded to win their next 15. On the

one writer complained about how much

Harahan Bridge. — R ic h a r d J. A l l ey

way came the program’s first-ever finish

The Shelby Farms Park Greenline opens (2010).

Memphis was a cyclist’s nightmare.

in the country’s Top 25, and a demolition

It’s a whole new ballgame for Memphis Tiger football (2011).

of Ole Miss at a packed Liberty Bowl in

in October 2010, a protected, 6.5-mile

Justin Fuente’s name was mispronounced,

at Virginia Tech, and Lynch broke fans’

stretch of asphalt, the Shelby Farms Park

misspelled, and generally misunderstood

hearts when he decided to forego his

Greenline — built along an unused railroad

when he was introduced in December 2011

senior season to go pro, the unimaginable

right-of-way — opened from Shelby Farms

as the new football coach at the University

had happened: Normally known for its

Park to Tillman Road in Midtown. Since

of Memphis. With no head-coaching

basketball prowess, the U of M had become

then, nearly 200 miles of bike lanes, shared

experience and a redshirt quarterback

a football school. — F r a nk M urtaug h

Things weren’t much better in 2008 when Bicycling magazine singled out Memphis as America’s “worst city for cycling.” But

October 2015. When Fuente departed last winter to take the head coaching job

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MARCH 2015 — Okay, Vance Lauderdale sometimes writes about cemeteries, but for the most part our stories involve people and places above ground. Staff writer Eileen Townsend took a different direction, exploring the network of storm drains and sewers that lace beneath our city. Accompanied by photographer Brandon Dill, we showed readers parts of Memphis they never see.

SEPTEMBER 2015 — For previous “Culture” issues, we created eye-catching covers that showcased our region’s fashion, literature, or photography. But when art director Brian Groppe found “Kind-Hearted Woman,” a stunning oil painting by acclaimed African-American artist George Hunt, we knew it was the perfect image to convey the exuberance of our city’s musical heritage.

Memphis/Shelby County schools merge; suburbs form their own systems (2013).

delayed merger until 2013 and allowed

Mention the Overton Square of today to

the suburbs to establish their own school

anyone with a taste for good food and

districts. After court challenges and a

great atmosphere, and they might just

single year of merger, the county’s six

drive you to the intersection of Cooper

Responding to fears that the Republican-

suburban municipalities would duly

Street and Madison Avenue where Loeb

dominated General Assembly elected in

elect their own school boards, leaving

Properties has, in the past few years, re-

2010 would grant special-school-district

behind a Shelby County Schools district

created the festive atmosphere that was

status to the suburban-oriented Shelby

that was basically the old city system,

once the heartbeat of entertainment in

County Schools system and siphon off

re-designated. — Jac k s o n B a k e r

town. The still-classic buildings won the

tax resources, a Memphis City Schools board majority voted in December 2010 to surrender the MCS charter. That action,

fight against demolition and have been

Overton Square is reborn (2014).

filled with newcomers like Local, Babalu, Schweinhaus, and a revived Lafayette’s.

Mention the 1970s around a certain age

And that’s just for dining; the Square

the county schools, was subsequently

of Memphian and you’re sure to get

is also a hotbed of live entertainment

approved by the Memphis City Council.

your fill of colorful stories centered at

with Playhouse, Circuit Playhouse, and

The reaction was legislation put forward

Bombay Bicycle Club, T.G.I. Fridays,

Hattiloo theaters. Coming soon: Ballet

by Shelby County Republican leaders that

Burkle’s Bakery, or Lafayette’s Music Hall.

Memphis. — R ic h a r d J. A l l ey

which meant effective merger with

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editor’s note: It’s only fitting that there is a ten-foot statue of Edward Hull Crump greeting visitors at the Poplar Avenue entrance to Overton Park. Mr. Crump, after all, was always a larger-than-life figure. From humble beginnings in Holly Springs, Mississippi, the man once described by Time magazine as “the most absolute political boss in the United States” first was elected mayor of Memphis in 1909. But later, as a private citizen, he spent more than two decades as the “Decider,” filling virtually every government position in this city, and many if not most of the important ones in the state of Tennessee as well. When Ed Crump died in 1954, his funeral was the largest Memphis had ever seen, the number of mourners exceeded only by those attending the death of Elvis Presley, another sort of Memphis king. Throughout this Fortieth Anniversary Year, the staff of Memphis has been poring through this magazine’s rich archives, selecting stories which we think have stood well the test of time. Powerful politicians still hold — and hope for — public office throughout our country, but how did Crump in particular use his political “machine” to attain and maintain such absolute power over local and state government? In our April 1979 issue, then-associate editor Kenneth Neill attempted to answer that very question, in a story titled “Mr. Crump: The Making of a Boss.” Memphians of considerable age still remember the bygone era of Boss Crump from personal experience. But unfortunately, our younger readers may know him only by his name on a street, a stadium, and a statue. Hopefully, the retelling of the Crump story here will prove instructive, during this most political of seasons. — MF

T H E

O F

S B O S

N G I K M A by kenneth neill

t was New Year’s Eve, 1939, and all over town Memphians were preparing to give 1940 a hearty welcome. The public mood was even more festive than usual, given the fact that a gentle snowfall was doing its best to blanket the city. Crowds were gathering at the usual holiday spots, but the largest of all could be found at an unlikely New Year’s location: the railroad station at Main and Calhoun. The Panama Special was due in at 12:16 a.m. and would pick up hundreds of passengers for New Orleans, where Tulane and Texas A&M would do football battle in the Sugar Bowl on the following afternoon. But most of those who flocked to the station came without suitcases. They came not to travel, but to witness the trackside inauguration of Edward Hull Crump as the next Mayor of Memphis.

Some of the spectators were old enough to remember his last sojourn in the mayor’s office, between 1909 and 1916, but now the man everyone called simply “Mr. Crump” was the Godfather of Tennessee politics, a man who controlled virtually every public office in Shelby County and basically selected governors, senators, and congressmen for the state. Why then was he now taking an interest in holding so “minor” a position as that of Memphis’ city mayor? Crump had his reasons, reasons which had led to this, the most bizarre election in Memphis political history. He had quarreled badly with the outgoing mayor, Watkins Overton, a former protégé who had “turned” and thus was, needless to say, not a candidate for reelection. Crump’s choice as his successor was Walter Chandler, Memphis’ able young congressman (and the father of Wyeth, a

CRUMP PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY MEMPHIS AND SHELBY COUNT Y ROOM, BENJAMIN L. HOOKS CENTRAL LIBRARY

. R M

P M U R C

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But all machines are the products of men, and the one assembled by Crump in Memphis was no exception. It did not burst upon the scene overnight; nor did it hum perfectly from the outset. The Red Snapper’s career did have its roller coaster aspects. As time has passed and Memphians by now barely remember his name, most have forgotten that he was the only twentieth-century Memphis mayor forced from office by the courts because of his failure to enforce state laws. In the end, however, the tall then-redhead triumphed. The big question is how. How did Crump become one of the most powerful political figures in America? How was he able to make his own name synonymous with the political fortunes of Memphis and Tennessee? How was this country boy from Mississippi able to build for himself a Southern political empire? During the 1970s, memories of Mr. Crump were still fresh in the minds of most Memphians. Not surprisingly, the founders of Memphis magazine thought a posthumous “interview” with the Boss would be an ideal cover story for their ﬁrst-ever issue. This is a prototype of that April 1976 issue.

if he did, he knew only too well that neither position was really his own in the first place. Crump was the straw that stirred the drink in Memphis.

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or most of the first half of the twentieth century, Edward Hull Crump was the unquestioned master of Memphis and Tennessee government. Time magazine described him in 1946 as “the most absolute political boss in the United States.” For two decades, between 1928 and 1948, the Crump organization did not lose a single election that it contested on the city, county, or state level. Memphis had its City Hall, and Nashville had its State Capitol, but over these two decades, no one dared to act in either place without first consulting “the man on the corner” of Main and Adams, where the insurance agency of E.H. Crump and Company had its headquarters.

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t all began with business. Had Crump not succeeded in that realm, it is most unlikely that he would have surfaced on the political scene. As it was, the story of Crump’s first decade in the Bluff City is straight out of Horatio Alger. The Holly Springs native rose rapidly from a bookkeeper’s position with a carriage firm to the presidency of the same company seven short years later, in 1903. The young man had talent, no doubt about it. And not just for making money. Having risen so fast in business, Crump began to dabble in politics. This was the Progressive Era, when reformers across the country were attacking corruption in city politics and advocating more orderly, businesslike approaches to urban government. Crump cast his lot with the reformers, and in 1905 he was elected to the Board of Public Works as part of a clean sweep by the Progressives. At first the new board member kept a decidedly low profile. But appearances were deceiving. “As a businessman,” Crump remarked years later, “I have always sought to plan my work and then work out my plan.” He took the same approach to politics. Even at this early stage, he had begun laying the foundations for what followed. His first political aide was longtime friend Frank Rice, who would later become his de facto chief of staff. Rice was ideally suited for the rough-and-tumble world

ILLUSTRATION BY CALVIN FOSTER

future Memphis mayor). But since the city charter forbade federal office holders from running for municipal positions, Mr. Crump devised an unusual stratagem that would save Chandler the trouble of actually having to run for mayor. That fall, Crump had announced that he would run for the office, calling himself a “pinch hitter” for Congressman Chandler. After the election he would step aside, and “allow” the city commissioners, all Crump henchmen, to appoint Chandler as his replacement. This curious election-by-proxy went exactly as planned. Candidate Crump received 31,825 votes; as usual, there was no opposition. Now, on New Year’s Eve, the Boss of Memphis beamed and waved to the crowd as he prepared to take the oath of office. He was 66. His great shock of hair had long since lost the bright color that had earned him his “Red Snapper” sobriquet. But he still had the same bushy eyebrows, standing tall and erect on the station platform, nattily dressed as always. People in the crowd threw snowballs at each other, while Crump chatted amiably with some of his lieutenants: Ed Hale, longtime master of Shelby County government; Joe Boyle, organization man par excellence; and K.D. McKellar, Tennessee’s senior senator and Crump’s junior partner in the administration of state government. The ceremonies were over almost as soon as they had begun. “Mayor” Crump took his oath and immediately resigned; he exchanged a few pleasantries with Walter Chandler, his soon-to-be appointed successor. Then, after a last wave and a smile for the crowd, Crump and his “boys” boarded the Sugar Bowl-bound Special. The train was 17 minutes late leaving Memphis. Congressman Chandler was not among the football faithful; he stayed in town for his official elevation on the day after New Year’s. No doubt he also needed some time by himself to contemplate his strange rise to the city’s highest office. Chandler had enjoyed his three terms in Washington and had never expressed any interest in being mayor. Indeed, he only learned of his “candidacy” for that office after Crump had made the official press announcement. Perhaps Chandler was already yearning for his old seat on the House floor. But even 78 • M E M P H I S M A G A Z I N E . C O M • A P R I L 2 0 1 6

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of ward politics; an organizational wizard, he knew exactly when to shake hands and when to twist arms. When there was dirty work to be done, Crump always knew he could count upon Rice to do it. Meanwhile, the rising politico was building a public image that would serve him well in the future. As a newly elected member of the Fire and Police Commission in 1907, Crump hurled invective at the police chief (“I say that you are absolutely incompetent,” he fumed on several occasions) and won a reputation as a staunch opponent of organized crime. He also came out strongly in support of another important Progressive cause of the times: public ownership of municipal utilities. Over the next several decades, he conducted a running feud with local power companies that ended only when the city bought them all out and founded MLG&W in 1939. But Crump’s most immediate concern, and the one which gained him the widest popular support, was changing the structure of city government. Like most Progressives of the period, Crump advocated a shift to the commission form of government, whereby citizens elected individual department heads as well as the mayor. It was felt that this would make for less corruption and more efficient government. Since only the state legislature could change the city charter, the battle for commission government had to be fought in Nashville, not Memphis. The legislature approved the proposal in early 1909, thanks largely to the lobbying efforts of Crump and his colleagues. He returned to Memphis as a conquering hero (one newspaper referred to him as “general in command” of the pro-commission forces), and to no one’s surprise he shortly announced his candidacy for mayor in the forthcoming elections.

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rump’s formidable opponent in 1909 was Joe Williams, a former mayor and leader of the city’s old guard. But the future boss’ embryonic organization was ready to do battle. His boys knocked on doors, they made speeches, and they shook hands. Candidate Crump also made wide use of newspaper advertisements, the first time this had ever been done on a large scale in a Memphis election. One of the more fascinating aspects of this and other campaigns was Crump’s complete absence from the podium. A poor speaker, he reputedly never made a public speech during his entire political career, depending upon A P R I L 2 0 1 6 • M E M P H I S M A G A Z I N E . C O M • 79

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aides to handle these particular duties. But Crump did not remain aloof; in fact, personal contact with the voter was perhaps the key ingredient in all Crump campaigns. Noted the Memphis News Scimitar in 1909: “Crump knows everybody and shakes hands with everybody. His handshake is so hearty that no man can doubt his sincerity. He can cover more territory and be in more places at the same time than any man that ever entered the political game.” But the Williams organization also had its share of back-slappers and ward heelers. When the ballots were finally cast and counted, Crump emerged victorious — but only by the slender margin of 79 votes. Cries of “fraud” and “robbery” immediately emanated from the Williams camp.

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THE M A N EVERYONE C A LLED SIMPLY “MR. CRUMP” WAS THE GODFATHER OF TENNESSEE POLITICS, A M A N WHO CON TROLLED VIRTUA LLY EVERY PUBLIC OFFICE IN SHELBY COUN T Y A ND BASIC A LLY SELECTED GOVER NORS, SENATORS, A ND CONGR ESSMEN FOR THE STATE . There was some truth in the charges. Memphis was one of the few places in the South where blacks had not been disenfranchised. Unfortunately, they didn’t vote — they were voted. It was an old Memphis tradition for white politicians to capitalize upon the poverty and ignorance of black electors. Poll taxes were paid for them, and every candidate tried to provide bread and circuses, not to mention hard cash. Beyond that, dead men voted with astonishing regularity. As a product of its times, the Crump Organization employed many of these tactics, in white as well as black neighborhoods. But when Williams demanded a recount, perusal of the ballots revealed a much higher incidence of fraud on the side of the Old Guard. Williams dropped his suit, and Crump was firmly placed in the municipal driver’s seat.

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he new M ayor of Memphis immediately went on the offensive, attacking the more obvious of the city’s problems with the abandon of a whirling

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dervish. While Crump was anything but a socialist, he did make significant improvements upon the structure of urban government, which won him wide popular support. Fire and police services were streamlined, parks were built, and health facilities were improved, all while the tax rate was being reduced. This was made possible largely by Crump’s wholesale attack upon graft and corruption within city government. But control of the Mayor’s Office also gave Crump control over an enormous amount of patronage. Memphis had no civil service as such, and virtually every employee from department superintendent to street repair worker served at the whim of the mayor and his staff. During his first term in office, most workers were impressed by Crump’s swashbuckling tactics and became enthusiastic supporters. Those who were merely lukewarm in their support were often asked to step aside, their places taken by organization loyalists. It was during this period that Crump and Frank Rice put together their famous card file on voters, one that would serve the organization so well over the next few decades. Eventually this contained the name and voting history of virtually every voter in Shelby County. A New York City Tammany Hall stalwart who visited Memphis several years later rated the Crump system as the most comprehensive and efficient he had ever seen. It certainly produced results. On election days, the Crump organization kept a close record of how many of its supporters had actually cast ballots. As the day progressed, lists were drawn up of those persons who had backed Crump in the past and had not yet appeared at the polls. At that point, cars were sent from house to house, where earnest young loyalists cajoled and pleaded with residents to do their democratic duty. Everything was done to make their trips to the polling stations as quick as possible; in many cases, the organization even took care of paying the $2 poll tax. No doubt there was always a certain amount of fraud and even intimidation involved in Memphis elections during the Crump era. But by and large such clumsy tactics were unnecessary. At a very early stage, the emerging Boss wisely discerned that he could make voter turnout a powerful political tool. He was able to mobilize many apathetic citizens on his behalf. His opponents, not as well organized, rarely mustered equal support.

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y making sure that almost everyone who halfway supported him actually voted, Crump was able to coast to reelection victories in 1911 and 1915. But storm clouds loomed on the horizon. This was the Prohibition Era, but in Memphis, as A P R I L 2 0 1 6 • M E M P H I S M A G A Z I N E . C O M • 81

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in most large cities, anti-liquor laws were largely ignored. Mayor Crump made little attempt to enforce them, his theory being that a majority of Memphians opposed prohibition in the first place. The state courts disagreed. An ouster petition was filed against Crump in accordance with a state law that called for the removal from office of local officials who did not enforce the ban on alcohol. The state supreme court upheld the ouster petition, and Mayor Crump resigned under pressure 100 years ago, in February of 1916. Crump’s forced exit from City Hall was a crucial turning point in his political career. Perhaps it was a personal affront to him, one which at least partly explains the proxy election circus of 1940 and Crump’s desire to be mayor again, if only for an instant. But his ouster from City Hall also marked a dramatic shift in his political emphasis. From this point onward, the Crump organization became increasingly involved in state politics, as Crump realized just how much his control of Memphis depended upon his inf luence in Nashville.

T I ME M AGA ZINE DESCR IBED HIM IN 1946 AS “THE MOST A BSOLUTE POLITIC A L BOSS IN THE UNITED STATES.”

Although its master was no longer mayor, the Crump Machine remained largely intact after the 1916 ouster. It retained its almost complete domination over Shelby County politics (Crump himself was elected to the position of County Trustee in 1919), and had the Boss been willing to force the issue, there seems to be little doubt that, from the outset, he could have installed a succession of puppet mayors in City Hall. But Crump chose instead to allow his opponents to fill the municipal stage, albeit temporarily. For the moment, he had bigger fish to fry — in Nashville.

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o understand how Crump eventually succeeded in establishing his sway over Tennessee politics, one must first understand how few people actually voted in Southern elections during the 1920s and 1930s. In Tennessee elections during this period, three out of every four adults failed to vote. In the state’s 1926 gubernatorial election, for example, over 1,300,000 Tennesseans were eligible to vote, but the actual turnout was only 233,000. Between 1922 and 1948, voter 82 • M E M P H I S M A G A Z I N E . C O M • A P R I L 2 0 1 6

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participation in state elections averaged a paltry 24 percent. Voter apathy certainly played a role in a state that was still over 65 percent rural in 1930. Walking two or three miles to vote in a state where automobiles were not plentiful was also was a challenge for many. But by far the biggest factor in low voter turnout during this era was the poll tax. Tennessee’s poll tax was $2 per person, a hefty sum back when breakfast cereal was 10 cents a box and lamb just 17 cents a pound. An institution in most Southern states during this period, the poll tax was employed specifically to disenfranchise African Americans. Voter participation nationally averaged around 64 percent; in the states of the old Confederacy, voter turnout averaged just 22 percent. Indeed, in pre-Civil Rights era, the poll tax was the major weapon used by political leaders in the South to suppress the black vote, to insure that state legislatures remained lily-white. In Tennessee, however, the poll tax produced somewhat different results. Not that

FOR TWO DEC A DES, BETWEEN 1928 A ND 1948, THE CRUMP ORGA NIZ ATION H A R DLY EVER LOST A N ELECTION TH AT IT CON TESTED ON THE CIT Y, COUN T Y, OR STATE LEVEL .

the state Senate and House were ever anything but 100 percent white. But when compared to other Southern states, Tennessee’s black population was relatively small, only 18 percent of the total in 1930. A majority of black Tennesseans, however, were concentrated in Memphis, one of the few places in the South where African Americans voted — or were voted — regularly, with the encouragement and direction of Crump. So did thousands of white Memphians. In fact, the efficiency of the Memphis Organization put from 50,000 to 75,000 votes into the pocket of Crump in every state election during these two decades. Since voter turnout was so low in most other parts of Tennessee, Crump could exert a much stronger influence upon state politics than might otherwise have been the case. On election night, many a candidate for state office went into “Big Shelby” leading by a comfortable margin, only to go down to ignominious defeat when 85 percent of the Memphis vote was recorded for his opponent. An organization that could dominate state

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politics, of course, could not be built overnight. This, in fact, required the better part of a decade, as the Memphis boss made alliances with rural courthouse bigwigs and all sorts of minor politicos across the state, and jostled for power with the then-dominant forces of Nashville newspaper magnate Luke Lea. But Crump and his boys were playing their cards wisely. Before long they would cash in their chips.

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hile Crump did not directly control Memphis politics in the decade after his 1916 ouster, his influence remained formidable. Witness what happened in the 1919 mayoral election, when his old rival Joe Williams squared off against newcomer Rowlett Paine. The organization said nothing throughout the campaign, until the night before the election, when the word went out from Main and Adams: “We are with Paine.” Paine won by 3,000 votes. He could justly claim that the victory was his own, but he doubtless felt as if a brontosaurus was

BUT CRUMP’S MOST IMMEDI ATE CONCER N, A ND THE ONE WHICH GA INED HIM WIDEST POPUL A R SUPPORT, WAS CH A NGING THE STRUCTUR E OF CIT Y GOVER NMEN T. breathing heavily down the back of his neck. Even out of office, Crump continued to wield large blocs of electoral support. His secret? Obviously, he attracted many voters simply on the basis of his own record as a no-nonsense politician. While he could hardly be considered a social reformer, his emphasis upon governmental honesty and civic pride won him many friends. “I’m a Crump man,” said one Memphian with simple eloquence. “He’s nearer right than any man I know.” But there were deeper roots to Crump’s popular appeal. Much of his success was the result of his ability to win friends in all sections of the community. His was the classic formula for political success: be all things to all men. From the outset, Crump depended heavily upon black support. As we have seen, much of this was provided by artificial methods, but there were also many black votes given freely and willingly to the Organization. While Crump was as bigoted as most white Southerners of his era, he reached out to blacks in ways that few of his opponents had

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previously done: parks, public housing, and even a few city jobs. As early as 1911, one black community leader gave this as his reason for backing Crump: “The other candidate promises everything, and I fear he will do nothing. But this red-headed fellow frankly declines to promise some of the things we want, but convinced me that he will fulfill the promises that he did make.” Crump could also count upon broad support from another group of Memphians: those who were foreign-born or who had parents born abroad. The ethnic vote was a relatively small percentage of the Memphis total (roughly 15 percent), but it went solidly for Crump, especially after the mayoral election of 1923. In that year Rowlett Paine’s bid for reelection was opposed by the Ku Klux Klan. Crump took a firm stand against the Klan, and the support of his organization was instrumental in Paine’s 2,000-vote victory. Crump had pragmatic reasons for opposing the Klan. The KKK was then undergoing a national resurgence, and his machine was

MUCH OF HIS SUCCESS WAS THE R ESULT OF HIS A BILIT Y TO WIN FR IENDS IN A LL SECTIONS OF THE COMMUNIT Y. HIS WAS THE CL ASSIC FOR MUL A FOR POLITIC A L SUCCESS: BE A LL THINGS TO A LL MEN. eager to nip in the bud this possible threat to its local power. But whatever his motives, Crump’s stand won him unwavering affection from Memphians of foreign origin, most of whom were Catholic and felt as threatened as blacks by the rise of the Klan. These feelings were reinforced by Crump’s staunch support of the Catholic Democrat Al Smith in the 1928 presidential election, in the face of the massive electoral revolt by Southern Democrats that cost Smith victory. Perhaps the most remarkable feature of the Crump political persona was that he was able to appeal to both blacks and ethnics without totally alienating their arch-enemies: middleand lower-class whites of rural origin. This of course was the largest single electoral bloc in Memphis during the first half of the twentieth century; that support made possible the Klan’s impressive revival during the 1920s. Crump, the Progressive and opponent of the Klan, lost many votes among these Memphians, but he did have one great advantage that made it possible for him to retain the

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support of a sizable number of whites of rural origin: he was one of them. Crump never disavowed his Mississippi roots. Indeed, every Sunday afternoon he would dine with his mother in Holly Springs, and afterwards would sit with her for hours on the front porch of her home in north Mississippi. While he made Memphis his political home, he never forgot from whence he came. Crump’s principles, his patterns of behavior, and even his language remained unchanged. When he quarreled with Gordon Browning in the mid-Thirties, the Tennessee governor, he described the governor as “the kind of man who would milk his neighbor’s cow through a crack in the fence.” In the midst of another quarrel, Crump characterized an opponent as a man whose “mind is as warped and out of shape as a bale of cotton is with three hoops off.” Appropriate imagery for a city like Memphis, which one contemporary observer described as the most densely populated rural area in the world. There was only one major segment of the Memphis community with which the Boss had no strong ties: the local aristocracy, the established cotton and mercantile families who dominated the city’s economic and social life. But Crump bridged this gap cleverly with his choice of a candidate for the 1928 mayoral election, when his organization decided to reassert its authority on the municipal level. Crump tapped young Watkins Overton, scion of one of the city’s wealthiest families and a Harvard-educated attorney whose name had been identified with Memphis since his great-grandfather helped found the city in 1819. Entering the 1928 election, therefore, Crump’s organization had footholds in all four major sections of the Memphis community. It could count on overwhelming support from blacks and ethnics, and it could hope for at least a split of the middle- and lower-class white vote. And with Watkins Overton in the saddle, the Machine could start making valuable inroads among the city’s social establishment as well. All this spelled trouble for Rowlett Paine, at that point an incumbent running for a third term. He was no match for the Crump Machine. Huge newspaper ads extolled the virtues of Candidate Overton. Crump did his share of handshaking, and organization regulars dusted off the index card files for use on Election Day. The result was never really in doubt; Rowlett Paine was, in a word, stomped. Watkins Overton captured 73 percent of the vote. After an absence of 12 years, Mr. Crump was back in City Hall. Not in person, of course; in fact, the Boss called officially upon Mayor Overton only once over the next decade. But there was no need for Memphis’ boss to be physically present. His organization was firmly in charge of city government; safely back

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in power, it could now resume its old policy of using city employees as virtual agents for the cause. It had taken two long decades for the Crump machine to get into high gear. For the next two, however, it would motor along smoothly, purring like a well-tuned Packard.

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rump’s political success in Memphis was matched by triumph at the state level during the early 1930s. From 1930 until 1948, no Tennessee governor was elected without his support. The governors were Crumpets, men who often were little more than figureheads for the Organization. Those few who dared step out of line were given grim lessons in the realities of Tennessee politics in the Age of Crump. Consider what happened to Gordon Browning, Crump’s choice in the 1936 gubernatorial race, whose victory was largely the result of his receiving 60,218 votes in Shelby County. (Browning’s opponent received 861.) But Governor Browning charted an independent course, a strategy which lost him his friend at Main and Adams in Memphis, and doomed his 1938 reelection campaign almost before it had started. “In the art galleries of Paris,” fumed Mr. Crump, “there are twenty-seven pictures of Judas Iscariot. None of them look the same, but they all bear a remarkable resemblance to Gordon Browning.” Big Shelby echoed its Boss’ sentiments. In the 1938 election Browning received only 9,214 votes in the county; the Crump nominee racked up 56,302. In barely two years, Browning’s share of the local vote had plummeted from 95 to 14 percent. Once again, Crump had demonstrated the stranglehold he had upon Tennessee Politics. Not surprisingly, his ironclad control of state government helped reinforce his organization in his hometown. The Boss became an object of considerable civic pride, especially after national publications like Collier’s and The Saturday Evening Post began running articles about “Mr. Crump’s Memphis.” And after all, how could the local citizenry complain, when the State of Tennessee was essentially functioning as a public corporation run by and for its minority stockholders in Memphis?

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his domain, he watched the pavement as sharply as a kingfisher hunting shiners; his pink face lighted at the first sign of recognition. If people turned, he snatched a wide-brimmed grey hat from his ear-long white locks, nodded majestically as if thousands cheered, and cranked down the car window with incredible dexterity to bawl, “Hiya, boy!” He beamed as voices lifted in startled salutation. “They like me,” he said. “To have a friend, be a friend. Some say live and let live. I say live and help live.” — Time magazine, May 27, 1946.

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To explain the political success of Edward Hull Crump simply in terms of organizational efficiency and electoral manipulations is a bit too simplistic. As in the case of most major political figures from Julius Caesar to John F. Kennedy, his own character was of crucial importance. “There was really nothing very special about his techniques,” observes Memphis State professor Kenneth Wald. “But he was special in the sense that he had the foresight to use them to maximum advantage.” Whatever one thinks of Crump’s ideals or methods, one must admit that he was a consummate politician, a man of genius in his chosen field who, for decades, never let his finger slip far away from the pulse of the community. “Whatever history may say of Mr. Crump,” observed Shields MacIlwaine in his 1948 book, Memphis Down in Dixie, “it must say that in him Memphians were lucky: He was better than they deserved.” While he wielded as much (if not more) power as legendary bosses like Prendergast in Kansas City and Tweed in New York, his intentions were

CRUMP DESCR IBED THE GOVER NOR AS “THE K IND OF M A N WHO WOULD MILK HIS NEIGHBOR’S COW THROUGH A CR ACK IN THE FENCE .” considerably more benevolent. No one ever accused Crump of taking a single dime out of the public coffers, and while many leading citizens found it politically expedient to maintain at least one insurance policy with E.H. Crump and Co., Crump went to great lengths to keep his business and political careers as separate as possible. The man himself epitomized the classic Anglo-Saxon virtues; his entire life was one prudent pursuit of prosperity. “It is a fine thing to be an important person in the world,” he wrote to his son on one occasion, “but this always takes conscientious preparation. None of us just spring to fame or distinction overnight. There is no royal road to anything worthwhile.” But whatever Crump was as a private individual, he became something else as a public figure. His benevolence was bestowed only upon those who agreed with him; with his enemies he could be considerably less charitable. A reporter for The Economist visited Memphis in 1943 and described him as “less the traditional American political leader and more the modern dictator.”

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But was he? Crump’s rise to power, after all, was not accomplished by the sound of jackboots hitting the pavement. While he did use his enormous power to reward his friends and punish his enemies, there were no Brownshirts required in the Crump ranks, no Gestapo patrolling the three Parkways he built. But in one respect his success was strikingly similar to that of Mussolini and Hitler. Like them, he was put into office by the people, by a populace quite willing to sacrifice the essentials of democracy for a government that was efficient and orderly, one that “got the job done.” So what if a few rebels got their heads shoved down? So what if a few labor organizers were beaten up in alleys? Weren’t the streets clean? Didn’t the buses run on time? Memphis during the Thirties and the Forties may have been a dictatorship, but if it was, the fault lay not with Crump but with Memphians themselves. He could not have

“IN THE A RT GA LLER IES OF PA R IS,” F UMED CRUMP, “THER E A R E TWEN T YSEVEN PICTUR ES OF J UDAS ISC A R IOT. NONE OF THEM LOOK THE SA ME , BUT THEY A LL BE A R A R EM A R K A BLE R ESEMBL A NCE TO GOR DON BROWNING.”

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been anything they did not want him to be. State Attorney-General Will Gerber spoke for most of the city’s citizens when he said this in 1941: “Mr. Crump is engineer, conductor, and flagman. He runs the train. He has never run late, never had a wreck, and always been on time. We [in Memphis] are all tickled to death to be riding with him.” No doubt there was always a certain amount of fraud and even intimidation involved in Memphis elections during the Crump era. But by and large such clumsy tactics were unnecessary. At a very early stage, the Boss wisely discerned that he could turn a potential political enemy — voter indifference — into a political ally. He was able to use money to mobilize apathetic citizens who might otherwise have stayed at home on election days. Less well-organized, his opponents failed to muster equal support. As far as most Memphians were concerned, they were just happy to be passengers on Mr. Crump’s train.

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PHOTOGRAPH BY MURRAY RISS

above: The green space surrounding The Village at Germantown gives it a country feel. left: John and Sue Dewald in their happy place — their yellow sunroom.

Inside the complex, there is green space everywhere, with lovely views from the common areas and residences. Established in 2006, The Village at Germantown does indeed feel like a self-contained “village” in the country, all while having excellent amenities reminiscent of a first-class resort. The stated mission of The Village is to preserve the kinds of lifestyles that its residents have become familiar with throughout their lives, and to help them grow in a new environment. In addition to providing for an independent residential lifestyle, The Village also offers on-site, long-term healthcare, including assisted living, skilled nursing/rehabilitation, adult day care, and memory care, should these services be required. In touring the clubhouse, we were impressed by the handsome common areas, which include a beautiful parlor area with player piano, an extensive library, card rooms, 96 • M E M P H I S M A G A Z I N E . C O M • A P R I L 2 0 1 6

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THERE IS EVERY OPPORTUNITY “TO LIVE YOUR LIFE, YOUR WAY, EVERY DAY” AT THE VILLAGE AT GERMANTOWN.

above left: The well-appointed library includes many volumes donated by Village residents.

above right: The comfortable lobby of the new Assisted Living building.

bottom: The dining room feels like an elegant restaurant that could be anywhere in the world.

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pool room, and movie theater. There is even a special woodworking/tool room for those residents eager to continue their crafts in this area. Lovely art is displayed on the walls everywhere throughout the Village, including one particularly beautiful oil painting, “The Hospitality of St. Julian,” by Cristofano Allori, donated by a resident. The dining room resembles nothing so much as any elegant restaurant anywhere in the world, and The Polo Lounge (the local pub), while not exactly in Beverly Hills, is very inviting. I am told at “happy hour” the place is packed! The prime rib lunch I enjoyed in the bistro was delicious.

RAYMOND SHAINBERG AND JUDY BOSHWIT HAVE A LOT OF “COOL” ARTWORKS, INCLUDING STANDING GIRAFFES.

top: Raymond Shainberg and Judy Boshwit happily pose between their pet giraffes. center left: The gracious living room of Wanda Lenoir’s apartment. center right: A typical façade of one of the villa residences at The Village at Germantown. bottom left: The eight directors that form the management team at The Village are Mark Renick, Melissa Rukstad, Julie Repking, Don Selheimer, Ron Rukstad, Pam Leet, Jesse Crittendon, and Susan Edwards. bottom right: Popular staffers Megan Collins, Diana Ramirez, and Maria Wyatt enjoy a break together in the pub.

In the Reed Wellness Center, the Oasis Salon is a full-service operation with facials, manicures and massages available. There is also an Olympic-sized saltwater swimming pool, walking track, health spa, and fitness center. Methodist Healthcare doctors come several times a week to attend to residents as needed; Dr. Nidal Rahal, medical director of the Village’s Health Care Center, is one of the few geriatric and palliative-care hospice specialists in our area. The Village internally is managed, well, just like a village. Twenty-eight residents’ committees cover every aspect of life at the complex: dining, leisure activities, building and grounds, movies, library, and so on. As one staff member puts it, “This is their home, we just work here.” Speaking of the library, this handsome room is stocked with books originally donated by residents; volunteer resident librarians organize and catalogue the collection. There is even a full-service branch of First Tennessee bank at the Village. How handy is that! Oh, and don’t forget Sally, the eight-year-old golden retriever and “canine concierge” who lives on the premises. The Village proudly fosters dogs from the Memphis Area Golden Retriever Rescue organization. Our photographer and I were invited to showcase one of The Village’s graciously appointed apartments which is home to Wanda Lenoir, as well as three elegant free-standing villas on the property, belong to, respectively, Sue and John Dewald, Janice Fitzpatrick, and Raymond Shainberg and Judy Boshwit. I really had a wonderful time talking to

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these kind people who let us in to photograph their homes (Ms. Lenoir was not available for an interview, but we thank her for letting us shoot her apartment.) John and Sue Dewald have been at The Village for two years now, and have a very colorful and cozy house on the property. From the unique collection of porcelain rolling pins on the wall to the bright yellow sunroom, I knew theirs was a happy house. In fact, the couple said they added the sunroom to mirror the one in their former home, so I suppose you could say they brought the sunshine with them. One nice tidbit I gleaned from my conversation with the Dewalds is that they’ve managed to entice some of their friends from their Second Presbyterian Sunday School group to follow in their footsteps, and move to The Vil-

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lage at Germantown. I couldn’t resist saying that “Of course, it takes a village,” but in this case, “It takes The Village”! I was told that Janice Fitzpatrick’s house was deserving of a big “wow,” and indeed it was. Fitzpatrick says she had been making enhancements and tweaking the floor plan little by little during the nine-and-a-half years she had been living at The Village. Many decorative pieces came both from her former East Memphis home as well as from trips with her late husband to the Orient. Asian art and collected artifacts are spread throughout, and she pointed to her “favorite wall,” which has a tapestry centered on it with a pair of ancient Chinese wooden shutters on each side. I commented about her player piano, and Fitzpatrick says she loves to entertain, and once had 42 people in her compact place!

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Raymond Shainberg and Judy Boshwit welcomed us with open arms into their villa and are clearly friendly, fun-loving people. Shainberg immediately suggested that our job was to “make me look like Robert Redford in the photo.” And the truth is that was not too difficult! Raymond and Judy have a lot of “cool” artworks, including standing giraffes and several paintings by the late Louisiana artist, George Rodrigue, famed for his “Blue Dog” paintings. I particularly liked a colorful painting by Adele Lemm, a former teacher at the Memphis College of Art. The couple has lived at The Village for two-and-a-half years now, and like so many people in retirement-living situations everywhere, they say, “We should have come here earlier,” even MEMPHIS

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id you know that there are many things that can inﬂuence the quality of your hearing? It could be as simple as wax buildup, or it could be permanent hearing loss.

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Let our expert Doctors of Audiology check your hearing. We’d like to extend an invitation for a complimentary baseline hearing check. It’s easy and it’s free, so call today!

Call 901-762-0125

for an appointment, today!

East Memphis Munford Collierville

Angela Cissom Doctor of Audiology

Savannah

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American Made Hearing Aid Solutions

Janice Fitzpatrick’s house is deserving of a big “wow.” Above is the living room ﬁlled with Asian art and below is her open and spacious kitchen with its beautiful custom woodwork.

though they were faced with downsizing from two separate homes when they came to Germantown. Afterwards, I sat down with Ron Rukstad, executive director of The Village at Germantown. “What makes this place so special,” he says, “is that it is a resident-driven community. We are here to meet and exceed the high standards and expectations of our residents.” Rukstad notes with pride that most of his community’s residents stay busy and continue to grow, not only doing what they had been used to doing, but learning other talents and exploring new opportunities. Some residents still go to an office every day, while others volunteer in a variety of situations, for example as part of a reading group at Germantown Elementary School.

Established.

Experienced. Expanding.

TheVillage at Germantown: 10 years and growing. The Village at Germantown is busy adding more Independent Living residences. The Village offers a private residential lifestyle with the services you need today, as well as into the future. You have the assurance of on-site assisted living, skilled nursing care and memory care, should you ever need it. And we’ve added a new Enrichment Center offering Adult Day Services and a new Memory Care Center—open to the public—right in the heart of Germantown!

We’re now welcoming new neighbors as well as continuing to add exciting and fulfilling opportunities for our existing and future residents.

We invite you to come experience "The Village Difference." Call today for your sneak preview of Independent Residences and specials on Adult Day Services and Memory Care!

901-737- 4242 Independent Living 901-752- 2580 Healthcare Center 7820 Walking Horse Circle, Germantown, TN 38138 |

www.village-germantown.com

Live your life— your way, every day — at The Village! MM_FullPage_TrimSize_9x25_11x125.indd 1

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9293 Poplar Avenue Germantown, TN

(901) 757-4114

info@germantownplantation.com

Month-To-Month Rents!

   

Large, Upscale Apartments with Balconies Fine Dining with Chef Prepared Meals Dedicated Chapel Movie Theatre and Indoor Pool

   

Every month Rukstad hosts a luncheon to welcome new residents, most of whom tell him, “I feel at home already!” He is very proud as well of The Village’s close affiliation with Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare; the two have been partners in designing ongoing wellness and healthcare programs for residents. Rukstad is excited that the ten-yearold Village at Germantown is expanding, and points to the new Assisted Living building, with its spacious apartments, and additional independent living residences are currently under construction. In addition, the popular Polo Lounge pub is being extended and a mini-golf course is being built.

Transportation to Doctors & Shopping 24-hour Licensed Nurses & Full-time RN Emergency Call Pendants Locally Owned and Operated

“a beau�ful community with a caring staﬀ oﬀering both independent and assisted living op�ons. . .” www.germantownplantation.com

COME HOME TO LEGACY The colorful and clever chalk pub signs are drawn by talented Village staffer Megan Smith.

EXCEPTIONAL SENIOR LIVING

CMY

6539 Knight Arnold Rd., Memphis (901) 360-8785 LegacyatLenoxPark.com

VIBRANT LIVING WITH NO WORRIES

6551 Knight Arnold Rd., Memphis (901) 692-9260 LegacyatLenoxPark.com

I was impressed by The Village’s very personable staff; everyone I met seemed dedicated to their jobs and to the residents. The Village’s sales and marketing director, Pam Leet, is proud of the fact that staff retention is very high. In walking the hallways I noted great camaraderie between residents and employees. Everyone knew everybody’s name, and there were friendly, good-natured, and humorous greetings all round. One 100-yearold resident gentleman is already hard at work planning his 101st birthday party. Now that’s spirit for you! Upon leaving, I made plans to return soon to visit some of the friends we made among the congenial staff and residents. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit and am convinced there is every opportunity “to live your life, your way, every day” at The Village at Germantown.

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Exceptional 1 BR and 2 BR floor plans available.

Stop and smell the flowers! Apartment homes at Heritage at Irene Woods are ideal if you want to maintain your independence and enjoy a little extra help. Conveniences like meals, housekeeping, medication reminders, and personal care are all available. Our Memory Care has immediate availability! Our community offers Independent Living, Assisted Living as well as Memory Care. Find out how it can change the way you live...for the better.

Call Donna for a private tour and complimentary lunch – (901) 737-4735.

Independent Living Assisted Living Memory Care

4580 Forest Hill Irene Rd. | Memphis, TN 38125 | www.RoseSeniorLiving.com

Still the one. The only accredited* outpatient Pain Clinic in the Mid-South.

Period. Memphis Magazine’s

THE 2016

FACE PAIN OF

MANAGEMENT

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Mays & Schnapp PAIN CLINIC AND REHABILITATION CENTER

55 Humphreys Center Drive Suite 200 • Memphis, TN 901-747-0040 *Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities

Moacir Schnapp, MD & Kit S. Mays, MD • maysandschnapp.com

3/17/16 9:04 AM

Purposefull.

The Farms at Bailey Station is coming. And, along with it, unparalleled opportunities to live better, fuller and with a sense of purpose as never before. Enjoy the perfect balance of city and country life as you cultivate new friendships with like-minded individuals. Make an appointment to learn more. Call (901) 328-4850 today. 10013 Grand Central Circle East, Collierville, TN 38017 | (901) 328-4850 | thefarmsatbaileystation.com

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RETIREMENT RESOURCES

Robinwood Retirement Resort

Limited Availab ilit

Allenbrooke Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, LLC

3933 Allenbrooke Cove, Memphis, TN 38118 901-795-2444 | allenbrookerehabcenter.com Apple Grove, Alzheimer’s & Dementia Residence

3575 Hacks Cross Road, Memphis, TN 38125 901-755-1244 | applegroveliving.com Ave Maria Home

2805 Charles Bryan Road, Memphis, TN 38134 386-3211 | avemariahome.org Belmont Village

6605 Quail Hollow Road, Memphis, TN 38120 901-624-8820 | memphis.belmontvillage.com Brookdale Memphis

6015 Primacy Parkway, Memphis, TN 38117 901-312-9743 | brookdale.com/Memphis The Farms at Bailey Station

276 Grand Central Circle East, Collierville, TN 38017 901-328-4850 | thefarmsatbaileystation.com Gardens of Germantown Memory Care

3179 Professional Plaza Drive, Germantown, TN 38138 901-755-5450 | gardensofgermantown.com

Best of Bartlett winner 2015 Enjoy the convenience, comfort, and luxury of Robinwood and leave all the responsibilities to us. If you want stress-free/maintenance-free retirement living, our apartment and patio homes provide the features you desire. Designed exclusively for adults 55 and over, we oﬀer the comforts and conveniences of modern living without the hassle of upkeep.      

Concierge & Valet Services No Buy-In Fees/Month-to-Month Rent Utilities, Phone, Cable & WiFi Freedom Dining Program Fitness Center & Wellness Programs On-Site Theatre & Entertainment

    

Weekly Housekeeping 24/7 Emergency Alert System One Price - All-Inclusive Pets Warmly Welcomed - No Fee! Satisfaction Guaranteed!

Call to schedule a tour of our apartment or patio homes: 901-201-5588 2795 Kirby Whitten Parkway



Bartlett TN, 38134



RobinwoodRetirement.com

Germantown Plantation Senior Living Community

9293 Poplar Avenue, Germantown, TN 38138 901-757-4114 | germantownplantation.com Glenmary at Evergreen

1550 North Parkway, Memphis, TN 38112 901-726-4881 | theglenmary.com Hearing and Balance Centers of West Tennessee

ACI ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATES INCORPORATED

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTING SERVICES

6242 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, TN 38119 901-842-4327 | hearingmemphis.com Heritage at Irene Woods

Assisted Living | Respite | Day Care

4580 Forest Hill Irene Road, Memphis, TN 38125 901-737-4735 | heritageirenewoods.com

Caring is the very core of what we do.

Kirby Pines

3535 Kirby Road, Memphis, TN 38115 901-369-7340 | kirbypines.com Legacy at Lenox Park

6551 Knight Arnold Road, Memphis, TN 38115 901-692-9260 | legacyatlenoxpark.com Legacy Estates at Lenox Park

6539 Knight Arnold Road, Memphis, TN 38115 901-360-8785 | legacyatlenoxpark.com Life Pointe Village at Southaven

2782 Star Landing Road E. at Getwell, Southaven, MS 38672 | (662) 429-7672 | lifepointevillages.com Lutheran Village

3589 Covington Pike, Memphis, TN 38128 901-385-7061 | lutheranvillagememphis.com

Memphis Magazine’s

THE 2016

FACE

George A. Parks, President and George R. Payne, Jr., RA, Vice President

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTING

Everything about Apple Grove is designed to provide a sense of individuality and well being. We’ve built a community where as much attention is spent enriching our resident’s quality of life as strengthening their lifetime of memories.

For more than 28 years, ACI has provided its clients a full range of professional environmental consulting services including asbestos, lead-based paint and mold surveys and abatement design solutions; regulatory compliance assistance; and all phases of environmental property assessments from the initial Phase 1 ESA through site remediation.

2969 Elmore Park Rd. Ste. 200 • Memphis, TN 38134

901.382.4767

3575 Hacks Cross Road, Memphis, TN 901.755.1244 | applegroveliving.com A P R I L 2 0 1 6 • M E M P H I S M A G A Z I N E . C O M • 107

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Your Step Back Home

Memphis Jewish Home & Rehab

36 Bazeberry Road | Cordova, TN 38018 901-758-0036 | memphisjewishhome.org Olive Grove Terrace & the Arbors of Olive Grove Terrace

Short Term Rehab and Outpatient Therapy Services.

Quince

Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, LLC 6733 Quince Road • Memphis, TN 38119 Tel: 901.755.3860 • Fax: 901.757.4028

9684 Old Goodman Road, Olive Branch, MS 38654 (662) 441-2633 | americareusa.net Quail Ridge Alzheimer's Special Care Center

QuinceRehabCenter.com

2820 Kirby Whitten Parkway, Bartlett, TN 38134 901-377-7995 | jeaseniorliving.com Quince Nursing & Rehabilitation Center

6733 Quince Road, Memphis, TN 38119 901-755-3860 Robinwood Resort

2795 Kirby Whitten Parkway, Bartlett, TN 38134 901-300-3832 | rlcommunities.com Schilling Gardens & the Arbors of Schilling Gardens “Meaningful Moments” a distinctive Memory Care Program designed to “Meaningful Moments” a distinctive Memory Care Program designed to honor honor the individual’s storyresident. of eachQuail resident. Gardens is the individual’s life story life of each RidgeColonial is committed to being the leader in providing quality personal servicesquality for our personal residents while honoring committed to being the leader in providing services for the experience aging. our residentsofwhile honoring the experience of aging.

Support Groups, Dementia Workshops,and andEducational Educational forums offered. Support Groups, Dementia Workshops, forums offered .

15 Schilling Bend Commons Road, Collierville, TN 38017 | 901-850-2272 | americareusa.net The Solana Germantown

8199 Poplar Avenue, Germantown, TN 38138 866-958-3449 | brookdale.com Southridge Village Assisted Living

401 Southridge Parkway, Heber Springs, Arkansas 72543 | 501-362-7023 | southridgevillage.com St. Peter Manor

108 N. Auburndale Street, Memphis, TN 38104 278-8200 | dmhcorp.org/pete Taylor Hearing Center

901-762-012 | taylorhearingcenters.com Town Village Audubon Park

Ridge Alzheimer’s Special CareSCCenter 3565Quail Sunset Blvd., West Columbia, 29169 2820 Kirby Whitten Parkway, Bartlett, TN 38134 (803) 796-2556 901-377-7995 • jeaseniorliving.com www.jeaseniorliving.com rd JoinJoin ususthe Thursday month 6-7:30 p.m. on 3the 2nd Tuesdayof of each each month at 5:30-6:30pm Caregiver Support Group Quail Ridge Caregiver Support Group at atColonial Gardens

950 Cherry Rd., Memphis, TN 38117 901-305-8329 | brookdale.com Trezevant

177 N. Highland, Memphis, TN 38111 901-515-2800 | trezevantmanor.org Village at Germantown

7820 Walking Horse Circle, Germantown, TN 38138 901-737-4242 | village-germantown.com Wesley Housing Corporation of Memphis

1615 Appling Road, Cordova, TN 38016 901-380-4900 | wesleyhousing.com Wesley Meadows Retirement Community

by Joy Bateman A new restaurant guide with signature recipes At bookstores and gift shops

www.joysartofdining.com

1325 McIngvale Road | Hernando, MS 38632 (662) 429-2070 Zounds

6915 Crumpler Blvd., Olive Branch, MS 38671 662-874-6279; 7730 Wolf River Blvd., Ste. 106, Germantown, TN 38654 901-791-2467 | hearmasters.com

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Upgrade your lifestyle, Downsize your worries

A Unique Perspective on Senior Living Amenities Include: Utilities* • Xﬁnity Cable TV • 24-hour Emergency Staff on site • Secure/Gated • Video Monitored Maid Service • 24-hour Maintenance • Lawn and Garden Care • Community Dining • Activities • Transportation Health Screenings • Fitness Area • Library • Game Room • Independent Living • 8.5 Acres

Why rent when you can own for less?

*Cottages pay gas and electric.

3589 Covington Pike, Memphis, TN • 901.385.7061 • LutheranVillageMemphis.com

ONE OF THE BEST KEPT SECRETS OF THE SOUTH A P P RO X I M AT E LY 9 0 M I L E S E A S T O F M E M P H I S , T N

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same level as creating FedEx, but just pay attention here and you may appreciate his efforts. I can’t say I know much about Washburn’s personal life, since I never met the fellow; the Lauderdales and Washburns didn’t run around in the same social circles. What I do know is that he first shows up in Memphis city directories in 1919, as president of the Exclusive Our trivia expert solves local mysteries of Distributors Corporation — what, exactly, he distributwho, what, when, where, why, and why not. ed wasn’t specified. For a few years, he rented rooms at The Peabody, The Chisca, and at various houses around Well, sometimes. Midtown. By the mid-1920s, he was the proprietor of by vance lauderdale the Hassler South-East Company, a vaguely named firm that sold shock absorbers for cars. So now we underDEAR VANCE: At a garage DEAR S.W.: Perhaps I’m preaching to the choir, but stand his connection with automobiles, and this may sale I purchased an old Memphis is world-famous for its innovators and en- be when he first started thinking about license plates. case ﬁlled with glasstrepreneurs. Why, we’ve even established a Society In 1928, he apparently married, because the next topped disks. On the of Entrepreneurs to recognize the creative geniuses year’s city directories list a Daisy Washburn living with back you can read “Clyde in so many fields, and any schoolhim at 186 East Parkway South. By the mid-1920s, Washburn Washburn, Memphis, child can recite the success stories But here’s something interesting: was the proprietor of the TN” and there’s a patent of Clarence Saunders, Kemmons In 1930 — just one year before he number. Who was WashWilson, Fred Smith, and at least a Hassler South-East Company, a patented his license plate device — he left the car business. He started burn, and what are these half-dozen Lauderdales. vaguely named firm that sold things? — s.w., memphis. But those are the giants. Living working for Motley Brothers Sign among us over the years have been Company, and he and Daisy moved shock absorbers for cars. many inventors and dreamers, who into the Parkview Hotel. Motley, ponder a problem and create a solution. I’ve told their by the way, specialized in “electric” signs, presumably stories before: the fellow who designed a children’s meaning neon and lighted signs; I wonder if any of shoe store in the shape of a giant boot. Roy Noe, who these have survived around town? developed an “Xcercisor” that (so he says) brought And now we come to 1931, the year when Washhim back from the brink of the grave. And burn thought he would make his great fortune with his clever invention, and in fact he had now we can add to that list Clyde Washburn, who in 1931 invented a better way to attach moved up in the world. No longer selling below: An old box of colorful license plates to cars. shock absorbers, he became sales manager glass reﬂectors revealed one Okay, maybe that’s not quite on the for a business marketing company called Memphian’s inventive nature. Woods & Faulkner. In his spare time, I can see him tweaking the design of his little device, and scribbling away on his patent application. Here’s what it’s all about. Then as now, thieves would steal license plates so they could — well, I don’t want to give bad guys any ideas. Washburn thought he had a solution to this problem, so he came up with his “License Plate Fastener.” The basic principle of his invention — and pretty much the extent of his entire patent — was a special ratcheting screw, which once fastened, could not be unscrewed. So after you bolted a license plate to your car, no sneak thief carrying a screwdriver could steal it. The only way to remove it was to smash the glass front, to reach a locking tab inside.

ASK VANCE

ALL PHOTOGRAPHS BY VANCE LAUDERDALE

Clyde Washburn

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The patent, as I said, focuses on this locking aspect, in typical Patent Office lingo: “The objects of this invention are to provide means for securing a license tag to the holder therefore and protecting means in connection therewith which must be destroyed in order to permit release and removal of the securing means. A further object is to provide a protecting means which is easily and readily identifiable so that it may be possible to detect, even in the case of a swiftly approaching or receding vehicle, whether the securing device has been tampered with.” Okay — whew — so it’s basically a gadget that is hard to remove, and anyone (even in a “receding vehicle”) can tell if it’s been removed. I get that. But what’s curious is that the wordy patent doesn’t discuss the other, more interesting (to me, at least) aspects of this device. First of all, it was more than just a locking bolt. As you can see, it came with colored glass covers. Washburn explains that this “fragile cover, preferably of glass or porcelain, may be distinctly colored so that by daylight it may be readily seen, and so that by reflection by headlight of another vehicle at night will also be distinctly visible.” But he didn’t think to incorporate actual reflectors; the tops are just colored glass. And that, to me, is the fatal flaw of his invention; you have to break it to use it: “To remove the license plate fastener it is necessary to entirely destroy the fragile glass cover,” he says, “thereby making the locking spring tongues readily accessible and permitting their disengagement from the bolt.” I’m sorry, Clyde, but even the Lauderdales, with their unlimited funds, would be reluctant to smash these things every year, and then buy a set of new ones, when we needed to install a new license plate. But it seems Washburn thought his invention would be more popular if it served still another purpose, and if you look carefully at the paper label beneath the glass, it is clearly (sorry for the pun) designed to indicate that the vehicle’s brakes had passed inspection. But even this baffles me. Maybe in the 1930s all car inspectors did was check the brakes. But putting the tiny “BRAKES TESTED” notice inside the glass-covered license-plate holder makes little sense because: 1) it’s not that easy to read through the colored glass, and 2) how would the inspector put the inspection or expiration date inside it? The sturdy metal backing on the fasteners is crimped around the base of the glass dome. After all, that was the whole point — you had to smash the glass to get inside. And here’s something else I can’t figure out. Molded into the glass are the large letters “N.O.” (with periods), or if you turn it upside-down it says “O.N.” I haven’t the slightest idea what that could mean, and Washburn didn’t mention any of this in his patent. Were the ones found in the old case specifically designed for use in New Orleans? Was he hoping this device would be used in every city in America?

Despite all the hard work that Washburn evidently put into this, fame and fortune were, sadly, just beyond his grasp. Patent #1855931 was approved on April 26, 1932, and … nothing came of it. Now listed in the old phone books as a salesman, he continued to live in the Parkview with Daisy, until his death on March 19, 1940. He died in Mt. Carmel, Illinois when he was only 54, so it’s possible he was still making sales calls, still trying to peddle his invention. Daisy lived on for more than three decades, passing away here in 1973. In a way, it’s a sad story, because we have proof of this man’s inventive nature, but as far as I can tell, nothing came of it, and all that remains is a box of his old reflectors. But you know what? I’m going to mount some of them on the Lauderdale limousine. I think they will look quite dashing, and I’ll think of Clyde every time I drive around town.

Washburn’s original patent drawing for his “License Plate Fastener” provided plenty of options for the locking device.

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

MAIL: Vance Lauderdale, Memphis magazine,

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

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os em y! D ing turda k o C o r y Sa Eve

celebrating 45 years

THE DEAD PUBLICATIONS SOCIETY continued from page 32

M-teen Magazine

— June 2007

We have all the outdoor kitchen appliances you need...and then some.

sprin sale g !

3686 Summer Avenue | Memphis, TN 901.458.7541 · Mon.-Sat. 9-5 | kenrashmemphis.com Casual Furniture • Barstools • Gas Logs • Grills • Accessories & Gifts

Honoring the Life.

ever has a letter from the editor started with as much confidence as the one that sets off M-teen Magazine’s summer 2007 edition: “School is OUT! Music to every teen’s ears ... and mine too ... time to chill!” Time to chill, indeed, M-teen Magazine, and chill we did during those neon-blasted teenage summers of the early millennium. That is, when we weren’t reading M-teen Magazine, an advertising vehicle cleverly disguised as a magazine for real teenagers. What was in M-teen, the gracious reader asks? It was pictures of kids in ill-fitted formalwear, stock photography of “Xtreme” dudes with spike gel in their blondeas-a-corn-husk hair, advice columns that might have been written by extraterrestrials interfacing with a bad misreading of youth culture, and ... more pictures of prom. If M-teen Magazine were to be discovered a thousand years in the future by humans unfamiliar with our age, it would prove no less confusing than it is to the casual 2016 reader. Best column: “How to earn your parents’ trust.” (“Staying out of trouble is really key because then you will not feel tempted to lie to your parents,” writes a “real” teenager.) Worst column: There are no more columns to review. The whole magazine was awkward prom pictures. By comparison, the contemporaneous and short-lived Youth X-Press was an early-2000s monthly aimed at roughly the same demographic, but with a decent editorial team (full disclosure: I was on the “Young Journalists Youth Advisory Board” for Youth X-Press) and a variety of articles by slightly-more-believable teenage writers. It could be done, but M-teen was not in that business. Grade: F for journalism, A+ for depictions of local proms

Whut! Magazine: A Magazine of Urban Music, Commentary and Style — 2007

W Since 1843, when family matters most.

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canalefuneraldirectors.com 2700 Union Avenue Extended, Memphis, Tennessee 38112 901.452.6400

M a g a z i n e (also published as Whut!sinnit Magazine) was written by a group of college kids. It’s more of a photocopied ’zine than a magazine, but it aimed to be the voice of young, black Memphis, and it packed a lot of punch. Alternately bold, conversational, and confessional, Whut! managed to transition between musings on whether God exists, to reviews of Mary J Blige’s new release (good), to the television show “Homeboys from Outer Space” (“It’s an insult to our intelligence”), to interviews with artists, to contin u ed on page 113 hut!

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3/21/16 12:44 PM

continued from page 112 battle-of-the-sexes columns, to a fashion editorial called “breakin’ down the frontlines of style.” The best feature in the inaugural issue of Whut! is a review of college papers at the University of Memphis and Shelby State Community College. The Daily Helmsman gets a critical pass, while Shelby State’s paper, The Red Beams, gets panned. Writes the Whut! critic: “Whoever is running The Red Beams is not doing their job. If it was a money making business, it would be out of business.” Whut! was capable of throwing that kind of shade because they were unimpeachably cool, because they put in the letterhead that “Whut! comes out whenever we feel like it,” and because these kids had the confidence of people who would go on to do great things. Though, unfortunately, those things did not include continuing to write and publish Whut! Grade: A+ for attitude

The Delta Review

September-October, 1966

—

et us ob serv e a momen t of silence for all the magazines that were better than we deserved. The Delta Review, which survived less than a decade in the 1960s, was a good one. Lovingly illustrated and carefully composed, the hundred-some-page journal published longer narrative journalism produced by regional reporters alongside fiction, opinion, society pages, and a feature called “Gracious Living” that catalogued the elegant homes of the Southern gentry. The Delta Review, if somewhat myopic in its calculation of Memphis outside wealthy and white circles, nonetheless tried to prove that Memphis was worthy of a first-class magazine. In October 1966, the letter from the publisher, William King Self, began with a quote from an anonymous sage who opined, “Sensitive men view God’s changing seasons differently as their own ages change. Before they are thirty years old, they live in constant anticipation of young, capricious Spring; after thirty they learn to appreciate the maturity, music and color of Autumn.” He was speaking about the month of the year, but perhaps Self intuited that the late 1960s were arguably the autumn for the Delta Review’s certain brand of print journalism. Saturated spreads on the genius of Southern opera, ballet, and symphony, accompanied by hand-drawn illustrations, were soon to be a thing of the past. The surviving copies of the Delta Review have a precious quality about them. They are the product of a lot of work, unusual in monthly magazines, and they feel like it. They are worth lingering over, if you can get your hands on one.

Happily Ever After Begins at Acre Celebrating weddings and receptions Where cuisine, ambience & service are second to none.

901 818-ACRE 690 S Perkins Rd. Memphis, TN acrememphis.com

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BOOKS

Forty That Don’t Bluff A shelf-load of books that have a Memphis connection.

by richard j. alley

emphis, so well known in song (see: “I met a ginsoaked, bar-room queen in Memphis . . .” or “Long distance information, give me Memphis, Tennessee . . .” among thousands of others) is also no stranger to the printed word. Here,

in recognition of our fortieth anniversary, we look at the many books with a Memphis connection. Some of those connections are obvious while others may only make a mention of the city. Either way, it proves that the storied past and present of Memphis is on the minds of some of the best writers. While some have written volumes on the city’s famous denizens and sounds, we’ve limited this list to one per author, but hope that you’ll explore on your own, using this as a mere jumping-off point for “reading local.” A special thank-you to our book-loving friends and local authors Corey Mesler and David Wesley Williams for their help with the list (you’ll find their books herein as well).

A Summons to Memphis (1986) by Peter Taylor Phillip Carver is called south from New York to help neutralize family drama in Peter Taylor’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel.

September, September (1978) by Shelby Foote From the author of the Civil War trilogy, Shelby Foote’s thrilling tale of kidnapping and race relations in the South of 1957 gives us a glimpse of Beale Street and the bluffs.

Hellhound on His Trail: The Electrifying Account of the Largest Manhunt in American History (2010) by Hampton Sides Is there a more in-depth chronicling of the events following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King? Not that we’ve found.

The Firm (1991) by John Grisham This page-turner gave Memphis significant national attention, both in print and on the big screen.

Memphis Afternoons (1993) by James Conaway Hometown boy James Conaway may have left Memphis for Washington, D.C., but this memoir proves his heart is still in the Bluff City.

It Came From Memphis (1995) by Robert Gordon Anybody can write about Elvis or B.B., but it takes Robert Gordon to fill in the blanks with the misfits and miscreants of music.

The Pinch (2015) by Steve Stern This novel regales us with a history within a history set in the mythical and magical neighborhood of the title just north of downtown. “The Pinch — for many years in the early 20th century a predominantly Jewish section of Memphis — has found its Whitman and its Faulkner in Stern, who’s written a stylistically effusive, verbally extravagant novel. . . . Audacious, hilarious, unabashed fiction.” — Kirkus Reviews

Last Train to Memphis: The Rise of Elvis Presley (1994) by Peter Guralnick Speaking of Elvis, this should be your first and last stop for all of your King info. (Okay, we’ll throw the follow-up, Careless Love: The Unmaking of Elvis Presley, as a bonus stop.)

Screening Room: Family Pictures (2015) by Alan Lightman Having grown up in the movie theatres of his family, Lightman has a unique perspective on the city’s culture, business, and the entrepreneurial family that started and still runs Malco Theatres itself.

Long Gone Daddies (2013) by David Wesley Williams Luther Gaunt and company chase a dream and a birthright to town and find that it’s populated with the ghosts of rock-and-roll past.

On The Road (1955) by Jack Kerouac You can hardly travel across the country without a stop in Memphis, and it is no different for Sal Paradise in Kerouac’s classic novel of the Beat Generation: “In the morning the car skidded on an icy hill and flapped into a ditch. A farmer offered to help them out. They got hung-up when they picked up a hitchhiker who promised them a dollar if they’d let him ride to Memphis. In Memphis he went into his house, puttered around looking for the dollar, got drunk, and said he couldn’t find it. ”

Alice + Freda Forever: A Murder in Memphis (2014) by Alexis Coe A torrid, real-life love affair that played out on the cobblestones at the front door of Memphis is fictionalized here.

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Beale Street Dynasty: Sex, Song, and the Struggle for the Soul of Memphis (2015) by Preston Lauterbach Well-known for his love and knowledge of Memphis, Preston Lauterbach takes us all to school on the history of the most-visited tourist destination in Tennessee.

Life on the Mississippi (1883) by Mark Twain “The boat was to tarry at Memphis till ten the next morning. It is a beautiful city, nobly situated on a commanding bluff overlooking the river. The streets are straight and spacious, though not paved in a way to incite distempered admiration. No, the admiration must be reserved for the town’s sewerage system, which is called perfect; a recent reform, however, for it was just the other way, up to a few years ago — a reform resulting from the lesson taught by a desolating visitation of the yellow-fever. In those awful days the people were swept off by hundreds, by thousands; and so great was the reduction caused by flight and by death together, that the population was diminished threefourths, and so remained for a time. Business stood nearly still, and the streets bore an empty Sunday aspect.”

Memphis Movie (2015) by Corey Mesler It’s no secret that Corey Mesler (co-owner with wife Cheryl of local institution Burke’s Book Store) is a lover of the printed word, yet he may be equally as passionate for cinema and it shines through in this novel.

A Brief History of Memphis (2011) by G. Wayne Dowdy Memphis’ history is anything but brief, yet Dowdy’s masterful writing and attention to detail touches on the highlights so that we come away with a better understanding of how we got to where we are. It’s a view of Memphis that is as vibrant and welcoming as the city itself.

Before, During, After (2014) by Richard Bausch Bausch taught for a stint at the University of Memphis and sets his post-9/11 novel in and around the High Point Terrace and Cooper-Young neighborhoods. He is the recipient of the Literature Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

Memphis Noir (2015) edited by Laureen Cantwell and Leonard Gill What lurks down the alleys and in the shadows of this city on the river? Those characters and tales can be found in this anthology of 15 stories (including one graphic novella) by some of the city’s best writers.

Three Story House (2014) by Courtney Miller Santo A creative writing instructor at the University of Memphis, Santo’s sophomore novel follows the lives of three cousins as they work to renovate their grandmother’s “spite house” on the bluff overlooking the Mississippi River.

From Here to Eternity (1951) by James Jones James Jones was wounded at Guadalcanal and spent time convalescing at Kennedy General Hospital. Much of this World War II novel (later made into a movie starring Frank Sinatra) was written later when he lived at Leahy’s Trailer Court on Summer Avenue.

Ladies Night at the Dreamland (2016) by Sonja Livingston Originally from Rochester, New York, Livingston is an assistant professor in the English Department of the University of Memphis. Here, she’s crafted creative nonfiction to share the tales of women both near and far.

If Beale Street Could Talk (1974) by James Baldwin A tale of race and injustice and love set in Harlem from this great American novelist, essayist, playwright, poet, and social critic. The title is a reference to the 1916 W.C. Handy blues song “Beale Street Blues.”

The Palace Blues (2014) by Brandy T. Wilson The journey of love and obsession between 17-year-old Dorothy Frances Corbin and the cross-dressing blues singer Jean Bailey brings the pair to 1920s Memphis in this debut novel by Wilson, an instructor in the English Department at the University of Memphis.

Taft (1994) by Ann Patchett Ann Patchett’s novel takes place all over the city and in recognizable locations such as Chickasaw Gardens and the bar on Beale Street managed by protagonist John Nickel.

The Silence of the Lambs (1988) by Thomas Harris Born just up the road in Jackson, Tennessee, author Thomas Harris no doubt visited Memphis. One thing is for sure, the creepy Hannibal Lecter spends some time here. Spoiler: He makes his escape from our courthouse, so be on the lookout.

High Fidelity (1995) by Nick Hornby It’s not much, but Hornby’s love of Memphis music is well-documented elsewhere. Here, he lists his Top Five dream jobs, including “Any kind of musician (apart from classical or rap) speaks for itself. But I’d have settled just for being one of the Memphis Horns — I’m not asking to be Hendrix or Jagger or Otis Redding.”

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Rythm Oil: A Journey Through the Music of the American South (1991) by Stanley Booth Stanley Booth makes his way from Memphis to the Mississippi Delta to the depths of the Georgia woods exploring the sounds, the music, and the culture of the American South.

Sanctuary (1931) by William Faulkner Mississippi debutante Temple Drake is kidnapped and held in Memphis in this work of hard-boiled detective fiction with Faulkner’s distinct voice. A book The New York Times once called “A haunting study of evil triumphant.”

Hellfire: The Jerry Lee Lewis Story (1982) by Nick Tosches There is not a novelist alive who could have created the character of hellraiser Jerry Lee Lewis. He could only exist in real life, and Tosches gives us real life with a pounding piano and backbeat. “Quite simply the best rock and roll biography ever written.” — Rolling Stone

Escape Velocity: A Charles Portis Miscellany (2012) by Charles Portis Essays, memoirs, and articles from the author of True Grit. Included are pieces he wrote as a young journalist for The Commercial Appeal.

Mystery Train: Images of America in Rock ’n’ Roll (1975) by Greil Marcus An unprecedented analysis of the relationship between rock-and-roll and American culture. “ . . . an explosion as unexpected and indelible as the first records Elvis Presley had cut almost exactly twenty years before.” — Los Angeles Times

At the River I Stand: Memphis, the 1968 Strike, and Martin Luther King (1985) by Joan Turner Beifuss A narrative history of the seismic event that brought Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to Memphis where he would eventually meet his tragic fate.

Memphis Man: Living High, Laying Low (2015) by Don Nix The memoir of Don Nix who played saxophone for the Mar-Keys, earning Stax Records one of its first Top 10 hits, before going on to become a prolific songwriter and record producer.

American Plague: The Untold Story of Yellow Fever, the Epidemic That Shaped Our History (2006) by Molly Caldwell Crosby Of all the events — good and bad — that have helped shape our city, the two bouts of yellow fever may have been the most devastating and influential.

Another Good Loving Blues (1993) by Arthur Flowers “It’s Beale Street in Memphis in the age when jazz was spelled “jass” and ragtime was just a glint in Scott Joplin’s eye. Lucas Bodeen is the bluesman, and Melvira Dupree is the conjure woman he loves. But

pitted against them are all the forces of nature, the clashing of their own stubborn wills, and a society mired in the laws of Jim Crow and the mob. Combining the ancient African storytelling art of the griot with the American offshoots of blues and hoodoo, Arthur Flowers sings us a story that makes us smile — a story of life, and how love and happiness really happen.” — The New York Times

Rowdy Memphis: The South Unscripted (2004) by John Branston The cast is all here — the politicians, developers, musicians, visionaries, lawyers, brawlers, killers, and activists who have made Memphis what it is today.

Trouble Boys: The True Story of the Replacements (2016) by Bob Mehr “Following the precipitous fall of Stax Records in 1975, the Memphis music scene had all but collapsed. The community was still psychically scarred from the assassination of Martin Luther King, Beale Street was lifeless, Sun Studio was boarded up, and the Stax building was empty and crumbling. Tommy Stinson [bassist for The Replacements] described the city in late 1986 as ‘this weird ghost town where rockand-roll had come from.’”

The Baby Thief: The Untold Story of Georgia Tann, the Baby Seller Who Corrupted Adoption (2009) by Barbara Bisantz Raymond For decades in the early twentieth century, Georgia Tann was lauded for her children’s home in Memphis while in reality she was selling many of those children to buyers across the country. Her story, and that of some of her charges, is told here.

Five Night Stand (2015) by Richard J. Alley In this lyrical debut novel, Memphis journalist Frank Severs travels to New York to interview Oliver Pleasant, a retiring, world-renowned jazz musician from the Mississippi Delta.

Ask Vance (2003) by Vance Lauderdale No such list would be complete without Memphis magazine’s own man-abouttown who chronicles the offbeat and unusual in this volume of favorite columns.

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Memphis Minded Mary Phan â&#x20AC;&#x2122;18 An economics and art history double major, Mary Phan combines her academic and personal passions to strengthen the local arts community. As a Clarence Day Scholar at Rhodes, she serves as an outreach liaison between students and institutions such as Opera Memphis, the Dixon Gallery and Gardens, and the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art. Mary has used her economics knowledge to assist local arts organizations with fundraising and sustainability initiatives. She has also performed violin and served as orchestra manager for the Memphis Sinfonietta. Her efforts on and off campus were rewarded this spring when she received an Americans for the Arts NABE Scholarship, which encourages the integration of arts and economics.

Celebrating 90 years in Memphis rhodes.edu

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DINING OUT

Play It Again For almost 40 years, Folk’s Folly has turned prime-cut steaks into a Memphis celebration.

Lobster served with butter and lemon

Fully trimmed 16 oz. rib-eye

Oversized and shareable side dishes

by pamela denney | photography by justin fox burks

he calendar entry winks at me all week — 7:30 p.m., Folk’s Folly, dinner and drinks. By Saturday afternoon, I am so excited I think carefully about what to wear. I select a blue shirtwaist dress with a skirt that swings, and at the last minute, I dig out a string of pearls, a small homage to the mid-century heyday of America’s great steak houses and the celebratory dinners still held at Folk’s Folly today. When we arrive at the restaurant, I smile at the considerate amenities that linger from an earlier time: candy coated chocolate mints; wooden matches in mini-boxes, black and glossy; and a walkin closet with an open Dutch door that makes me yearn for a cozy mink coat. Intuitively, we head for the crowded Cellar Lounge, and when we settle into our table with icy martinis, I study the crowd. An older gentleman hands a single red rose to his dinner date. On the bar’s leather sofas, a good-looking foursome turns heads with their impressive beehive updos. Nearby, baby-boomer couples like us study the tome-like menu’s tantalizing array

of prime cuts, lobster tails, and side dishes culled from Southern favorites. People much younger also fill the room — a reunion of 30-something college roommates from Ole Miss and a well-behaved toddler who happily plucks skinny fries from his father’s plate. Still, I can’t help but wonder why young people eat at an expensive restaurant with no trendy cocktails or special bar menu. The answer comes to me as I dip bitesize pieces of filet mignon, battered and flash-fried, into creamy béarnaise sauce: Tradition, service, and prime-cut steaks lure all ages, a wisdom clearly understood by founder Humphrey Folk Jr. when he opened

FOLK’S FOLLY PRIME STEAK HOUSE STARS: e

★★★★ ★★★ ★★ ★

Exceptional Very good Satisfactory Skip it!

551 South Mendenhall (901) 762-8200

FOOD: A classic American steak house with large shareable sides, like

potato dishes served nine different ways. DRINKS: Memphis magazine readers recently voted the wine list, curated

by assistant manager Carlos Sejas, the best in the city. ATMOSPHERE: Formal, but fun. Be sure to peek into the music room,

where black-and-white photos honor the city’s musical icons. SERVICE: On one visit, I notice a server escort a woman to the restroom, a

show of restaurant manners I don’t often see. EXTRAS: The restaurant’s Prime Cut Shoppe, located off William Arnold,

sells the same cuts served in-house. RESERVATIONS: For the dining rooms, reservations are a must. For the

lounge, arrive early on the weekends to avoid a wait. PRICES: Appetizers and salads: $8 to $16; Entrees: $29 to $68; Sides: $9 to

$10; Desserts: $7 to $14. OPEN: Monday-Saturday from 5:30 to 10 p.m.; Sunday from 5:30 to 9 p.m.

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Hot chocolate fudge brownie ala mode

his East Memphis restaurant in 1977. The oft-repeated story of Folk’s Folly Prime Steak House is a treasured culinary mainstay, especially for longtime Memphians. A successful developer who broadly traveled, Folk wanted a steak house like the kind he frequented in larger cities. So with no restaurant acumen (that’s the Folly part), he opened Folk’s Folly in a corner house on South Mendenhall. In 2003, Thomas Boggs, already established for his Huey’s restaurants, joined Folk’s Folly as a managing partner. Today, the restaurant occupies its same location and is still family owned by Folk’s four sons, Tripp, Carey, Chris, and Michael Folk, and Boggs’ three daughters, Lauren McHugh Robinson, Ashley Robilio, and Samantha Dean. All are active partners, overseeing dayto-day operations and the restaurant’s recent remodel, a freshening up of interior decor that accentuates the restaurant’s collection of paintings by American artist Leroy Neiman. PAM’S PICS

ic from fresh rosemary warmed by hot butter. Like the restaurant’s ownership, the menu For salads, we show a little restraint, is longstanding, and for good reason. Named splitting an enormous double wedge of best steak by Memphis media year after year, the restaurant’s USDA prime cuts are sourced iceberg lettuce, draped with bacon, tomafrom Stock Yards in Chicago, a 100-year-old toes, radishes, and blue cheese. Side dishes company specializing in Midwestern cornat Folk’s Folly are oversized, as well. Share fed beef. At Folk’s Folly, butchers hand trim them, but don’t skimp them, especially the rib-eyes, New York strips, and filets in two restaurant’s signature spinach casserole and sizes for 250 people on an a rich and decadent spin average Saturday night. on jalapeño mac ’n cheese. On New Year’s Eve, more While steaks build the core than 600 guests celebrated at of Folk’s Folly menu, cooks Folk’s Folly, a testimony to the also stretch their wings with skill of line cooks who judge daily specials like grilled Berkshire loin pork chops the temperature of steaks with the tap of a finger. (The served with cornbread and firmer the meat, the higher greens. I explore the specials the temperature.) Like the on a return visit for dinner in the lounge: sea bass, perfectrest of his team, Johnathan ly prepared and resting on a Towns, who started working at Folk’s Folly when he was wild rice medley. My husband discovers the restau16 years old, is a pro. Precise rant’s off-menu treasure: a and graceful, he seasons While steaks build gourmet prime burger on steaks with salt and pepper, a focaccia bun and gumbo positions them under the the core of Folk’s Folly broiler’s robust rolling flames, that tastes rich and mysterimenu, cooks also and places the meat on plates, ous like the Louisiana bayou. warmed in a 500 degree oven. stretch their wings with For fun, we splurge on desFor our first dinner visit, we sert, a hot chocolate fudge daily specials. brownie topped with ice try both a 22-ounce cowboy rib-eye, impressive in size and sizzle, and a cream and chocolate syrup. On my second New York strip, drizzled with butter and or third spoonful, pianist Larry Cunningchopped parsley and so tender that a butter ham swings into “Walking in Memphis.” The song makes me look up, and I notice the fire knife could slip right through the meat. In an almost reverent ritual of appreciation, the trucks across the street, illuminated inside men at our table eat every bite, but I veer off Station No. 21. The food and the fire station course, ordering a four-bone rack of lamb. and the baby grand piano make me feel safe, full, and happy, a feeling that is as good as a When the meat comes to the table, I think of meal can get. spring. The lamb is silky in texture and aromat-

THREE TO TRY

AUSTRALIAN RACK OF LAMB: Order eight bones if you dare, but for me, a four-bone rack of range-fed lamb is heaven sent, especially when served with mint jam and rosemary seared by hot butter.

GOURMET PRIME HAMBURGER: Shssh. It’s a weekend secret served only in the lounge. But this half-pound burger for $12.95 — handpatted and held together with a cocktail pick — deserves a hearty shout-out.

FRENCH ONION AU GRATIN: Is anything more satisfying than prying baked Gruyere off the edges of a warm ceramic ramekin? Yep. The croutons, onions, and rich beef stock hiding underneath the melted cheese. A P R I L 2 0 1 6 • M E M P H I S M A G A Z I N E . C O M • 119

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CityDining

TIDBITS

Buntyn Corner Cafe

pictured above: 1 The classic Buntyn Restaurant sign, now strategically located as a backdrop for selﬁes. 2 The wall of presidents is back. 3 Beef tips, turnip greens, and beets 4 Pimento cheese sandwich 5 Peach cobbler a la mode 6 (left to right) Betty Wiggins, John Bozi, Gene Bozi, and Mike Wiggins. We celebrate our city’s community table and the people who grow, cook, and eat the best Memphis food at

by amy lawrence

untyn Corner Cafe has returned to Memphis, and it’s just as wonderful as you may remember. The old red-and-white sign is the backdrop for new Facebook photos of customers, pictures of all the presidents are back up on the wall, and Buntyn’s former owner Betty Wiggins greets customers from her place of honor at the front of the restaurant. The café’s new location in White Station Tower in East Memphis allows patrons to travel back in time and enjoy old-school Southern cooking. Bill Tull, uncle of current owner Mike Wiggins, opened Tull’s Buntyn Cafe on Southern Avenue in 1946, and the restaurant has been a family business ever since. Now, after past moves to Park Avenue and Appling, Buntyn Corner Cafe continues to be one of those Memphis spots where everyone who ventures in becomes a friend. “We built up our business by being nice to people,” Wiggins says. The café opens at 7 a.m. for breakfast, with options including cereal, oatmeal, BLTs, biscuit sandwiches with egg, cheese, bacon, sausage, ham, or gravy, and house-made cinnamon rolls. Lunch is served on weekdays until 2 p.m. One busy Friday afternoon, half of our group opted for vegetable soup, pimento cheese, and toasted cheese sandwiches on wheat, and sides of northern beans and baked tater tots. The others ordered beef tips and chicken and dressing with side vegetables and, blessedly, those killer Bunytn yeast rolls. For dessert, we sampled peach cobbler, key lime pie, and a salted caramel brownie. The food was straightforward and hearty, and it’s served casually on disposable plates. It truly is the real deal: classic Southern dishes made with generations of expertise. Memphis is fortunate to have its beloved Buntyn Cafe return. The Wiggins family remains an excellent example of the city’s restaurant owners who put a premium on serving the community with friendliness and grace foremost in mind.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY JUSTIN FOX BURKS

OUR IN-DEP TH GUIDE TO MEMPHIS-A R E A R ESTAUR A NTS.

5050 Poplar, Suite 107 (901-424-3286). Open Monday to Friday, 7 a.m.-2 p.m. $ MEMPHISMAGAZINE.COM/FOOD-DINING

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CIT Y DINING LIST

emphis magazine offers this restaurant listing as a service pasta. The Booksellers at Laurelwood, 387 Perkins Extd. 374-0881. B, L, D, WB, X, $-$$ to its readers. The directory is not intended as a recommendation of the estab- BOSCOS —Tennessee’s first craft brewery serves a variety of freshly lishments included, nor does it list every restaurant in town. It does, however, brewed beers as well as wood-fired oven pizzas, pasta, seafood, steaks, include most of the city’s finer restaurants, many specialty restaurants, and a representative and sandwiches. 2120 Madison. 432-2222. L, D, SB (with live jazz), , MRA, $-$$ sampling of other Bluff City eating establishments. No fast-food facilities or cafeterias X BOUNTY ON BROAD—Offering family-style dining, Bounty are listed, nor have we included establishments that rely heavily on take-out business. serves small plates and family-sized platters, with such specialties as grilled pork loin and stuffed quail. Closed Mon. 2519 Broad. 410-8131. Restaurants are included regardless of whether they advertise in Memphis magazine. D (Tues.-Sat.), SB, X, $-$$ The guide is updated regularly, but we recommend that you call ahead to check on hours, BOZO’S HOT PIT BAR-B-Q—Barbecue, burgers, sandwiches, prices, and other details. Suggestions from readers are welcome; please contact us. and subs. 342 Hwy 70, Mason, TN. 901-294-3400. L, D, $-$$ BRAZIL FLAVOR—Offers daily buffet with traditional Brazilian Email dining@memphismagazine.com. dishes. Closed Monday. 8014 Club Center Dr. 746-9855. L, D, $ BRASS DOOR IRISH PUB—Irish and New-American cuisine BARDOG TAVERN—Classic American grill with Italian influence, ABUELO’S MEXICAN FOOD EMBASSY—Mejores de la includes such entrees as fish and chips burgers, sandwiches, salads, and Bardog offers pasta specialties such as Grandma’s NJ Meatballs, as well as casa — beef and stuffed shrimp — is a specialty here, along with daily specials. 152 Madison. 572-1813. L, D, SB, $ salads, sliders, sandwiches, and daily specials. 73 Monroe. 275-8752. tilapia Veracruz, quesadillas, chili rellenos, and chicken BROADWAY PIZZA HOUSE—Serving a variety of B (Mon.-Fri.), L, D, WB, X, $-$$ medallions. 8274 Highway 64 (Bartlett). 672-0769. L, D, X, $-$$ pizzas,including the Broadway Special, as well as sandwiches, salads, BARI RISTORANTE ENOTECA—Authentic Southeastern ABYSSINIA RESTAURANT—Ethiopian/Mediterranean wings, and “soul-food specials.” 2581 Broad. 454-7930; 627 S. Italian cuisine (Puglia) emphasizes lighter entrees. Serves fresh fish menu includes beef, chicken, lamb, fish entrees, and vegetarian Mendenhall. 207-1546. L, D, X, $-$$ and beef dishes and a homemade soup of the day. 2 2 S. Cooper. dishes; also a lunch buffet. 2 600 Poplar. 321-0082. L, D, X, $-$$ BROOKLYN BRIDGE ITALIAN RESTAURANT— 722-2244. D, SB, X, MRA, $-$$$ ACRE—Features seasonal modern American cuisine in a stylish Specializing in such homemade entrees as spinach lasagna and lobster setting using locally sourced products; also small-plates/bar. Closed BAYOU BAR & GRILL—New Orleans fare at this Overton ravioli; a seafood specialty is horseradish-crusted salmon. Closed Square eatery includes jambalaya, gumbo, catfish Acadian, shrimp for lunch Sat. and all day Sun. 690 S. Perkins. 818-2273. L, D, X, Sun. 1779 Kirby Pkwy. 755-7413. D, X, MRA, $-$$$ dishes, red beans and rice, and muffalettas; also serves some $$-$$$ favorites from the former Le Chardonnay. 2094 Madison. BROTHER JUNIPER’S—Breakfast is the focus here, with specialty AGAVE MARIA—Menu items at this Mexican eatery include omelets, including the open-faced San Diegan omelet; also daily 278-8626. L, D, WB, X, $-$$ duck tacos, shrimp and scallop enchiladas, and salmon sashimi specials, and homemade breads and pastries. Closed Mon. 3519 tostadas; also family-style chef’s seasonal selections. 83 Union. BEAUTY SHOP—Modern American cuisine with international Walker. 324-0144. B, X, MRA, $ flair served in a former beauty shop. Serves 341-2096. L, D, X, $-$$ DINING SYMBOLS steaks salads, pasta, and seafood, THE BRUSHMARK—New American ALCHEMY—Southern fusion, locally grown cuisine features small including pecan-crusted golden sea bass. cuisine with a menu that changes seasonally; and large plates; among the offerings is the pan-seared hanger steak Closed for dinner Sunday. 966 S. Cooper. B — breakfast offers sandwiches, salads, soups, pastas, and with duck-fat-roasted fingerling potatoes; also handcrafted cocktails crepes. Closed Mon. and Tues. Brooks 272-7111. L, D, SB, X, $-$$$ and local craft beers. Closed for dinner Sun. 940 S. Cooper. L — lunch Museum, Overton Park, 1934 Poplar. BEDROCK EATS & SWEETS— 726-4444. D, SB, X, $-$$ D — dinner 544-6225. L, WB, X, $-$$ Memphis’ only Paleo-centric restaurant ALDO’S PIZZA PIES—Serving gourmet pizzas — including Mr. SB — Sunday brunch offering such dishes as pot roast, waffles, BRYANT’S BREAKFAST—Three-egg T Rex — salads, and more. Also 30 beers, bottled or on tap. 100 S. WB — weekend brunch enchiladas, chicken salad, omelets, and omelets, pancakes, and The Sampler Platter Main. 577-7743; 752 S. Cooper. 725-7437. L, D, X, $-$$ more. Closed Sun. 327 S. Main. 409are among the popular entrees here. Closed X — wheelchair accessible AMERIGO—Traditional and contemporary Italian cuisine includes 6433. B, L, D, X, $-$$ Tuesday. 3 965 Summer. 324-7494. B, L, X, pasta, wood-fired pizza, steaks, and cedarwood-roasted fish. 1239 MRA — member, Memphis $ BELLE-A SOUTHERN BISTRO— Ridgeway, Park Place Mall. 761-4000. L, D, SB, X, MRA, $-$$$ Restaurant Association Brisket in a bourbon brown sugar glaze, BUCKLEY’S FINE FILET GRILL— ANDREW MICHAEL ITALIAN KITCHEN—Traditional $ — under $15 per person without and chicken with basmati rice are among Specializes in steaks, seafood, and pasta. Italian cuisine with a menu that changes seasonally with such entrees the specialties; also seafood entrees and drinks or desserts (Lunchbox serves entree salads, burgers, and as Maw Maw’s ravioli. Closed Sun.-Mon. 712 W. Brookhaven Cl. 347such vegetables as blackened green more.) 5355 Poplar. 683-4538; 919 S. $$ — under $25 3569. D, X, $$-$$$ tomatoes. Closed for dinner Sun. and all Yates (Buckley’s Lunchbox), 682-0570. L ANOTHER BROKEN EGG CAFE—Offering several varieties of $$$ — $26-$50 day Mon. 117 Union Ave. 433-9851. L, D, (Yates only, M-F), D, X, MRA, $-$$ eggs benedict, waffles, omelets, pancakes, beignets, and other $$$$ — over $50 WB, X, $-$$$ BUNTYN CORNER CAFE—Serving breakfast fare; also burgers,sandwiches, and salads. . 6063 Park Ave. SHADED — new listing BENIHANA—This Japanese steakhouse favorites from Buntyn Restaurant, including 729-7020. B, L, WB, X, $ serves beef, chicken, and seafood grilled at chicken and dressing, cobbler, and yeast THE ARCADE—Possibly Memphis’ oldest cafe. Specialties include the table; some menu items change monthly; sushi bar also rolls. 5050 Poplar, Suite 107. 424-3286. B, L, X, $ sweet potato pancakes, a fried peanut butter and banana sandwich, featured. 912 Ridge Lake. 767-8980. L, D, X, $$-$$$ THE BUTCHER SHOP—Serves steaks ranging from 8-oz. fillets and breakfast served all day. 540 S. Main. 526-5757. B, L, D BHAN THAI—Authentic Thai cuisine includes curries, pad Thai to a 20-oz. porterhouse; also chicken, pork chops, fresh seafood. 107 (Thurs.-Sat.), X, $ noodles, and vegetarian dishes, as well as seafood, pork, and duck S. Germantown Rd. (Cordova). 757-4244. L (Fri. and Sun.), D, X, ASIAN PALACE—Chinese eatery serves seafood, vegetarian items, entrees. Closed for lunch Sat.-Sun. and all day Mon. 1324 Peabody. MRA, $$-$$$ dim sum, and more. 5266 Summer Ave. 766-0831. L, D, X, $-$$ 272-1538. L, D, X, MRA, $-$$ CAFE 1912—French/American bistro serving such seafood entrees as A-TAN—Serves Chinese and Japanese hibachi cuisine, complete BLEU—This eclectic restaurant features American food with global grouper and steamed mussels: also crepes, salads, and French onion soup, with sushi bar. A specialty is Four Treasures with garlic sauce. 3445 influences and local ingredients. Among the specialties are a 14-oz. 243 S. Cooper. 722-2700. D, SB, X, MRA, $-$$ Poplar, Suite 17, University Center. 452-4477. L, D, X, $-$$$ bone-in rib-eye and several seafood dishes. 2 21 S. Third, in the CAFE ECLECTIC—Spanish omelets, and chicken and waffles are AUTOMATIC SLIM’S—Longtime downtown favorite specializes Westin Memphis Beale St. Hotel. 334-5950. B, L, D, WB, X, among menu items, along with sandwiches, wraps, and burgers. 603 in contemporary American cuisine emphasizing local ingredients; also $$-$$$ N. McLean. 725-1718; 111 Harbor Town Square. 590-4645; 510 S. extensive martini list. 83 S. Second. 525-7948. L, D, WB, X, MRA, BLUE DAZE BISTRO—Serving American cuisine with Cajun Highland. 410-0765. B, L, D, SB, X, MRA, $ $-$$$ flair; lunch entrees include the Black & Bleu Salad and a crab cake CAFE KEOUGH—European-style cafe serving quiche, paninis, BABALU TACOS & TAPAS—This Overton Square eatery sandwich; dinner entrees range from salmon to Cajun cream penne salads, and more. 12 S. Main. 509-2469. B, L, D, X, $ dishes up Spanish-style tapas with Southern flair; also taco and pasta. Closed for dinner Sun., and all day Mon.-Wed. 221 E. CAFE OLE—Now under new ownership, this 23-year-old eatery enchilada of the day; specials change daily. 2115 Madison. 274Commerce St., Hernando (MS). 662-469-9304. L, D, SB, X, specializes in authentic Mexican cuisine; one specialty is the build-your0100. L, D, SB, X, $-$$ $-$$$ own quesadilla. 9 59 S. Cooper. 343-0103. L, D, WB, X, MRA, $-$$ BAHAMA BREEZE—Baby back ribs, Jamaican chicken wings, BLUE NILE ETHIOPIAN—Kabobs, flavorful chicken and lamb CAFE PALLADIO—Serves gourmet salads, soups, sandwiches, and coconut shrimp are among the entrees at this Caribbean-fusion stew, and injera (flatbread) are traditional items on the menu, along and desserts in a tea room inside the antiques shop. Closed Sun. 2 169 restaurant. 2830 N. Germantown Pkwy. (Cordova). 385-8744. with vegetarian options. 1 788 Madison. 474-7214. L, D, X, $-$$ Central. 278-0129. L, X, $ L, D, X, MRA, $-$$ BLUEFIN RESTAURANT & SUSHI LOUNGE—Serves CAFE PIAZZA BY PAT LUCCHESI—Specializes in gourmet BANGKOK ALLEY—Thai fusion cuisine includes noodle and Japanese fusion cuisine featuring seafood, duck, and steaks, with pizzas (including create-your-own), panini sandwiches, and pasta. curry dishes, chef-specialty sushi rolls, coconut soup, and duck and seasonally changing menu; also, a sushi bar and flatbread pizza. Closed Sun. 139 S. Rowlett St. (Collierville). 861-1999. L, D, X, seafood entrees. Closed for lunch Sat. and all day Sun. at Brookhaven Closed for lunch Sat.-Sun. 135 S. Main. 528-1010. L, D, X, MRA, $-$$ location; call for hours. 121 Union Ave. 522-2010; 2150 W. Poplar $-$$ CAFE PONTOTOC—Serves a variety of internationally inspired at Houston Levee (Collierville). 854-8748; 715 W. Brookhaven BOMBAY HOUSE—Indian fare includes lamb korma and small plates, as well as salads and sandwiches. Closed Mon. 314 S. Cl. 590-2585. L, D, X, MRA, $-$$ chicken tikka; also, a daily luncheon buffet. 1727 N. Germantown Main. 249-7955. L, D, WB, X, $-$$ BAR DKDC— Features an ever-changing menu of international Pkwy. (Cordova). 755-4114. L, D, X, $-$$ CAFE SOCIETY—With Belgian and classic French influences, “street food,” from Thai to Mexican, Israeli to Indian, along with BONEFISH GRILL—Serves wood-grilled fish,as well as steaks, serves Wagyu beef, chicken, and seafood dishes, including baconspecialty cocktails. Closed Sun.-Mon. 964 S. Cooper. 272-0830. D, chicken and pork entrees. 1250 N. Germantown Pkwy. (Cordova). wrapped shrimp, along with daily specials and vegetarian entrees. X, $ 753-2220; 4680 Merchants Park Circle, Carriage Crossing Closed for lunch Sat.-Sun. 212 N. Evergreen. 722-2177. L, D, X, MRA, BAR LOUIE—Serves small plates, flatbreads, sandwiches, burgers, (Collierville). 854-5822. L (Fri.-Sat.), D, SB, X, $-$$$ $$-$$$ salads, and such large plate entrees as blackened fish tacos and BONNE TERRE—This inn’s cafe features American cuisine with a CAPITAL GRILLE—Known for its dry-aged, hand-carved steaks; baked mac-and-cheese. 2125 Madison. 207-1436. L, D, WB, X, Southern flair, and a seasonal menu that changes monthly. Offers among the specialties are bone-in sirloin, and porcini-rubbed $-$$ Angus steaks, duck, pasta, and seafood. Closed Sun.-Wed. 4715 Delmonico; also seafood entrees and seasonal lunch plates. Closed for BAR-B-Q SHOP—Dishes up barbecued ribs, spaghetti, bologna; Church Rd. W. (Nesbit, MS). 662-781-5100. D, X, $-$$$ lunch Sat.-Sun. Crescent Center, 6065 Poplar. 683-9291. L, D, X, also pulled pork shoulder, Texas toast barbecue sandwich, chicken BOOKSELLERS BISTRO —Serves soups, sandwiches, quiche, $$$-$$$$ sandwich, and salads. Closed Sun. 1782 Madison. 272-1277. L, D, salads, pasta, and seafood, including shrimp polenta; a specialty is pesto X, MRA, $-$$ A P R I L 2 0 1 6 • M E M P H I S M A G A Z I N E . C O M • 121

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CIT Y DINING LIST CASUAL DINING

These establishments offer American cuisine in a relaxed atmosphere. While some serve ethnic entrees, the emphasis is on steaks, salads, sandwiches, pasta, ﬁsh and seafood. Also some soul-food and homestyle cooking.

CHILI’S—7810 Poplar (Germantown). 756-5203; 4609 Poplar. 685-2257; 8100 Giacosa Pl. 372-3132; 287 W. Goodman Rd. (Southaven). 662-349-7002; 237 Market Blvd. (Collierville). 853-7520; 1260 N. Germantown Pkwy. (Cordova). 756-7771; 8526 Highway 51 (Millington). 872-0555. COLTON’S STEAKHOUSE—8030 J. ALEXANDER’S—2670 N. GermanHighway 64 (Bartlett). 383-8445; 8051 town Pkwy. (Cordova). 381-9670. Goodman Rd. (Olive Branch). 662-890-4142. APPLEBEE’S—2114 Union Ave. 725-7136; COMO STEAKHOUSE—203 Main St. 2890 Bartlett Blvd. (Bartlett). 213-5034; Como, MS. 662-526-9529. 710 DeSoto Cove (Horn Lake, MS). 662-772THE COVE—2559 Broad Ave. 730-0719. 5914; 7515 Goodman Rd. (Olive Branch, THE CUPBOARD—1400 Union. MS). 662-893-7555. 276-8015 AJAX DINER— 118 Courthouse Sq., ELWOOD’S SHACK—4523 Summer. Oxford, MS. 662-232-8880. 761-9898. BELLY ACRES—2102 Trimble Pl, 529EVERGREEN GRILL—1545 Overton 7017. Park. 249-2393. BLUE AND WHITE RESTAURANT—1355 U.S. 61 N., Tunica, T.G.I. FRIDAY’S—185 Union, Double Tree Hotel. 523-8500; 176 E. Goodman MS. 662-363-1371. Rd. (Southaven). 662-349-4223; 7733 BLUE PLATE CAFE—5469 Poplar. Winchester Rd. 752-1369; 8325 Highway 761-9696; 113 S. Court. 523-2050. 64. 372-2539. BLUE SHOE BAR & GRILL—Hotel KEM’S RESTAURANT—2751 New Memphis, 2625 Thousand Oaks Blvd. Brunswick Rd., Holiday Inn & Suites. 266362-6200. 1952. BON TON CAFE—150 Monroe. LBOE—2021 Madison Ave. 725-0770. 525-0883. LOGAN’S ROADHOUSE—2710 N. CAJUN CATFISH Germantown Parkway. 381-5254; 5901 COMPANY—1616 Sycamore View Poplar. 684-2272; 7755 Winchester Rd. Rd. 383-8958; 336 New Byhalia Rd. 759-1430; 6685 Airways Blvd. (Southaven). Collierville. 861-0122 662-772-5015. CHEDDAR’S—7684 Winchester. MAC’S BURGERS—4698 624-8881; 2147 N. Germantown Pkwy. Spottswood. 512-4604. 380-1119. MIDTOWN CROSSING THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY—2760 N. Germantown Pkwy, GRILLE—394 N. Watkins. 443-0502. O’CHARLEY’S—6045 Stage Rd., #74. Suite 193 (Wolfchase). 937-1613. 373-5602 (Bartlett); 1040 N. Germantown CAPRICCIO GRILL ITALIAN STEAKHOUSE—Offers prime steaks, fresh seafood (lobster tails, grouper, mahi mahi), pasta, and several northern Italian specialties. 149 Union, The Peabody. 529-4199. B, L, D, SB, X, MRA, $-$$$$ CARRABBA’S ITALIAN GRILL—Serves chicken Bryan, calamari, various pastas, and other “old-world” Italian entrees. 4600 Merchant’s Park Cl., Carriage Crossing (Collierville). 854-0200; 5110 Poplar. 685-9900. L (Sat.-Sun.), D, X, $-$$$ CASABLANCA—Lamb shawarma is one of the fresh, homemade specialties served at this Mediterranean/Moroccan restaurant; fish entrees and vegetarian options also available. 5030 Poplar. 7258557. L, D, X, $-$$ CELTIC CROSSING—Specializes in Irish and American pub fare. Entrees include shepherd’s pie, shrimp and sausage coddle, and fish and chips. 903 S. Cooper. 274-5151. L, D, WB, X, MRA, $-$$ CENTRAL BBQ—Serves ribs, smoked hot wings, pulled pork sandwiches, chicken, turkey, nachos, and portobello sandwiches. Offers both pork and beef barbecue. 2249 Central Ave. 272-9377; 4375 Summer Ave. 767-4672; 147 E. Butler. 672-7760. L, D, X, MRA, $-$$ CHEZ PHILIPPE—Classical/contemporary French cuisine presented in a luxurious atmosphere with a seasonal menu focused on local/regional cuisine. Afternoon tea served Wed.-Sat., 1-3 p.m. (reservations required). Closed Sun.-Tues. The Peabody, 149 Union. 529-4188. D, X, MRA, $$$$ THE CHOO— Serving train-themed dishes, including the Brakeman smoked sausage and the Baggageman, a BLT with bologna or bacon. Also serving salads, daily chef specials, and meat-and-two dishes. Closed Mon.-Tues. 3045 Southern. 324-3246. L, SB, $ CIAO BABY—Specializing in Neapolitan-style pizza made in a wood-fired oven. Also serves house-made mozzarella, pasta, appetizers, and salads. 890 W. Poplar, Suite 1. 457-7457. L, D, X, $ CIAO BELLA—Among the Italian and Greek specialties are lasagna, seafood pasta, eggplant rolotini, gourmet pizzas, and vegetarian options. Closed for lunch Sat.-Sun. 565 Erin Dr., Erinway Shopping Center. 205-2500. L, D, X, MRA, $-$$$ CITY GROCERY—Southern eclectic cuisine; shrimp and grits is a specialty. Closed for dinner Sunday. 152 Courthouse Square (Oxford, MS). 662-232-8080. L, D, SB, X, $$-$$$ COLETTA’S—Longtime eatery serves such specialties as homemade ravioli, lasagna, and pizza with barbecue or traditional

CLUBS/PUBS/SPORTS BARS Pkw. 754-6201; 357 W. Goodman Rd. 662-349-6663 (Southaven); 656 W. Poplar (Collierville). 861-5811. THE OLIVE GARDEN—7778 Winchester. 624-2003; 8405 Highway 64, Wolfchase Galleria. 377-3437; 6615 Airways (Southaven). 662-536-3350; 5679 Poplar, #1. 761-5711. OSHI BURGER BAR—94 s. Main. 341-2091. OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE— 1110 N. Germantown Parkway. 751-9800; 2255 Union Ave. 728-5100; 125 W. Goodman Rd. (Southaven). 662-349-7488. MRA. RAFFERTY’S—4542 Poplar. 374-0096; 505 N. Germantown Pkwy. 755-4799. RUBY TUESDAY—1653 Sycamore View. 382-9280;7535 Winchester. 7556570. SIDECAR CAFE—2194 Whitten. 388-0285. SILVER CABOOSE—132 E. Mulberry (Collierville). 853-0010. SKIMO’S—1166 N. Houston Levee, #107. 756-5055. MRA. SOUL FISH CAFE—862 S. Cooper. 725-0722; 3160 Village Shops Dr. (Germantown). 755-6988. 4720 Poplar. 590-0323. MRA. SPAGHETTI WAREHOUSE—40 W. Huling. 521-0907. STONEY RIVER—7515 Poplar. 2071100. TUGS—River Inn, 51 Harbor Town Square. 260-3344. MRA. VINEGAR JIM’S—12062 Forrest (Arlington). 867-7568. WOLF RIVER CAFE—460 U.S. 194 (Rossville). 853-2586.

toppings. 2850 Appling Rd. (Bartlett). 383-1122; 1063 S. Parkway E. 948-7652. L, D, X, MRA, $-$$ CORKY’S—Popular barbecue emporium offers both wet and dry ribs, plus a full menu of other barbecue entrees. Wed. lunch buffets, Cordova and Collierville. 5259 Poplar. 685-9744; 1740 N. Germantown Pkwy. (Cordova). 737-1911; 743 W. Poplar (Collierville). 405-4999; 6434 Goodman Rd., Olive Branch. 662-893-3663. L, D, X, MRA, $-$$ COZY CORNER—Serving up ribs, pork sandwiches, chicken, spaghetti, and more; also homemade banana pudding. Closed Sun.Mon. 745 N. Parkway. 527-9158. L, D, $ THE CRAZY NOODLE—Korean noodle dishes range from bibam beef noodle with cabbage, carrots, and other vegetables, to curry chicken noodle; also rice cakes served in a ﬂavorful sauce. Closed for lunch Sat.-Sun. 2015 Madison. 272-0928. L, D, X, $ CURRY BOWL— Specializes in Southern Indian cuisine, serving Tandoori chicken, biryani, tikka masala, and more. Weekend buffet. 4141 Hacks Cross. 207-6051. L, D, $ DEJAVU—Serves Creole, soul, and vegetarian cuisine, including po-boys, jambalaya, and shrimp and grits. 51 S. Main. 505-0212. L, D, X, $-$$ DERAE RESTAURANT—Ethiopian and Mediterranean fare includes fuul, or fava beans in spices and yoghurt, goat meat and rice, and garlic chicken over basmati rice with cilantro chutney; also salmon and tilapia. Closed Monday. 923 S. Highland. 552-3992. B, L, D, $-$$ ECCO—Mediterranean-inspired specialties range from rib-eye steak to seared scallops to housemade pastas and a grilled vegetable plate; also a Saturday brunch. Closed Sun.-Mon. 1585 Overton Park. 410-8200. L, D, X, $-$$ EIGHTY3—Contemporary menu of steaks and seafood offers a variety of eclectic specialties; also weekly specials, small plates, appetizers, and patio dining. 83 Madison Ave. 333-1224. B, L, D, WB, X, MRA, $-$$$ EL MEZCAL—Serves burritos, chimichangas, fajitas, and other Mexican cuisine, as well as shrimp dinners and steak. 402 Perkins Extd. 761-7710; 694 N. Germantown Pkwy. (Cordova). 7551447; 1492 Union. 274-4264; 11615 Airline Rd. (Arlington). 8671883; 9045 Highway 64 (Lakeland). 383-4219; 7164 Hacks Cross Rd. (Olive Branch). 662-890-3337; 8834 Hwy. 51 N. (Millington). 872-3220; 7424 Highway 64 (Bartlett). 417-6026; 9947 Wolf River (Collierville) 853-7922. L, D, X, $

From Beale Street night spots to neighborhood bars/grills, these places dish out a variety of food. Many offer live entertainment, and patrons can’t miss the large-screen TVs. ALEX’S TAVERN—1445 Jackson. 278-9086. ALFRED’S—197 Beale. 525-3711. MRA. B.B. KING’S BLUES CLUB—143 Beale. 524-5464. MRA. BEALE STREET TAP ROOM—168 Beale St. 576-2220. BELMONT GRILL—4970 Poplar. 767-0305; 9102 Poplar Pike (Germantown). 624-6001. MRA. BLIND BEAR SPEAKEASY—119 S. Main, Pembroke Square. 417-8435. BLUE MONKEY—2012 Madison. 272-2583; 513 S. Front. 5276665. BLUES CITY CAFE—138 Beale St. 526-3637. MRA. BROOKHAVEN PUB & GRILL—695 W. Brookhaven Circle. 680-8118. MRA. BUFFALO WILD WINGS—3770 Hacks Cross Rd. 737-9463; 7188 Airways (Southaven). 662-349-7776; 8385 Highway 64. 380-9294. DOUBLE J SMOKEHOUSE & SALOON—124 E. G.E. Patterson. 347-2648. EARNESTINE & HAZEL’S—531 S. Main. 523-9754. MRA. EAST END GRILL—7547 Highway 64. 937-1392; 7956 Winchester Rd. 432-4256. MRA. FLYING SAUCER DRAUGHT EMPORIUM—130 Peabody Place. 523-7468; 1400 Germantown Pkwy. 755-5530. MRA. FLYNN’S RESTAURANT & BAR—159 Beale St. 523-1940. FOX AND HOUND ENGLISH PUB & GRILL—847 Exocet Dr. 624-9060; 5101 Sanderlin Ave. 763-2013; 6565 Town Center Crossing (Southaven). 662-536-2200. GRAWEMEYER’S—520 S. Main. 800-1553. HADLEY’S PUB—2779 Whitten Rd. 266-5006. HARD ROCK CAFE—126 Beale. 529-0007. HICKORY TAVERN—4600 Merchants Park Cir. 861-0196. HIGH POINT PUB—477 High Point Terrace. 452-9203. HUEY’S—1927 Madison. 726-4372; 1771 N. Germantown Pkwy. (Cordova). 754-3885; 77 S. Second. 527-2700; 2130 W. Poplar (Collierville). 854-4455; 7090 Malco Blvd. (Southaven). 662-3497097; 7825 Winchester. 624-8911; 4872 Poplar. 682-7729; 7677 Farmington Blvd. (Germantown). 318-3030. MRA. JERRY LEE LEWIS’ CAFE & HONKY TONK—310 Beale St. 654-5171. KING’S PALACE CAFE—162 Beale. 521-1851. MRA. MEMPHIS SPORTS PUB—5012 Park Ave. 767-8632. MIDTOWN CROSSING GRILLE—394 N. Watkins. 443-0502. MURPHY’S—1589 Madison. 726-4193. MRA. NEIL’S MUSIC ROOM—5727 Quince Rd. 682-2300. NEWBY’S—539 S. Highland. 730-0520. OLD ZINNIE’S—1688 Madison. 726-5004. PATRICK’S—4972 Park Ave. 682-2852. MRA. P & H CAFE—1532 Madison. 726-0906. PIG ON BEALE—167 Beale. 529-1544 ROCKHOUSELIVE—2586 Poplar. 324-6300. 5709 Raleigh LaGrange. 386-7222. R.P. TRACKS— 3547 Walker. 327-1471. RUM BOOGIE CAFE— 182 Beale. 528-0150. SAMMY HAGAR’S RED ROCKER BAR & GRILL— Southland Park, 1550 North Ingram Blvd. (West Memphis). 872735-3670. SILKY O’SULLIVAN’S—183 Beale St. 522-9596. MRA. THE SILLY GOOSE—100 Peabody Place. 435-6915. THE SLIDER INN—2117 Peabody. 725-1155. SOUTH OF BEALE— 361 S. Main. 526-0388. T J MULLIGAN’S—8071 Trinity Rd. (Cordova). 756-4480; 2821 N. Houston Levee Rd. 377-9997. UBEE’S—521 S. Highland. 323-0900 WESTY’S—346 N. Main. 543-3278 . THE WINDJAMMER—786 E. Brookhaven Cl. 683-9044.

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CIT Y DINING LIST EL PORTON—Fajitas, quesadillas, and steak ranchero are just a few of the menu items. 2095 Merchants Row (Germantown). 7544268; 8361 Highway 64. 380-7877; 65 S. Highland, Poplar Plaza. 452-7330; 1805 N. Germantown Parkway (Cordova). 624-9358; 1016 W. Poplar (Collierville). 854-5770. L, D, X, MRA, $-$$ EMERALD THAI RESTAURANT—Spicy shrimp, pad khing, lemon grass chicken, and several noodle, rice, and vegetarian dishes are offered at this family restaurant. Closed Sunday. 8950 Highway 64 (Lakeland). 384-0540. L, D X, $-$$ ERLING JENSEN—Presents “globally inspired” cuisine: specialties are rack of lamb, big game entrees,and fresh fish dishes. 1044 S. Yates. 763-3700. D, X, MRA, $$-$$$ EVELYN & OLIVE—Jamaican/Southern fusion cuisine includes such dishes as Kingston stew fish, Rasta Pasta, and jerk rib-eye. Closed for lunch Sat. and all day Sun.-Mon. 630 Madison. 748-5422. L, D, X, $ EXLINES’ BEST PIZZA—Serves pizza, Italian dinners, sandwiches, and salads. 2935 Austin Peay. 388-4711; 6250 Stage Rd. (Bartlett). 382-3433; 2801 Kirby Parkway. 754-0202; 7730 Wolf River Blvd. (Germantown). 753-4545; 531 W. Stateline Rd. 662-342-4544 (check online for additional locations). L, D, X, $ 4DUMPLINGS—Chicken with celery and pork with Napa cabbage are among the hand-made dumpling varieties; also serves Asian tacos, and noodle and rice meals. Closed Sunday. 6515 Poplar. 762-4184. L, D, X, $ THE FARMER—Serving upscale Southern cuisine, with a focus on locally grown ingredients. Among the specialties are smoked beef tenderloin and shrimp and grits. Closed for dinner Sun.-Mon. 262 S. Highland. 324-2221. L, D, X, $-$$ FELICIA SUZANNE’S—Southern cuisine with low-country, Creole, and Delta influences, using regional fresh seafood, local beef, and locally grown foods. Entrees include shrimp and grits. Closed Sun. and Mon. Brinkley Plaza, 80 Monroe, Suite L1. 523-0877. L (Fri. only), D, X, MRA, $$-$$$ FERRARO’S PIZZERA & PUB—Rigatoni bolognese and capellini pomodoro are among the pasta entrees here, along with pizzas (whole or by the slice), with a variety of toppings. 111 Jackson. 522-2033. L, D, X, $-$$ FIREBIRDS—Specialties are hand-cut steaks, slow-roasted prime rib, and wood-grilled salmon and other seafood, as well as seasonal entrees. 8470 Highway 64 (Bartlett). 379-1300; 4600 Merchants Circle, Carriage Crossing (Collierville). 850-1637. L, D, X, $-$$$ THE FIVE SPOT—Tucked behind Earnestine & Hazel’s, this popular eatery features innovative bar food by chef Kelly English. 531 S. Main. 523-9754. D, X, $-$$ FLEMING’S PRIME STEAKHOUSE—Serves wet-aged and dry-aged steaks, prime beef, chops, and seafood, including salmon, Australian lobster tails, and a catch of the day. 6245 Poplar. 7616200. D, X, MRA, $$$-$$$$ FLIGHT RESTAURANT & WINE BAR—Serves steaks and seafood, along with such specialties as pork rib-eye and roasted duck, all matched with appropriate wines; also gourmet plate lunches. Closed for lunch Sat.-Sun. 3 9 S. Main. 521-8005. L, D, X, MRA, $-$$$ FLYING FISH—Serves up fried and grilled versions of shrimp, crab, oysters, fish tacos, and catfish; also chicken and burgers. 105 S. Second. 522-8228. L, D, X, MRA, $-$$ FOLK’S FOLLY ORIGINAL PRIME STEAK HOUSE— Specializes in prime steaks, as well as lobster, grilled Scottish salmon, Alaskan king crab legs, rack of lamb, and weekly specials. 551 S. Mendenhall. 762-8200. D, X, MRA, $$$-$$$$ FORMOSA—Offers Mandarin cuisine, including broccoli beef, hotand-sour soup, and spring rolls. Closed Monday. 6685 Quince. 7539898. L, D, X, $-$$ THE FOUR WAY—Legendary soul-food establishment dishing up such entrees as fried and baked catfish, chicken, and turkey and dressing, along with a host of vegetables and desserts. Closed Monday. 998 Mississippi Blvd. 507-1519. L, D (call to check hours.), $ FRATELLI’S—Serves hot and cold sandwiches, salads, soups, and desserts, all with an Italian/Mediterranean flair. Closed Sunday. 750 Cherry Rd., Memphis Botanic Garden. 766-9900. L, X, $ FRIDA’S—Mexican cuisine and Tex-Mex standards, including chimichangas, enchiladas, and fajitas; seafood includes shrimp and tilapia. 1718 Madison. 244-6196. L, D, X, $-$$ FUEL CAFE—Focus is on natural “Americana” dishes with such specialties as bison burgers, grass-fed beef dishes, and wild-caught fish; also vegan and gluten-free entrees. Closed Sun.-Mon. 1761 Madison. 725-9025. L, D, X, $-$$ GERMANTOWN COMMISSARY—Serves barbecue sandwiches, sliders, ribs, shrimp, and nachos, as well as smoked barbecued bologna sandwiches; Mon.-night all-you-can-eat ribs. 2290 S. Germantown Rd. S. (Germantown). 754-5540. L, D, X, MRA, $-$$ GOLDEN INDIA—Northern Indian specialties include tandoori chicken as well as lamb, beef, shrimp, and vegetarian dishes. 2097 Madison. 728-5111. L, D, X, $-$$

GREEN BAMBOO—Pineapple tilapia, pork vermicelli, and the soft egg noodle combo are Vietnamese specialties here. 990 N. Germantown Parkway, #104 (Cordova). 753-5488. L, D, $-$$ GREENCORK—Wine-on-tap bar serves seasonal menu of modern Southern cuisine. Specialty is the picnic basket, which includes cheese truffles and daily selections of premium meats. Closed Sun.-Mon. 2156 Young Ave. 207-5281. D, X, $-$$ GRIDLEY’S—Offers barbecued ribs, shrimp, pork plate, chicken, and hot tamales; also daily lunch specials. Closed Tues. 6842 Stage Rd. (Bartlett). 377-8055. L, D, X, $-$$ FRANK GRISANTI’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT— Northern Italian favorites include pasta with jumbo shrimp and mushrooms; also seafood, fillet mignon, and daily lunch specials. Closed for lunch Sunday. Embassy Suites Hotel, 1022 S. Shady Grove. 761-9462. L, D, X, MRA, $-$$$ RONNIE GRISANTI’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT—This Memphis institution serves some family classics such as Elfo’s Special and chicken ravioli, along with lighter fare and changing daily chef selection. Closed Sun. Sheffield Antiques Mall, 684 W. Poplar (Collierville). 850-0191. L (Mon.-Sat.), D (Thurs.-Sat.), X, $-$$$ THE GROVE GRILL—Offers steaks, chops, seafood, and other American cuisine with Southern and global influences; entrees include crab cakes, and shrimp and grits, also dinner specials. 4550 Poplar. 818-9951. L, D, SB, X, MRA, $$-$$$ GUS’S WORLD FAMOUS FRIED CHICKEN—Serves chicken with signature spicy batter, along with homemade beans, slaw, and pies. 310 S. Front. 527-4877; 215 S. Center St. (Collierville). 853-6005; 2965 N. Germantown Pkwy. (Cordova). 373-9111; 730 S. Mendenhall. 767-2323; 505 Highway 70 W., Mason, TN. 901-294-2028. L, D, X, MRA, $ HALF SHELL—Specializes in seafood, such as King crab legs; also serves steaks, chicken, pastas, salads, sandwiches, a ”voodoo menu”; oyster bar at Winchester location. 688 S. Mendenhall. 682-3966; 7825 Winchester. 737-6755. L, D, WB, X, MRA, $-$$$ HAPPY MEXICAN—Serves quesadillas, burritos, chimichangas, vegetable and seafood dishes, and more. 385 S. Second. 5299991; 6080 Primacy Pkwy. 683-0000; 7935 Winchester. 7515353. L, D, X, $ HAVANA’S PILON—Tiny eatery serving Cuban cuisine, including fried plantains in a pilon topped with shrimp, ropa vieja (shredded beef in tomato sauce), roasted pork, and a Cuban sandwich. Closed Sunday. 143 Madison. 527-2878. L, D, X, $ HERITAGE TAVERN & KITCHEN—Featuring classic cuisine from the country’s five regions, including lobster rolls, fried chicken, smoked tamales, Green Goddess shrimp, and more. 6150 Poplar, Regalia. 761-8855.L, D, WB, X, $-$$$ HIGH POINT PIZZA—Serves variety of pizzas, subs, salads, and sides. Closed Monday. 477 High Point Terrace. 452-3339. L, D, X, $-$$ HM DESSERT LOUNGE—Serving cake, pie, and other desserts, as well as a selection of savory dishes, including meatloaf and mashed potato “cupcakes.” Closed Sunday and Monday. 1586 Madison. 290-2099. L, D, X, $ HOG & HOMINY—The casual sister to Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen serves brick-oven-baked pizzas, including the Red-Eye with pork-belly, and small plates with everything from meatballs to beef and cheddar hotdogs;and local veggies. Closed for lunch Mon. 707 W. Brookhaven Cl. 207-7396. L, D, SB, X, $-$$$ HONG KONG—Cantonese and Mandarin standards are sweetand-sour chicken, and pepper beef. Closed Sunday. 3966 Elvis Presley. 396-0801. L, D, X, $ HOUSTON’S—Serves steaks, seafood, pork chops, chicken dishes, sandwiches, salads, and Chicago-style spinach dip. 5000 Poplar. 683-0915. L, D, X $-$$$ I LOVE JUICE BAR—Serving an extensive line of juices and grab-and-go lunch items. 553 S. Cooper. 612-2720. L, D, X, $

IMAGINE VEGAN CAFE—Dishes range from salads and sandwiches to full dinners, breakfast items served all day. 2299 Young. 654-3455. L, D, SB, X, $ INDIA PALACE—Tandoori chicken, lamb shish kabobs, chicken tikka masala are among the entrees; also, vegetarian options and a daily lunch buffet. 1720 Poplar. 278-1199. L, D, X, $-$$ INTERIM—Offers American-seasonal cuisine with emphasis on local foods and fresh fish; macaroni and cheese is a house specialty. Closed for lunch Sat. 5040 Sanderlin, Suite 105. 818-0821. L, D, SB, X, MRA, $-$$$ INTERSTATE BAR-B-Q—Specialties include chopped porkshoulder sandwiches, ribs, hot wings, spaghetti, chicken, and turkey. 2265 S. Third. 775-2304; 150 W. Stateline Rd. (Southaven). 662-393-5699. L, D, X, MRA, $-$$ ITTA BENA—Southern and Cajun-American cuisine served here; specialties are filet Oscar and shrimp and grits, along with steaks, chops, seafood, and pasta. 145 Beale St. 578-3031. D,X, $$-$$$  JASMINE THAI AND VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT—Entrees include panang chicken, green curry shrimp,and pad thai (noodles, shrimp, and peanuts); also vegetarian dishes. Closed Mon.-Tues. 916 S. Cooper. 725-0223. L, D, X, $ JIM ’N NICK’S BAR-B-Q—Serves barbecued pork, ribs, chicken, brisket, and fish, along with other homemade Southern specialties. 2 359 N. Germantown Pkwy. 388-0998. L, D, X, $-$$ JIM’S PLACE/JIM’S PLACE GRILLE—Features American, Greek, and Continental cuisine with such entrees as pork tenderloin, several seafood specialties, and hand-cut charcoal-grilled steaks. Closed for lunch Sat. and all day Sun. 518 Perkins Extd. 766-2030; 3660 Houston Levee (Collierville). 861-5000. L, D, X, MRA, $-$$$ JOE’S CRAB SHACK—Serves a variety of seafood, along with chicken, steak, and pasta. 7990 Horizon Center Blvd. 384-7478. L, D, X, $-$$$ JULLES POSH FOOD CO.— The changing menu features seasonal “cooking light” dishes such as salmon-shrimp cakes with green salad and roasted sweet potato wedges; also cold-pressed juices, to-go dishes, and desserts. 6300 Poplar. 509-8675. B, L, D, X, $-$$ JUST FOR LUNCH—Serves sandwiches, quiche, salads, fresh fish including fried oysters, daily specials, and homemade rolls. Closed Sunday. 3 092 Poplar, Chickasaw Oaks Plaza. 323-3287. L, D (Thurs. only), X, MRA, $-$$ KOOKY CANUCK— Offers prime rib, catfish, and burgers, including the 4-lb. “Kookamonga”; also late-night menu. 97 S. Second. 578-9800; 1250 N. Germantown Pkwy. 1-8002453 L, D, X, MRA, $-$$$ LA BAGUETTE—An almond croissant and chicken salad are among specialties at this French-style bistro. Closed for dinner Sun. 3088 Poplar. 458-0900. B, L, D (closes at 7), X, $ LA PLAYITA MEXICANA—Specializes in seafood and Mexican entrees, including red snapper, tilapia, oysters, chimichangas, tostados, and taco salad. 6194 Macon (Bartlett). 377-2282. L, D, X, $-$$ LA TAQUERIA GUADALUPANA—Fajitas and quesadillas are just a few of the authentic Mexican entrees offered here. 4818 Summer. 685-6857. L, D, $ LAFAYETTE’S MUSIC ROOM—Serves such Southern cuisine as po boys and shrimp and grits, and wood-fired pizzas; also live music. 2119 Madison. 207-5097. L, D, WB, X, $-$$ LAS DELICIAS—Popular for its guacamole, house-made tortilla chips, and margaritas, this restaurant draws diners with its chicken enchiladas, meat-stuffed flautas, and Cuban torta with spicy pork. Closed Sunday. 4 002 Park Ave. 458-9264; 5689 Quince. 8002873. L, D, X, $ LAS TORTUGAS DELI MEXICANA—Authentic Mexican food prepared from local food sources; specializes in tortugas — grilled bread scooped out to hold such fillings as brisket, pork, and

COFFEEHOUSES/BOOKSTORE CAFES

In addition to gourmet coffees and drinks, these eateries generally serve pastries, sandwiches, soups, and salads, and some have a wider range of menu items. AVENUE COFFEE—786 Echles. 454-3348. BARNES & NOBLE BOOKSELLERS— 2774 N. Germantown Pkwy. 386-2468; 4610 Merchants Park Cl., #521 (Collierville). 853-3264. BELLA CAFFE—Pink Palace Museum, 3050 Central. 3206320 BLUFF CITY COFFEE—505 S. Main. 405-4399. THE BOOKSELLERS AT LAURELWOOD— 387 Perkins Extd. 683-9801. CARITAS VILLAGE COFFEE SHOP— 2509 Harvard. 327-5246.. CITY AND STATE—2625 Broad. 249-2406.

JAVA CABANA—2170 Young. 272-7210. MUDDY’S GRIND HOUSE—585 S. Cooper. 683-8844. OTHERLANDS—641 S. Cooper. 278-4994. MRA. QAHWA COFFEE BAR—Claridge House, 109 N. Main.800-2227. SQUARE BEANS ESPRESSO + GELATO— 103 N. Center St. (Collierville). 854-8855. STARBUCKS—1850 Union Ave. 729-4288; 3388 Poplar. 320-1021; 5201 Poplar. 818-9954; 2955 Kirby Whitten (Bartlett), 266-2497; 180 Goodman Rd. E. (Southaven). 662-349-0342; 8140 Goodman Rd. (Olive Branch). 662-890-9507. For more listings, check online. TAMP & TAP—122 Gayoso. 207-1053 THE UGLY MUG— 4610 Poplar. 552-3165.

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CIT Y DINING LIST LOCALITY GUIDE BARTLETT

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Spaghetti Warehouse Jim N Nick’s Bar-B-Q Spindini Joe’s Crab Shack Abuelo’s The Terrace Logan’s Roadhouse Applebee’s Texas de Brazil Moe’s Southwest Grill Cajun Catfish Company Tugs T.J. Mulligan’s Coletta’s Twilight Sky Terrace O’Charley’s Colton’s Steakhouse Uncle Buck’s Fishbowl & Grill Olive Garden Dixie Cafe Westy’s On the Border El Porton Osaka Japanese Exlines’ Best Pizza EAST MEMPHIS Outback Steakhouse Firebirds Acre Pasta Italia Gridley’s Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen Pei Wei Asian Diner Hadley’s Pub Asian Palace The Presentation Room La Playita Mexicana Bangkok Alley Pyro’s Fire Fresh Pizza O’Charley’s Belmont Grill Rafferty’s Ruby Tuesday Blue Plate Cafe Red Lobster Sekisui Booksellers Bistro Romano’s Macaroni Grill Side Car Cafe Broadway Pizza Sekisui Side Porch Steakhouse Brookhaven Pub & Grill Shogun Tops Bar B-Q Buckley’s Fine Filet Grill Buntyn Corner Cafe CHICKASAW GARDENS/ Skimo’s Tannoor Grill Carrabba’s Italian Grill UNIV. OF MEMPHIS Zaytos Casablanca A-Tan Central B B Q DOWNTOWN Brother Juniper’s Chili’s Agave Maria Cheffie’s Ciao Bella Aldo’s Pizza Pies The Choo City East Alfred’s Derae Corky’s The Arcade El Porton Dixie Cafe Automatic Slim’s The Farmer El Mezcal Bangkok Alley Just for Lunch El Porton Bardog Tavern La Baguette Fino’s from the Hill B.B. King’s Blues Club Los Compadres Folk’s Folly Bedrock Eats & Sweets Lost Pizza Fox & Hound Belle — A Southern Bistro Medallion Fratelli’s Bleu Newby’s The Grove Grill Blind Bear Speakeasy Osaka Japanese Half Shell Blue Monkey Pete & Sam’s Hog & Hominy Bluefin Rock’n Dough Pizza Houston’s Blues City Cafe R.P. Tracks Huey’s Bon Ton Cafe Woman’s Exchange Interim COLLIERVILLE/WEST TN. Brass Door Irish Pub Erling Jensen Burrito Blues Mexican Grill (ARLINGTON, COVINGTON, Jim’s Place Cafe Eclectic MILLINGTON, OAKLAND) Las Delicias Cafe Keough Bangkok Alley LYFE Kitchen Cafe Pontotoc Bonefish Grill Lynchburg Legends Capriccio Bozo’s Hot Pit Bar-B-Q Marciano Central BBQ Cafe Piazza Mayuri Indian Cuisine Chez Philippe Cajun Catfish Company Mellow Mushroom City Market Carrabba’s Italian Grill Memphis Pizza Cafe Cozy Corner Chili’s Mortimer’s DeJaVu Ciao Baby Mosa Asian Bistro Double J Smokehouse & Saloon Corky’s Napa Cafe Earnestine & Hazel’s Crepe Maker Neil’s Eighty3 El Mezcal New Hunan Felicia Suzanne’s El Porton Old Venice Ferraro’s Pizzeria Emerald Thai On the Border Five Spot Firebirds One & Only BBQ Ronnie Grisanti’s Italian RestaurantFlight Patrick’s Flying Fish Gus’s Fried Chicken Porcellino’s Craft Butcher Flying Saucer Hickory Tavern Rafferty’s T.G.I. Friday’s Huey’s Sekisui Pacific Rim Grawemeyer’s Jim’s Place Grille Soul Fish Cafe Gus’s Manila Filipino Staks Happy Mexican Mulan Taziki’s Mediterranean Cafe Hard Rock Cafe Osaka Japanese Three Little Pigs Havana’s Pilon Memphis Pizza Cafe Whole Foods Market Huey’s Pig-N-Whistle Itta Bena GERMANTOWN Sekisui King’s Palace Cafe Belmont Grill Silver Caboose Kooky Canuck The Cheesecake Factory Stix Little Tea Shop Chili’s Vinegar Jim’s Local City East Wolf River Cafe Lookout at the Pyramid El Porton CORDOVA LYFE Kitchen Exlines’ Best Pizza Bahama Breeze Maciel’s Tortas & Tacos Germantown Comm. Bombay House McEwen’s on Monroe Mellow Mushroom Bonefish Grill The Majestic Memphis Pizza Cafe Brazil Flavor Marmalade Mesquite Chop House Butcher Shop Mesquite Chop House New Asia Cheddar’s Mollie Fontaine Lounge Petra Cafe Chili’s The Office@Uptown Royal Panda Corky’s Onix Russo’s New York Pizzeria & Crazy Italians Oshi Burger Bar Wine Bar East End Grill Paulette’s Sakura El Mezcal Pearl’s Oyster House Soul Fish Cafe El Porton Pig on Beale Stoney River Steakhouse and Grill T.G.I. Friday’s Pink Diva Cupcakery & Cuisine West Street Diner Flying Saucer Ray’z World Famous Dr. Bar-B-Que MEDICAL CENTER Green Bamboo Rendezvous, Charles Vergos’ Gus’s The Cupboard Rizzo’s Diner Happy Mexican Evelyn & Olive Rum Boogie Cafe Hunan Palace Sabrosura Silky O’Sullivan’s Huey’s Tops Bar-B-Q South of Beale J. Alexander’s Trolley Stop Market South Main Sushi & Grill Jerry Lee Lewis’ Cafe & Honky Tonk

MIDTOWN

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

NORTH MISSISSIPPI Ajax Diner Applebee’s Blue and White Blue Daze Bistro Bonne Terre Chili’s City Grocery Colton’s Steakhouse Como Steakhouse Corky’s Fox & Hound Huey’s Lee’s Family Restaurant

Logan’s Roadhouse Lost Pizza McEwen’s Dan McGuinness Pub Memphis Barbecue Company Memphis Pizza Cafe Mesquite Chop House Nagoya O’Charley’s Olive Garden Osaka Japanese Cuisine Outback Steakhouse Ravine Sekisui Tuscany Ital Steakhouse

PARKWAY VILLAGE/ FOX MEADOWS Blue Shoe Bar & Grill Leonard’s Jack Pirtle’s Chicken Three Little Pigs Bar-B-Q POPLAR/I-240 Amerigo Benihana Blue Plate Cafe Brooklyn Bridge Capital Grille, The P.F. Chang’s Chipotle Exlines’ Best Pizza 4Dumplings Fleming’s Frank Grisanti’s Happy Mexican Heritage Tavern & Kitchen Julles Posh Food Co. Mister B’s Olive Garden One & Only BBQ Owen Brennan’s Pyro’s Fire-Fresh Pizza Red Koi River Oaks Ruth’s Chris Salsa Seasons 52 Sekisui Wang’s Mandarin House

RALEIGH

Exline’s Best Pizza

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

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

WEST MEMPHIS/ EASTERN ARK.

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

WHITEHAVEN Hong Kong Marlowe’s

WINCHESTER

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

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Rocker

CIT Y DINING LIST shrimp; also tingas tostados and such sides as steamed corn. Closed Sunday. 1215 S. Germantown Rd. 751-1200. L, D, X, $-$$ LEONARD’S—Serves wet and dry ribs, barbecue sandwiches, spaghetti, catfish, homemade onion rings. and lemon icebox pie; also a lunch buffet. 5465 Fox Plaza. 360-1963. L, X, MRA, $-$$ THE LITTLE TEA SHOP—Downtown institution serves up Southern comfort cooking, including meatloaf and such veggies as turnip greens, yams, okra, and tomatoes. Closed Sat.-Sun. 69 Monroe. 525-6000, L, X, $ LOCAL GASTROPUB—Eclectic entrees with a focus on locally grown products include lobster mac-and-cheese and pork osso bucco. 95 S. Main. 473-9573; 2126 Madison. 725-1845. L, D, WB, X, MRA, $-$$ THE LOOKOUT AT THE PYRAMID—Serves Southern fare, including catfish tacos and crawfish tails, atop The Pyramid with a panoramic view of the river. 1 Bass Pro Dr. 620-4600/291-8200. L, D, X $-$$$ LOS COMPADRES—Serves enchiladas, burritos, tamales, tacos, and vegetarian dishes; also Cuban entrees. 3295 Poplar. 458-5731. L, D, X, $-$$ LOST PIZZA—Offering pizzas (with dough made from scratch), pasta, salads, sandwiches, tamales, and more. 2855 Poplar. 5721803; 5960 Getwell, Southaven. 662-892-8684. L, D, X, $-$$ LOTUS—Authentic Vietnamese-Asian fare, including lemon-grass chicken and shrimp, egg rolls, Pho soup, and spicy Vietnamese vermicelli. 4970 Summer. 682-1151. D, X, $ LYFE KITCHEN—Serving healthy, affordable wraps, bowls, sandwiches, and more; entrees include roasted salmon and “unfried” chicken. 6201 Poplar. 684-5333; 272 S. Main. 526-0254. B, L, D, WB, X, $ LYNCHBURG LEGENDS—This restaurant with a Jack Daniels’ theme and Southern cuisine serves such entrees as Bourbon Street salmon, buttermilk-fried chicken, and grilled steak and wild mushroom salad. Double Tree Hotel, 5069 Sanderlin. 969-7777. B, L, D, X, $- $$$ MACIEL’S TORTAS & TACOS—Entrees include tortas, hefty Mexican sandwiches filled with choice of chicken, pork, or steak. Also serving fried taco plates, quesadillas, chorizo and pastor soft tacos, salads, and more. Closed Sun. 45 S. Main. 526-0037. L, D, X, $ THE MAJESTIC GRILLE—Housed in a former silent-picture house, features aged steaks, fresh seafood, and such specialties as roasted chicken and grilled pork tenderloin; offers a pre-theatre menu and classic cocktails. 145 S. Main. 522-8555. L, D, WB, X, MRA, $-$$$ MANILA FILIPINO RESTAURANT—Entrees include pork belly cutlet with lechon sauce, and shrimp and vegetables in tamarind broth; also daily combos, rice dishes, and chef specials. 7 849 Rockford (Millington). 209-8525. L, D, X, $ MARCIANO MEDITERRANEAN AND ITALIAN CUISINE—Rack of lamb with roasted potatoes and demiglaze is among the entrees; also steaks, seafood, and gourmet pizza. 780 Brookhaven Cl. 682-1660. D, X, $-$$  MARDI GRAS MEMPHIS—Serving Cajun fare, including an etoufee-stuffed po’boy. 496 Watkins. 530-6767. L, D, X, $-$$ MARLOWE’S—In addition to its signature barbecue and ribs, Marlowe’s serves Southern-style steaks, chops, lasagne, and more. 4381 Elvis Presley Blvd. 332-4159. D, X, $-$$ MARMALADE RESTAURANT & LOUNGE—Southern homestyle entrees include catfish, honey-baked ham, steaks, and shrimp, all with a choice of three vegetables. Closed Sun. and Mon. 153 G.E. Patterson. 522-8800. D, X, $ MAXIMO’S ON BROAD—Serving a tapas menu that features creative fusion cuisine. Closed Mon. and Tues. 2617 Broad Ave. 4521111. L, D, SB, X, $-$$ MAYURI INDIAN CUISINE—Serves tandoori chicken, masala dosa, tikka masala, as well as lamb and shrimp entrees; also a daily lunch buffet, and dinner buffet on Fri.-Sat. 6524 Quince Rd. 7538755. L, D, X, $-$$ MCEWEN’S ON MONROE—Southern/American cuisine with international flavors; specialties include steak and seafood, sweet potato-crusted catfish with macaroni and cheese, and more. Closed Sun., Monroe location. 120 Monroe. 527-7085; 1110 Van Buren (Oxford). 662-234-7003. L, D, SB (Oxford only), X, MRA, $$-$$$ DAN MCGUINNESS PUB—Serves fish and chips, shepherd’s pie, burgers, and other Irish and American fare; also lunch and dinner specials. 3964 Goodman Rd. 662-890-7611. L, D, X, $ MEDALLION—Offers steaks, seafood, chicken, and pasta entrees. Closed for dinner Sunday. 3700 Central, Holiday Inn (Kemmons Wilson School of Hospitality). 678-1030. B, L, D, SB, X, MRA, $-$$$ MELLOW MUSHROOM—Large menu includes assortment of pizzas, salads, calzones, hoagies, vegetarian options, and 50 beers on tap. 9155 Poplar, Shops of Forest Hill (Germantown). 907-0243; 5138 Park Ave. 562-1211. L, D, X, $-$$ MEMPHIS BARBECUE COMPANY—Offers spare ribs, baby backs, and pulled pork and brisket, along with such sides as mac and

T UNICA TA BLES CHICAGO STEAKHOUSE AT THE GOLDSTRIKE—1010 Casino Center Dr., Robinsonville, MS, 1-888-24KSTAY /662-357-1225. DON B’S STEAKHOUSE AT THE FITZ —711 Lucky Ln., Robinsonville, MS, 1-888-766-LUCK, ext 6501. FAIRBANKS AT THE HOLLYWOOD—1150 Casino Strip Blvd., Robinsonville, MS, 1-800-871-0711 JACK BINION’S STEAK HOUSE AT HORSESHOE—1021 Casino Center Drive, Robinsonville, MS, 1-800-303-SHOE. cheese, grits, and red beans. 709 Desoto Cove, Horn Lake (MS). 662-536-3762. L, D, X, $-$$ MEMPHIS PIZZA CAFE—Homemade pizzas are specialties; also serves sandwiches, calzones, and salads. 2087 Madison. 7265343; 5061 Park Ave. 684-1306; 7604 W. Farmington (Germantown). 753-2218; 797 W. Poplar (Collierville). 861-7800; 5627 Getwell (Southaven). 662-536-1364. L, D, X, MRA, $-$$ MESQUITE CHOP HOUSE—The focus here is on steaks, including prime fillet, rib eyes, and prime-aged New York strip; also, some seafood options. 5 960 Getwell (Southaven). 662-890-2467; 88 Union. 527-5337; 3165 Forest Hill-Irene (Germantown). 249-5661. D, SB (Germantown), X, $$-$$$ MISTER B—Features New Orleans-style seafood and steaks. Closed for lunch Sat. and all day Sun. 6655 Poplar, #107. 751-5262. L, D, X, MRA, $-$$$ MOLLIE FONTAINE LOUNGE—Specializes in tapas (small plates) featuring global cuisine. Closed Sun.-Tues. 679 Adams Ave. 524-1886. D, X, MRA, $ MOLLY’S LA CASITA—Homemade tamales, fish tacos, a vegetarian combo, and bacon-wrapped shrimp are a few of the specialties. 2006 Madison. 726-1873. L, D, X, MRA, $-$$ MORTIMER’S—Contemporary American entrees include trout almondine, several chicken dishes, and hand-cut steaks; also sandwiches, salads, and daily/nightly specials. Closed for lunch Sat.Sun. 590 N. Perkins. 761-9321. L, D, X, $-$$ MOSA ASIAN BISTRO—Specialties include sesame chicken, Thai calamari, rainbow panang curry with grouper fish, and other Pan Asian/fusion entrees. 850 S. White Station Rd. 683-8889. L, D, X, $ MULAN—Hunan Chicken, tofu dishes, and orange beef served here; some sushi, too. 2059 Houston Levee (Collierville). 8505288; 2149 Young. 347-3965. L, D, X, $-$$ NAGASAKI INN—Chicken, steak, and lobster are among the main courses; meal is cooked at your table. 3951 Summer. 4540320. D, X, $$ NAGOYA—Offers traditional Japanese cuisine and sushi bar; specialties are teriyaki and tempura dishes. 7075 Malco Blvd., Suite 101 (Southaven). 662-349-8788. L, D, X, $-$$$  NAM KING—Offers luncheon and dinner buffets, dim sum, and such specialties as fried dumplings, pepper steak, and orange chicken. 4594 Yale. 373-4411. L, D, X, $  NAPA CAFE—Among the specialties is miso-marinated salmon over black rice with garlic spinach and shiitake mushrooms. Closed for lunch Sat. and all day Sun. 5101 Sanderlin, Suite 122. 6830441. L, D, X, MRA, $$-$$$ NEW ASIA—Specializing in authentic Chinese food, including roast Peking duck. 2075 Exeter, Suite 90. 758-8388. L, D, X, $ NEW HUNAN—Chinese eatery with more than 80 entrees;also lunch/dinner buffets. 5052 Park. 766-1622. L, D, X, $ THE OFFICE@UPTOWN— Offering sandwiches, wraps, pizza, soups, salads, and several vegetarian options. Closed Sunday. 594 N. Second St. 522-1905. B, L, D, X, $ OLD VENICE PIZZA CO.— Specializes in “eclectic Italian,” from pastas, including the “Godfather,” to hand-tossed pizzas, including the “John Wayne”; choose from 60 toppings. 368 Perkins Ext. 767-6872. L, D, SB, X, MRA, $-$$ ON THE BORDER—Dishes out such Tex-Mex specialties as fajitas and Southwest chicken tacos; also fresh grilled seafood specials. 8101 Giacosa Pl. (Cordova).881-0808 ; 4552 Poplar. 763-0569; 6572 Airways (Southaven). 662-655-4750. L, D, WB, X, MRA, $ ONE & ONLY BBQ—On the menu are pork barbecue sandwiches, platters, wet and dry ribs, smoked chicken and turkey platters, a smoked meat salad, barbecue quesadillas, and more. 1779 Kirby Pkwy. 751-3615; 567 Perkins Extd. 249-4227. L, D, X, $ ONIX RESTAURANT—Serves American seafood and pasta dishes. Closed for lunch Sat., all day Sun., and for dinner Mon. 412 S. Main. 552-4609. L, D, X, $-$$ ORR RESTAURANT—Serves Mediterranean/African cuisine, such as lamb Kowzi flavored with raisins and roasted nuts and served with white bean soup. 661 N. Mendenhall, Suite 101. 275-8692. L, D, X, $-$$

OSAKA JAPANESE CUISINE—Featuring an extensive sushi menu as well as traditional Japanese and hibachi dining. Hours vary for lunch; call. 3670 Houston Levee (Collierville). 861-4309; 3402 Poplar. 249-4690; 7164 Hacks Cross. 662-890-9312; 2200 N. Germantown Pkwy. 425-4901. L, D, X, $-$$$ OWEN BRENNAN’S—New Orleans-style menu of beef, chicken, pasta, and seafood; jambalaya, shrimp and grits, and crawfish etouffee are specialties. Closed for dinner Sunday. The Regalia, 6150 Poplar. 761-0990. L, D, SB, X, MRA, $-$$$ PANCHO’S—Serves up a variety of Mexican standards, including tacos, enchiladas, and mix-and-match platters; also lunch specials. 3600 E. Broadway (West Memphis). 870-735-6466. 717 N. White Station. 685-5404. L, D, X, MRA, $ PANDA GARDEN—Sesame chicken and broccoli beef are among the Mandarin and Cantonese entrees; also seafood specials and fried rice. Closed for lunch Saturday. 3735 Summer. 323-4819. L, D, X, $-$$ PASTA ITALIA—Northern Italian cuisine features homemade stuffed pastas; a specialty is rosetta al forno; also serves fish and steaks. Closed Sun.-Mon. 8130 Macon Station Dr., Suite 106. 7510009. D, X, $$$-$$$$ PAULETTE’S—Presents fine dining with a Continental flair, including such entrees as filet Paulette with butter-pepper cream sauce and popoovers with strawberry butter; also changing daily specials. River Inn. 50 Harbor Town Square. 260-3300. B, L, D, WB, X, MRA, $-$$$ PEARL’S OYSTER HOUSE—Downtown eatery serving seafood, including oysters, crawfish, and stuffed butterfly shrimp, as well as beef, chicken, and pasta dishes. 299 S. Main. 522-9070. L, D, SB, X, MRA, $-$$$ PEI WEI ASIAN DINER—Serves a variety of Pan-Asian cuisine, including Japanese, Vietnamese, Korean, and Thai. Noodle and rice bowls are specialties; a small plates menu also offered. 1680 Union Ave., #109. 722-3780; 2257 N. Germantown Pkwy. 382-1822. L, D, X, $-$$  PETE & SAM’S—Serving Memphis for 60-plus years; offers steaks, seafood, and traditional Italian dishes, including homemade ravioli, lasagna, and chicken marsala. 3886 Park. 458-0694. D, X, $-$$$ PETRA CAFÉ—Serves Greek, Italian, and Middle Eastern sandwiches, gyros, and entrees. Hours vary; call. 6641 Poplar Ave. (Germantown). 754-4440; 9155 Poplar (Germantown). 755-5440; 1560 Union. 505-2812. L, D, X, $-$$ PINK DIVA CUPCAKERY & CUISINE— Vegetarian/vegan fare, including cupcakes and build-your-own ramen and mac and cheese bowls. Closed Thurs. and Sun. 936 Florida. 946-0056. L, D, $ PF CHANG’S CHINA BISTRO—Specialties are orange peel shrimp, Mongolian beef, and chicken in lettuce wraps; also vegetarian dishes, including spicy eggplant. 1181 Ridgeway Rd., Park Place Centre. 818-3889. L, D, X, MRA, $-$$ PHO BINH—Vietnamese, vegetarian, and Cantonese specialties include lemon tofu and spring rolls. Closed Sunday. 1615 Madison. 276-0006. L, D, $ PHO SAIGON—Vietnamese fare includes beef teriyaki, roasted quail, curry ginger chicken, vegetarian options, and a variety of soups. 2946 Poplar. 458-1644. L, D, $ PIG-N-WHISTLE—Offers pork shoulder sandwiches, wet and dry ribs, catfish, nachos, and stuffed barbecue potatoes. 6084 KerrRosemark Rd. 872-2455. L, D, X, $ PORCELLINO’S CRAFT BUTCHER—Small plates, charcuterie selections, specialty steaks, house-made pastries, and innovative teas and coffees are offered at this combination butcher shop and restaurant featuring locally sourced menu items. 711 W. Brookhaven Cl. 762-6656. B, L, D, X $-$$ PRESENTATION ROOM, THE—American bistro run by the students of L’Ecole Culinaire. Menu changes regularly; specialties may include such items as a filet with truffle mushroom ragu. Closed Fri.Sun. 1 245 N. Germantown Pkwy (Cordova). 754-7115. L, D, X, $-$$ PYRO’S FIRE-FRESH PIZZA—Serving gourmet pizzas cooked in an open-fire oven; wide choice of toppings; large local and craft beer selection. 1199 Ridgeway. 379-8294; 2035 Union Ave. 208-8857; 2286 N. Germantown Pkwy. 207-1198. B, L, D, X, $ RAVINE—Serves contemporary Southern cuisine with an emphasis on fresh, locally grown foods and a menu that changes weekly. Closed Mon.-Tues. 5 3 Pea Ridge/County Rd. 321 (Oxford, MS). 662-2344555. D, SB, X, $$-$$$ RAY’Z WORLD FAMOUS DR. BAR-B-QUE—Serves dry-roasted barbecue, pulled or chopped pork, beef brisket, ribs, salads, and more. Closed Mon. 302 S. Main. 527-9026. L, D, X, $ RED KOI—Classic Japanese cuisine offered at this family-run restaurant; hibachi steaks, sushi, seafood, chicken, and vegetables. 5847 Poplar. 767-3456. L, D, X $-$$ RED LOBSTER—Specializes in crab legs, lobster, and shrimp dishes; also pastas, salads, steaks, and chicken. 8161 Highway 64 (Cordova). 387-0056; 6535 Airways (Southaven). 662-536-1960; 7750 Winchester. 759-9045. L, D, X, $-$$

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CIT Y DINING LIST F A S T- C A S U A L

CHEERS

40 YEARS! BARDOG.COM

ALDOSPIZZAPIES.COM

THESLIDERINN.COM

Broadway Pizza House Legendary Pizza Since 1977

2581 Broad Avenue (901) 454-7930

629 South Mendenhall (901) 207-1546

Memphis Magazine’s

THE 2016

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Fresh cuisine prepared while you wait and served in an upscale setting. Not your typical fast-food restaurants, most serve beer, wine, and liquor. BONEHEADS—555 Perkins Extd. 746-8867. BURRITO BLUES MEXICAN—156 Beale. 528-1055. CHIPOTLE MEXICAN GRILL—5865 Poplar, Ridgeway Trace, #104. 416-1944; 2760 N. Germantown Pkwy. 620-0469. CRAZY ITALIANS—1250 N. Germantown Pkwy., #105 (Cordova). 347-2449. CREPE MAKER—4630 Merchants Park Cir., #731 (Collierville). 861-1981. GENGHIS GRILL—2362 N. Germantown Parkway. 584-0412; 7706 Winchester. 522-5048; 5849 Poplar, #117, Ridgeway Trace. 308-4040. HUMDINGERS—6300 Poplar. 260-8292; 1134 N. Germantown Parkway (Cordova). 271-2912. MOE’S SOUTHWEST GRILL— 465 N. Germantown Parkway (Cordova). 737-5058. 6300 Poplar Ave., #108. 685-5685; 3660 S. Houston Levee (Collierville). 457-7227; 3546 Walker. 590-0192 SWANKY’S TACO SHOP—6641 Poplar (Germantown). 737-2088. 4770 Poplar. 730-0763; 711 Southcrest Pkwy, #101 (Southaven). 662-655-0662. MRA. TAZIKI’S MEDITERRANEAN CAFE— 540 S. Mendenhall. 290-1091. RENDEZVOUS, CHARLES VERGOS’—Menu items include barbecued ribs, cheese plates, skillet shrimp, red beans and rice, and Greek salads. Closed Sun.-Mon. 52 S. Second. 523-2746. L (Fri.-Sat.), D, X, MRA, $-$$ RESTAURANT IRIS—French Creole cuisine includes shrimp and delta-grind grits, and New York strip stuffed with fried oysters and blue cheese. Closed Sun. 2146 Monroe. 590-2828. D, X, MRA, $$-$$$ RIVER OAKS—A French-style bistro serving seafood and steaks, with an emphasis on fresh local ingredients. Closed for lunch Sat. and all day Sun. 5871 Poplar Ave. 683-9305. L, D, X, $$$ RIVERFRONT BAR & GRILL—Beale Street Landing eatery serves Southern American specialties, including Tom Lee Catfish, and Tennessee Caviar, a fresh veggie salsa of black-eyed peas and cilantro with pimento cheese and toast points; also sausage-cheese appetizer. Closed Monday. 251 Riverside Dr. 524-0817. L, D, X, $ RIZZO’S DINER—Chorizo meatloaf, lobster pronto puff, and brisket are menu items at this upscale diner, Closed for dinner Sun. and all day Mon. 492 S. Main. 304-6985. L, D, WB, X, $-$$ ROBATA RAMEN & YAKITORI BAR— Serves ramen noodle bowls and Yakitori skewers as well as rice and noodle dishes, and sake. 2116 Madison. 410-8290. D, WB, X, $ ROCK’N DOUGH PIZZA CO.—Specialty and custom pizzas made from fresh ingredients; wide variety of toppings. 3 445 Poplar Ave., Ste. 1. 512-6760. L, D, X, $$ ROMANO’S MACARONI GRILL—Serves MediterraneanItalian cuisine, including hand-crafted pasta Milano and penne rustica, and create-your-own pasta; also steaks, seafood, and salads. 2859 N. Germantown Pk wy. (Cordova). 266-4565. L, D, X, $-$$ ROYAL PANDA—Hunan fish, Peking duck, Royal Panda chicken and shrimp, and a seafood combo are among the specialties. 3120 Village Shops Dr. (Germantown). 756-9697. L, D, X, $-$$ RUSSO’S NEW YORK PIZZERIA AND WINE BAR— Serves gourmet pizzas, calzones, and pasta, including lasagna, fettucine Alfredo, scampi, and more. 9087 Poplar, Suite 111. 755-0092. L, D, WB, X, MRA, $-$$ RUTH’S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE—Offers prime steaks cut and aged in-house, as well as lamb, chicken, and fresh seafood, including lobster. 6120 Poplar. 761-0055. D, X, MRA, $$$-$$$$ SABROSURA—Serves Mexican and Cuban fare, including arroz tapada de pollo and steak Mexican. 782 Washington. 421-8180. B, L, D, X, $-$$ SAIGON LE—Vietnamese/Chinese specialties include calamari with ginger, and pork chops with mushrooms; vegetarian options too. Closed Sunday. 51 N. Cleveland. 276-5326. L, D, X, $-$$ SAKURA—Sushi, tempura, and teriyaki are Japanese specialties here. 2060 West St. (Germantown). 758-8181. 4840 Poplar. 572-1002. L, D, X, $-$$ SALSA—Mexican-Southern California specialties include carnitas, enchiladas verde, and fajitas; also Southwestern seafood dishes such as snapper verde. Closed Sun. Regalia Shopping Center, 6150 Poplar, Suite 129. 683-6325. L, D, X, $-$$ SCHWEINEHAUS—Serving Bavarian-influenced fare with a Southern twist; includes wurst platters, pork schnitzel, sauerbraten, and more; also a wide variety of beers. 2110 Madison. 347-3060. L, D, X, $-$$

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Serving sandwiches and salads, burgers and bagels, wings and chicken, these are popular spots. BOGIE’S—715 S. Mendenhall. 761-5846. MRA; 2098 LaSalle Place. 272-0022. MRA; 80 Monroe. 525-6764; 2028 W. Poplar (Collierville). 854-8555. CHEFFIE’S —483 High Point Terrace. 343-0488. CHING’S HOT WINGS—1264 Getwell. 743-5545. CITY EAST BAGEL & GRILLE—6698 Poplar at Kirby. 754-2660. CITY MARKET—66 S. Main. 729-6152. CORDELIA’S TABLE—737 Harbor Bend Rd. 526-4772. FINO’S FROM THE HILL—1853 Madison. 272-3466; 703 W. Brookhaven Cir. 334-4454. MRA. HOLIDAY HAM—2087 Union. 881-6433; 585 Erin Dr. 7634499; 7652 Poplar (Germantown). 869-6650; 3750 Hacks Cross Rd., #112. 624-4848 JASON’S DELI—1213 Ridgeway. 685-3333; 1585 Chickering (Cordova). 844-1840; 3473 Poplar. 324-3181. KWIK CHEK—2013 Madison. 274-9293. LENNY’S SUB SHOP—2893 Poplar. 320-0022; 7424 Stage Rd. 937-0800; 22 N. Front. 543-9230; 521 S. Highland. 454-7077; 2095 Exeter, Suite 30 (Germantown). 755-0750; 4970 Raleigh-LaGrange. 371-9979; 1016 W. Poplar (Collierville). 854-8299; 4726 Spottswood. 202-4800; 4740 Showcase. 3684215; 8950 Hwy. 64 (Lakeland). 12 S. Cooper. 6300 Poplar, #111. 761-2403. MRA. LETTUCE EAT SALAD COMPANY—6641 Poplar, Suite 106. (Germantown), 552-5604. LUCCHESI’S BEER GARDEN—84 S. Reese. 452-3002. LUCCHESI’S RAVIOLI—540 S. Mendenhall. #3. 7669922. LUNCHBOX EATS—288 S. Fourth. 526-0820. MCALISTER’S DELI—3482 Plaza Ave. 452-6009; 7990 Trinity Rd. (Cordova). 737-7282; 7710 Poplar (Germantown). 753-1507; 975 580 S. Mendenhall. 763-2711; 3855 Hacks Cross. 881-6068; 6600 Stage Rd. (Bartlett). 213-3311. 9091 Poplar (Germantown) 756-5292. PANERA BREAD—714 N. Germantown Pkwy. (Cordova). 754-5813; 4530 Poplar. 767-3116; 5865 Poplar, Ridgeway Trace. 683-9384; 7850 Poplar. 759-1439; 7501 Goodman Rd. (Olive Branch). 662-890-1985. PARADISE CAFE—6150 Poplar, Suite 120. 821-9600. JACK PIRTLE’S FRIED CHICKEN—3571 Lamar. 7941254; 2520 Mt. Moriah. 565-0203 RAFFE’S DELI—3358 Poplar. 458-5110. SCHLOTZSKY’S DELI—4758 Poplar. 763-0741. UNCLE LOU’S FRIED CHICKEN—3633 Millbranch. 332-2367. WHOLE FOODS MARKET—5014 Poplar. 685-2293. YOUNG AVENUE DELI—2119 Young. 278-0034. Asian nachos and roasted sea bass. Closed Sunday. 928 S. Cooper. 274-2556. D, X, $$-$$$ TUSCANY ITALIAN STEAKHOUSE—Filet mignon, beef tenderloin, and various seafood and pasta dishes are served up here. 5910 Goodman Rd. (Olive Branch, MS). 662-895-3663. L, D, WB. X, $-$$$ TWILIGHT SKY TERRACE—Offers small plates of tostados, nachos, flatbreads, paninis; also hand-crafted cocktails and sweeping rooftop views of the downtown Memphis skyline. Open, weather permitting. The Madison Hotel, 79 Madison. 333-1224. L (Sat.-Sun.), D, WB.X, $ TYCOON—Among the Asian entrees are spicy garlic shrimp, Thai gumbo, and special house noodle soup. 3307 Kirby Parkway. 362-8788. B, L, D, X, $ UNCLE BUCK’S FISHBOWL & GRILL—Burgers, pizza, fish dishes, sandwiches, and more served in a unique “underwater” setting. Bass Pro, Bass Pro Drive, 291-8200. L, D, X, $-$$ WANG’S MANDARIN HOUSE—Offers Mandarin, Cantonese, Szechuan, and spicy Hunan entrees, including the goldensesame chicken; next door is East Tapas, serving small plates with an Asian twist. 6065 Park Ave, Park Place Mall. 763-0676. L, D, X, MRA, $-$$ WOMAN’S EXCHANGE TEA ROOM—Chicken-salad plate, beef tenderloin, soups-and-sandwiches, and vegetable plates are specialties; meal includes drink and dessert. Closed Sat.Sun. 88 Racine. 327-5681. L, X, MRA, $ ZAYTOON—Serves such Mediterranean cuisine as shish kebabs, falafel, hummus, and gyros. 694 N. Germantown Pkwy. (Cordova). 754-6366. L, D, X, $

Heart

Soul

and

SEASONS 52—This elegant fresh grill and wine bar offers a seasonally changing menu using fresh ingredients, wood-fire grilling, and brick-oven cooking; also a large international wine list and nightly piano bar. Crescent Center, 6085 Poplar. 682-9952. L, D, X, $$-$$$ THE SECOND LINE—Kelly English brings “relaxed Creole cuisine” to his new eatery; serves a variety of po-boys and such specialties as barbecue shrimp, and andouille, shrimp, and pimento cheese fries. 2144 Monroe. 590-2829. L (Sat.-Sun. only), D, WB, X, $-$$ SEKISUI—Japanese fusion cuisine, fresh sushi bar, grilled meats and seafood, California rolls, and vegetarian entrees. Poplar/Perkins location’s emphasis is on Pacific Rim cuisine. Menu and hours vary at each location. 25 Belvedere. 725-0005; 1884 N. Germantown Pkwy. (Cordova). 309-8800; 4724 Poplar (between Perkins & Colonial). 767-7770; 2130 W. Poplar (Collierville). 854-0622; 1255 Goodman Rd. (Horn Lake). 662-536-4404; 2990 KirbyWhitten (Bartlett). 377-2727; 6696 Poplar. 747-0001. L, D, X, MRA, $-$$$ SHOGUN JAPANESE RESTAURANT—Entrees include tempura, teriyaki, and sushi, as well as grilled fish and chicken entrees. 2 324 N. Germantown Pkwy. (Cordova). 384-4122. L, D, X, $-$$ SIDE PORCH STEAK HOUSE—In addition to steak, the menu includes chicken, pork chops, and fish entrees; homemade rolls are a specialty. Closed Sun.-Mon. 5689 Stage Rd. (Bartlett). 3772484. D, X, $-$$ SOUTH MAIN SUSHI & GRILL— Serving sushi, nigiri, and more. 520 S. Main. 249-2194. L, D, X, $ SPINDINI—Italian fusion cuisine with such entrees as wood-fired pizzas, gorgonzola stuffed filet, and fresh seafood; pizza specials on Mon.; large domestic whiskey selection. 383 S. Main. 578-2767. D, X, $$-$$$ STAKS— Offering pancakes, including Birthday Cake and lemon ricotta. Menu includes other breakfast items such as beignets and French toast, as well as soups and sandwiches for lunch. 4615 Poplar. 509-2367. B, L, WB, X, $ STIX—Hibachi steakhouse with Asian cuisine features steak, chicken, and a fillet and lobster combination, also sushi. A specialty is Dynamite Chicken with fried rice. 4680 Merchants Park Circle, Avenue Carriage Crossing (Collierville). 854-3399. L, D, X, $-$$ STONE SOUP CAFE— Cooper-Young eatery serving soups, salads, quiche, meat-and-two specials; and daily specials such as Italian roast beef. Closed Monday. 993 S. Cooper. 922-5314. B, L, SB, X, $ STRANO SICILIAN KITCHEN & BAR—Presenting a Sicilian/Mediterranean mix of Arab, Spanish, Greek, and North African fare, Strano serves small plates, wood-grilled fish, and hand-tossed pizzas such as the King Alaska, with salmon and chevre. Closed Mon. 948 S. Cooper. 275-8986. L, D, SB, X, $$-$$$ SWEET GRASS—Low-country coastal cuisine includes such specialties as shrimp and grits. Closed Mon. The restaurant’s “sister,” Sweet Grass Next Door, open nightly, serves lunch Sat.-Sun. 937 S. Cooper. 278-0278. D, SB, X, $-$$$ TANNOOR GRILL—Brazilian-style steakhouse with skewers served tableside, along with Middle Eastern specialties; vegetarian options also available. 830 N. Germantown Pkwy. 443-5222. L, D, X, $-$$$ TART—Combination patisserie, coffeehouse, and restaurant serving rustic French specialties, including baked eggs in brioche, topped with Gruyere, and french breads and pastries. 820 S. Cooper. 725-0091. B, L, WB, X, $-$$ TERRACE—Creative American and Continental cuisine includes such entrees as filet mignon, beef or lamb sliders, five-spice salmon, and grilled vegetarian eggplant; also small plates. Rooftop, River Inn of Harbor Town, 50 Harbor Town Square. 260-3366. D, X, $$ TEXAS DE BRAZIL—Serves beef, pork, lamb, and chicken dishes, and Brazilian sausage; also a salad bar with extensive toppings. 150 Peabody Place, Suite 103. 526-7600. L (Wed.Fri.), D, SB, X, $$-$$$ THREE LITTLE PIGS—Pork-shoulder-style barbecue with tangy mild or hot sauce, freshly made cole slaw, and baked beans. 5145 Quince Rd. 685-7094. B, L, D, X, $ TOPS BAR B-Q—Specializes in pork barbecue sandwiches and sandwich plates with beans and slaw; also serves ribs, beef brisket, and burgers. 1286 Union. 725-7527. 4183 Summer. 324-4325; 5391 Winchester. 794-7936; 3970 Rhodes. 323-9865; 6130 Macon. 371-0580. For more locations, go online. L, D, X, $ TROLLEY STOP MARKET—Serves plate lunches/dinners as well as pizzas, salads, and vegan/vegetarian entrees; a specialty is the locally raised beef burger. Also sells fresh produce and goods from local farmers; delivery available. Saturday brunch; closed Sunday. 704 Madison. 526-1361. L, D, X, $ TSUNAMI—Features Pacific Rim cuisine (Asia, Australia, South Pacific, etc.); also a changing “small plate” menu. Specialties include

Much of the greatest chamber music is composed for cello and piano. In the hands of two brilliant musicians, we are in for a treat. Cellist John-Henry Crawford and pianist Victor Asunçion will perform Beethoven’s 2nd Sonata for Piano and Cello, Brahms’ poignant E minor Sonata, and the glorious Rachmaninoff Sonata. A Bravo concert! JOIN US

sunday, April 10, 2016, 3pm at the home of

R EV. ROD & D R . A NNETTE SMITH

173 8 R IDGEWAY ROAD MEMPHIS, TN 38117

for ticket info, call 901.758.0150

LOVE WHERE YOU LIVE. Call me! 901.634.2800

Jeanne Coors Arthur

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LAST STAND

Halfway to 40 (and Then Some) Reflections on two decades as Memphis magazine’s managing editor.

by frank murtaugh

take anniversaries seriously, maybe more so than I should. As Hall of Fame pitcher Satchel Paige famously warned, “Don’t look back. Something might be gaining on you.” (Paige also advised us to “avoid running at all times,” so his wisdom should be incorporated with discretion.)

changed too, though beneath the surface. A managing editor serves as a link between the editor, art director, and sales director. When there’s a transition at one of those desks, my job changes. And since 1995, I’ve worked with five editors, four art directors, and two sales directors. A magazine takes on

When I tell new friends and readers that I’ve been at the same company — and carried the same title — PHOTOGRAPH BY LARRY KUZNIEWSKI

since 1995, their eyebrows

On assignment at AutoZone Park My wife and I are closing in on our 22nd anniversary (the most important anniversary on my calendar, by several lengths). And this month at Memphis magazine, we blow out the candles on our 40th birthday cake (fire extinguisher at the ready). But just last year, I turned 20 as a managing editor, meaning more than half of this magazine’s history has unfolded (for good or ill) on my watch. When I tell new friends and readers (they’re often the same people) that I’ve been at the same company — and carried the same title — since 1995, their eyebrows tend to go north. The same business (Contemporary Media, Inc.) for 20 years?! The same job for 20 years?! It’s either a career match made in heaven, they say, or I’m a one-trick pony.

First of all, Memphis magazine is not the same enterprise today that it was when I was promoted near the top of the masthead in July 1995. At that time, we produced a page of film for every color printed, so four pages of film for a full-color page. (We still printed a few black-and-white pages in ’95; a penny saved here and there.) Our production process today is entirely digital, meaning my job — ensuring the magazine comes together efficiently, completely, and on time — is a different challenge, tracking and checking countless composition boards and pages of film replaced by tracking and checking countless emails, downloads, uploads, and virtual page proofs. As for the job title, it’s

tend to go north. the personality of its staff, so a new editor — or new art director — alters a production cycle with his or her strengths, tastes, and priorities. I consider myself blessed to have served in a role alongside so many talented people while wearing the same hat (different colors now and then) as managing editor. What keeps me coming back every Monday morning? How do I plan a production cycle for a 250th monthly magazine? There are three components that inspire me after all these years. VARIETY. No two magazines are the same. Never have been, never will be. And each magazine requires the proper placement of thousands of moving parts. (Count the words you read in a magazine some time. Make sure it’s a small one.) If you like creativity — and you’re the curious sort — a magazine life is not just rewarding, but redeeming. I learn something new, and help create something new, every month, one year after the next. Makes me a better man.

TEAMWORK. I grew up on team sports. Played baseball, basketball, and soccer through high school. I’ve come to thrive on the teamwork necessary to produce a magazine. Say what you will about desktop publishing in the digital age, but no magazine of our quality can be produced without the input of several talented people. (Let me emphasize: Advertisers are a part of our team. Never taken for granted.) I played ball with certain friends for four, maybe five years. I’ve had teammates at Memphis magazine for more than two decades now. WRITING. I’m a writer. When I meet someone for the first time, I’ll tell them I’m a journalist (and share my job title). But I’m a writer at heart. It’s my craft. And it’s a hard one. Please remember this when you enjoy your favorite authors: writing is hard to do well. I continue to work at my craft, aiming to improve, maybe inspire now and then. I love the challenge of filling a blank page with a tale worth reading. (In addition to my work for the magazine, I’ve written a weekly sports column for the Memphis Flyer — “From My Seat” — for 14 years.) I’m a better writer today than I was in 1995. And I’m inspired by the certainty that I’ll be a better writer 20 years from now than I am today. Whether you’ve enjoyed Memphis magazine for four decades or you’re now holding your first copy, thanks for reading. Needless to say, our loyal subscribers are teammates, too.

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MEDNIKOW MULTI MILLION DOLLAR DIAMOND SALE Diamonds4Memphis.com

imes change, and so too, must businesses. Mednikow has recently expanded into Nashville and Atlanta, and the next change is to dramatically reduce our multi-million dollar diamond inventory to help pay for our rapid growth. After 125 years in business, our stock of diamonds has grown to millions of dollars, and it’s no longer necessary for us to stock so much. With our well-established connections, it is now possible to locate diamonds uniquely suited to an individual customer’s needs anywhere in the world and at a moment’s notice. For this reason, we are liquidating a large part of our enormous reserve of beautiful diamonds with a one-time, historic sales event. Beginning immediately, we will reduce the price of virtually every diamond in our store to never-before-offered levels. Come early for the best selection. Because we want the customers who are fueling our expansion to benefit from these bargains, dealer inquiries will not be considered until after April 15. In addition, 0% financing will be available to qualified buyers. This unprecedented sale is the perfect way to celebrate our 125th anniversary and the expansion of our business to Atlanta and Nashville. Compare the quality, and compare the prices, at our special website developed just for this event: Diamonds4Memphis.com If you are already a customer, we look forward to seeing you again. And if you’ve ever dreamed of owning a Mednikow diamond, now is the time. When we say “goodbye” to a diamond—it’s a great buy for our customers!

Jay A. Mednikow Jay Mednikow

474 Perkins Extended, Memphis | 3384 Peachtree Road N.E., Atlanta | 2160 Bandywood Drive, Nashville

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