Main Photo: Great Big Canvas

Map art

Photo: Etsy

Are you looking for a piece of wall art that looks great and still brings a bit of industrialization into your home? If so, map wall art is a great option for you. There are grid maps that will show off the city street-map grid. It’s often strangely beautiful how this grid unfolds. There are also several fantastic presentations for this. While you can find a number of these, the MEMPHIS Tennessee map art deco canvas print by Map Horizontal Wall is fantastic. Just the slight additional art deco border is enough to make it really pop (for all artists’ links, check out the “Additional Reading” section below).

Memphis skyline art

Photo: Etsy

Memphis has a beautiful skyline. A number of artists online sell representational prints for the skyline, but one of our favorites is the Memphis Skyline Art Print by WindbyArtshop. It has a whimsical look to it, as if you found it in a children’s book somewhere. And if you have a high-quality printer on hand, you can download it directly from the website and print it without ever paying for shipping.

Made in Memphis

Photo: Etsy

Show off your city pride with some Made in Memphis T-shirts and other clothing items. You can find everything from baby clothing to adult sizes. It’s fun, simple and yet always the perfect way to show off your city pride, whether you’re walking the streets of Memphis, New York, Detroit or Las Vegas. With plenty of color options and print styles, there’s something here for you.

Now’s the perfect time to add to your Memphis collection

You don’t need to physically be in Memphis to purchase great items made by local artists. And many of the best Memphis items are not sold at large stores. Instead, these are made by lovers of Memphis who want to show off their pride in the city and share it with you. These listed items are a handful of the cool Memphis objects you can purchase through Etsy, but make sure to sift through the items. You never know what great independent designer materials you’ll find on the website.

The post Discover These Beautiful Memphis Items Available on Etsy! appeared first on We Are Memphis.

Music

Music is as ingrained in Memphis culture as just about anything else. Blues is part of the fiber of Memphis, and yet rock ’n’ roll, country, jazz and just about every other form of music also beats through the city’s lifeblood. Whether you’re a fan of Elvis, B.B. King or even Justin Timberlake, you’ll be interested to know that some of the biggest names in music history spent time in Memphis, were born in Memphis or recorded influential albums in Memphis.

Walking down the street, you’ll always feel the music. Just about every bar, club, restaurant and other nighttime destinations have some kind of live music going on. From local musicians to traveling acts, there’s no shortage of musical activities to take in.

Amazing Food

Memphis is one of the great food scenes in the country. Yes, it is best known for its Memphis-style barbecue, but there’s so much more to discover. As the melting point of the North and the South, you’ll find everything from fried chicken and waffles to Chicago-style pizza. Each restaurant has its own unique take on varying styles, and while the city might not be as big as Los Angeles or New York, you’ll find nearly just as many food opportunities. Many of these food destinations came from people’s love of working with food and their own personal background. It is this personal background and connection with food that makes Memphis what it is.

Get Outside and Experience Memphis

Memphis is all about getting people outside to enjoy life. From the Delta Fair to music festivals, there is something going on outside just about every single weekend of the year.

There’s a Cultural Event Perfect for You in Memphis

The beauty of Memphis culture is that it’s always changing. The makeup of the city now will be different 10 years down the road. While Memphis will always pull from its music, food and civil rights heritage, there are new faces, new ways of life and new ideas constantly flooding in. So if you’re looking for a destination to call home that will both surprise you and keep you on your toes, there really is no other place in the country like Memphis.

Additional Reading

We Are Memphis

Greater Memphis Chamber

The post What’s the culture like in Memphis? appeared first on We Are Memphis.

Events For All Ages

The beauty of the Delta Fair & Music Festival is that it is designed for everyone, from all walks of life, and for all ages. There truly is something for everyone here. The exact schedule is still being finalized, so stay tuned for performers and other activities, but if you’ve been to the Delta Fair & Music Fest before, you know just how incredible it can be.

During the festival, which runs from August 30 until September 8, you can take in live music, livestock shows, craft demos, special events, and a number of scheduled daily attractions. Make sure to check back with the Delta Fest website on a regular basis to stay on top of the announced events. You can also head over to the festival’s Facebook page for more information. This way, you’ll know the best days to go.

Theme Days

Each day has a special theme where the daily activities and events will support many of these themes. Some of the theme days for this coming year include Latino Day, Homeschool, FFA & 4-H Day, Delta Fair Bike Night, Senior American Day, Hardee’s Day, $2 Dollar Thursday, College Night, Salute Our Military Day, Midsouth Jeep Day, and $10 Tuesday.

Interested in learning more about the individual theme days? Check out the specific day pages on the Delta Fair website for more information.

Compete

Maybe you don’t want to just attend the festival. Perhaps you want to get in and compete. Well, there are plenty of competitions that will be taking place. Some of the established competitions include the livestock competition, Star of the Fair, competitions for culinary, collectibles and crafts, dancing stars competition, senior day contests, photography contests, student art contests, a Delta Dash 5/10K and so much more.

If you’re interested in competing make sure to head over to the Delta Fair website and click on the specific competition you’re interested in. You’ll find out how to qualify ahead of time.

Buy Your Tickets Today

Now is the perfect time to purchase your tickets for the Delta Fair & Music Festival. Gate admission is $10 for adults 13 and over, $5 for children 5 to 12 and for seniors, while children 4 and under are free. You can also purchase tickets for rides and bulk tickets by visiting a local Kroger. So stop by your nearest Kroger for more information on Family Fun Ticket Packs

Additional Reading:

We Are Memphis

Greater Memphis Chamber

Delta Fair & Music Festival

The post Delta Fair & Music Fest 2019 is coming in August! appeared first on We Are Memphis.

Africa in April

While February is African American heritage month around the country, Africa in April is unique to Memphis as the city looks to shine a light on the important influence African Americans have played in the overall cultural history of Memphis. You will find celebrations of African history, art and culture taking place throughout the city, with many vendors offering special products. There is also a Blues music showcase during the month.

Memphis in May

Throughout the entire month of May, there is an entire series dedicated to showing off the incredible heritage of the city. During the month, some of the most important cultural events take place including the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest, Great American River Run, International Week and, of course, the Beale Street Music Festival.

Memphis Italian Festival

Whether you’re Italian or simply craving Italian food, the Memphis Italian Festival takes place every year sometime during late May or early June (this also depends on the Memphis in May celebration, as the Memphis Italian Festival will adjust accordingly, typically taking place the weekend after the Memphis in May celebration has finished). The Memphis Italian Festival occurs at Marquette Park and brings in Italian cooking competitions, musical activities, and local artists. There is also a 5K run, pizza tossing demonstrations, Galtelli Cup Recreational Bocce Tournament, and so much more going on with this festival.

Music

Outside of major festivals and events, music is as much a part of the city as anything else. Some of the biggest names in gospel, blues, rock and roll, country and others stem from Memphis. While you may already know Elvis and B.B. King are important musicians from Memphis, performers such as Johnny Cash, Aretha Franklin, Roy Orbison, Isaac Hayes, and others all either were born in Memphis or spent a part of their career in the city. Beale Street and Stax Records are two important destinations for anyone looking to discover Memphis music.

Get Out and Experience Memphis Culture

These are just a few examples of Memphis culture. From art around the city to culturally significant events, it doesn’t matter if you’ve called Memphis home your entire life or if you are a recent transplant, now is the perfect time to get out and take in the incredible Memphis culture available to you.

Additional Reading:

We Are Memphis

Greater Memphis Chamber

The post The Memphis Guide to Arts & Culture appeared first on We Are Memphis.

2019 Memphis Chicken and Beer Festival

Is there really anything else you need to know about this? It takes place at the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium on August 3 (which is a Saturday) from 6 to 10 p.m. Basically, if you’re hungry, looking for some quality Memphis chicken and want to water it down with a locally crafted beer, this is the perfect event for you.

Elvis Week Festival

The week-long celebration of Elvis starts on August 9 and lasts all the way until August 17. It’s a great time to visit Graceland, or you can stop by one of the numerous other locations around Memphis that are putting on a special activity for Elvis fans. Make sure to check out the website Elvis.com for additional information.

Memphis Water Lantern Festival 2019

During the festival, you can create your own water lantern and bring it to the waterfront at W. Mallory Avenue. There is something magical about this event as you watch the water lanterns sway and bob on the water. If you haven’t yet taken in this particular event, it’s a great opportunity to get out with the kids.

Delta Fair and Music Festival

This is one of the biggest festivals in all of Tennessee. It begins on August 30 and lasts until September 8. There are different events, activities and live music events going on during the fair and festival. You do need to purchase tickets for each individual day, but you can buy tickets at the door or at your local Kroger store.

There’s Plenty to Do in Memphis This August

These are just a handful of the events and activities going on in Memphis this August. More events are to come and will be announced as the weeks approach, so make sure to keep it here for the latest updates on events, shows, concerts and activities going on.

Additional Reading

We Are Memphis

Greater Memphis Chamber

Tmora – Elvis Week 

The post Best things to do in Memphis in August 2019 appeared first on We Are Memphis.

More About Lucky 7 Brass Band

As the band’s website proclaims, the Lucky 7 Brass Band is made up of some of the “baddest of the bad musicians in Memphis.” It is a group that plays everything from soul to rap and everything else in between. The band is made up of seven talented musicians. This includes Randy Ballard on the trumpet as well as Jawaun Crawford on the trumpet. Both Nathan Duvall and Victor Sawyer play the trombone, and Jim Spake plays the alto sax. Neal Bowen brings the beat as he plays the bass, and Ryan Peel brings it all together on drums.

More About the Event

When heading out to the Lucky 7 Brass Band show, gates will open at 6 p.m. It’s best to show up early in order to get the best seat. It is a family-friendly event, and you can bring picnic baskets, lawn chairs, blankets and coolers. The show does begin at 7 p.m., so the earlier you arrive, the more time you’ll have to set up.

You can park downtown and then ride a bicycle down to the river. You can also rent a bike or scooter if you’d like. If you have gear, you can also walk down without a problem. Plus, there is Americans with Disabilities Act-accessible parking available right on Mud Island.

Upcoming Acts

There is a performance every Friday night beginning on June 21 and ending with the Lucky 7 Brass Band on August 9. While you owe it to yourself to take in the final act of the summer, there are plenty of other acts to enjoy.

On June 21, Nick Black takes center stage for “Soulin’ on the River.” Then, on July 12 (there is a weekend off to celebrate the Fourth of July) Black Cream will perform. There is another weekend off before Katrina Anderson plays on July 26, and then the Lucky 7 Brass Band will perform on August 9 to close out the event.

“Soulin’ on the River” is an extended concert series taking place at The Grove on Mud Island River Park. Kicking off on June 21 and ending on August 9, it is a great opportunity to get out of the house and take in some of the best Memphis sounds. So whether you check out Tonya Dyson or the Lucky 7 Brass Band, make sure to schedule plans to head out to the park by 6 p.m. That way, you will have the best seats for some world-class performances.

Additional Reading:

We Are Memphis

Greater Memphis Chamber

Lucky 7 Brass Band Facebook

The post “Soulin’ on the River” ft Lucky 7 Brass Band appeared first on We Are Memphis.

Civil War

Whenever you visit this area of the country, it is always a good idea to have some understanding of the Civil War. Tennessee did secede from the United States in June 1861. At that time, the city of Memphis became a major defensive position for the Confederate States Army. However, within a year the Union Army took control of the city and held it for the remainder of the war.

Civil Rights Movement

Throughout the 1960s, Memphis became the center of the civil rights movement. Because of a number of segregation practices, the city swelled with a large population of African Americans. Martin Luther King Jr. spent much of his time here and was later assassinated at his hotel in April 1968.

Music History

Some of the most renown musicians in American history either grew up and moved out of Memphis or remained and helped to grow the music culture. Some musicians did end up moving north, partly because of the segregation taking place in the city, and they ended up planting roots in other locations such as Chicago, Detroit and New York City. However, Memphis played a strong role in the development of these musicians. Some of the top musicians to come out of the city includes Elvis Presley, B.B. King, Isaac Hayes, Booker T. Jones, Muddy Waters, Justin Timberlake, and Three 6 Mafia.

These are just a few of the important dates and events in the history of Memphis you should learn about prior to visiting the city. Now, there’s nothing wrong with reading further and diving into other bits of Memphis history. If there are aspects of history you find more interesting, by all means, read up on them prior to your visit. It will make the time you spend in the city that much more enjoyable. By educating yourself beforehand, you’ll be able to live through many of these important historical events when you arrive.

Additional Reading:

We Are Memphis

Greater Memphis Chamber

The post Dive Into the History of Memphis Before You Visit appeared first on We Are Memphis.

Egypt

If you were to look at a map of the United States, you’d find numerous cities named after other cities around the world. Athens, Florence and Dublin are just a few of these cities. But did you know that Memphis is named after a historical city? It’s true. Memphis got its name from Memphis, Egypt, which has been abandoned since the seventh century and is located about 12 miles south of Giza. However, the city lost favor after the invasion of the Roman Empire. By the time the Byzantine and later the Coptic periods took place, the city had become a shell of its former glory. Eventually, conquering Arabs dismantled many of the stone temples of Memphis to help build a new capital in the region.

Foundation of Memphis

Like much of the region, before European settlers began to build a new city, Native Americans called the area home. It was an important trading center with its location on the Mississippi River. Eventually, European forts were constructed in the area to help increase trade. Memphis was founded in 1819 by Andrew Jackson, James Winchester (a brigadier general who served in both the American Revolution and the War of 1812) and John Overton.

Graceland

If you’re an Elvis fan, you may already know that Elvis Presley made Memphis his home after his family pulled up shop and moved from Tupelo, Mississippi, following World War II in 1948.

Music history

Memphis is one of the most important musical cities in the world. Music that went on to be known as rock ’n’ roll was first recorded at Sun Studio, which is just outside of downtown Memphis. (Of course, the term was coined by a Cleveland disc jockey, which is why the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is located in Cleveland, Ohio.)

Of the first 100 inductees into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, 24 came from within a 100-mile radius of Memphis. Additionally, Memphis is mentioned in more songs (over 400, according to Billboard magazine) than any other city in the world.

Love parks

If you love the great outdoors, you will love Memphis. Despite being an urban city destination, it has one of the top urban park systems in the entire country, with over 7,000 acres of parkland.

Additional reading

We Are Memphis

Greater Memphis Chamber

Memphis, Egypt Wikipedia

The post Facts about Memphis you did not know about! appeared first on We Are Memphis.

A new century of soul is not just a slogan; it is a call to all who live, love, and enjoy Memphis to play a part in shaping the next 100 years to come. The Memphis Bicentennial celebration is a chance for the city to show off its various development projects (e.g., Crosstown, One Beale, Central Station, Medical District, Methodist University Hospital, and St. Jude/The Pinch District). It brings together the business, arts, culinary, and scientific/research communities to celebrate everything uniquely Memphis and build on its progress toward bridging communities and working to create a unified Memphis.

200 years in the making

Founded on the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River (hence its nickname the “Bluff City”), Memphis is the overlook into southwestern Tennessee, eastern Arkansas, and the northern part of Mississippi. It was founded on May 22, 1819, by, among its founders, General Andrew Jackson, who would go on ten years later and serve as the seventh President of the United States. The city has grown from an important center of trade for cotton, through immigration and post-war migration of free African-Americans, from around 40,000 residents in the 1860s to more than 1.3 million in 2017 according to the U.S. Census Bureau. This makes Memphis the 42^nd largest city in the U.S. by population and an important center in the Mid-South region.

Two hundred years has transformed Memphis into a metropolitan area that hosts major colleges and universities, a professional basketball team, a minor-league baseball affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals, and major corporations and research facilities such as FedEx and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Two hundred years has helped bring together different population groups and together they have formed a new century of soul for this growing metropolis.

Celebrating the Memphis Bicentennial

There are many events and activities planned around the Memphis Bicentennial Celebration. Each one is designed to pay tribute to the city’s past (all parts of it) and the important role Memphis has played in forming a nation. A look will be taken at the leaders in politics and civics, sports, entertainment and music, and the change-makers that are at the forefront of ushering in a new Memphis.

Thirty-eight distinct cultures make up Memphis. The Memphis in May International Festival looks to honor these cultures and their contribution to the city. Memphis Fashion Week in April will provide a platform for artists, models, designers, and stylists to show their work that is uniquely Memphis. The art of George Hunt and his commissioned work will be on display during the Art of Beale Street Music Festival, also in April. The music of Beale Street will also be played during the Beale Street Festival in May. Other events planned feature walking tours, a BBQ championship, concerts, and neighborhood-based activities. Plan to visit Memphis sometime in 2019 for its Bicentennial celebration and experience its true soul!

The post How to celebrate Memphis’ Bicentennial! appeared first on We Are Memphis.

On any given day, however, you will see a Chevy Impala or Chrysler 300 – with subwoofers the size of the Exlines Pizza sign – blasting the hits of any one of Memphis’ rap superstars with the bass on max.

Hip-Hop, trap and gangster rap were birth as an underground music culture in the late 1980s and early 1990s when our parents were “gangster walking” in Club No Name or Crystal Palace. Legends such as DJ Spanish Fly and Kingpin Skinny Pimp laid the foundation for generations of southern rappers in Memphis and across the southern region, and the genre has since evolved.

From high school proms to Sunday brunches, here are the top 10 Memphis rap songs Memphis millennials hold near and dear to our hearts.

10. E.P. – Paperchase (Doin This), 2009

Find a high school or college party in Memphis that did not have wall-to-wall youth pumping their arms in bicep curl fashion while hopping back and forth on one leg. At the tender age of 17, Emanuel Patterson (now 27) shook dj’s and local radio stations with an unexpected release of his debut single with a dance to complement. The “paperchase” is for the aspiring hustler or the teen working at Best Buy after school to have enough money to buy cd’s and Mrs. Winner’s during school. “Watch me do that paperchase” speaks to the adage “Watch me prove you wrong” and I’ll see you in the club with a clean pair of Jordans. Chase on, brother!

9. Blocboy JB ft. Drake – Look Alive, 2018

Native Memphian, Blockboy JB, has nationalized the “shoot” dance, kicking one leg out while jumping on the other. After the dance and his namesake debut single went viral, he got a call from Drake who also has Memphis ties (his dad and family live here). Aubrey Graham (or Jimmy from Degrassi) came to Memphis for a few days to parlay on his old stomping grounds with Blockboy JB and another native Memphian, producer Tay Keith, to bring the streets “Look Alive.” A dedication to the grimy and dark corners of the city, “Look Alive” is a call for the hood to stay alert, stay woke and stay Memphis.

8. Rock Dillion, Da Volunteers ft. MJG – Favorite Color, 2006

The truth is Orange Mound is a cult. Ok, maybe cult is too harsh, but “Favorite Color” is for Orange Mound and Orange Mound only. Listen, if your pedigree doesn’t begin on the southernmost part of Park Avenue, you should just find a bar and sit down on this one. Historically, Orange Mound is one of the first African American communities in the country founded by African Americans. After a tumultuous era facing the drug and crime epidemic in the 70s and 80s, the community and its leaders remained steadfast in keeping Orange Mound bound by the values of community, closeness and self-preservation. Rap stars 8Ball & MJG, native Moundians, gave a platform to Rock Dillion and Da Volunteers and produced this clarion call for the area. This may be the only time UT gets this amount of love from Memphis. “Two fingers round, three fingers down” is the official orange mound hand sign (each community has one, ask your nearest local).

7. 8Ball & MJG – Pimp Hard, 2000

Let’s stay in The Mound. “Pimp Hard” was released in November 2000 on the group’s “Space Age 4 Eva” album. One of the few early Memphis groups to gain recognition outside the city, 8Ball & MJG glorified “Baller” culture. A nice car; few romantic options; a pocket full of cash, the definition of “Pimp Hard.” You can indeed find love in the Bluff City, or you can…uhhh, keep your options open.

6. Young Dolph – Get Paid, 2016

First and foremost, LeBron James listens to Young Dolph so you should, too.  Adolph Thornton, Jr’s (34) encourages every young man to secure your financial future. Memphis prides itself on the grit and grind, the hustle and hoops. Young Dolph’s “Get Paid” spread across coasts quickly, motivating folks to increase their profits and their wallets.

5. Three 6 Mafia – Hard Out Here for a Pimp/Whoop That Trick, 2005

We know. We’re cheating a bit, but you can’t talk about Memphis without addressing two things: Three 6 Mafia and Hustle&Flow

Hard Out Here for A Pimp, another ode to the hustle culture, should come on your car radio as soon as your bluetooth connects, while Whoop That Trick is for your Saturday morning clean-up. Both featured in the Academy Award nominated Memphis film, Hustle & Flow, a story of hustle, pimping and rap dreams. Some still don’t care for the movie because the accents were all wrong, but we don’t hesitate to bob our heads when we hear either hit.

4. Gangsta Blac – S.O.U.T.H Parkway, 1999

Could there possibly be a more Memphis song than Whoop That Trick? Actually yes. There’s nothing more Memphis than representing your neighborhood and native communities. In 1999, Gangsta Blac dropped 74 Minutes of Bump with the hit “S.O.U.T.H Parkway,” paying homage to another historic residential community. It’s common to hear this song and recline your driver’s seat, roll down your windows and drive a few miles above the speed limit down I-240 in a Honda Accord coupe.

It’s a sacred homage to a community that refuses to cripple to any intimidation of poverty, crime or even gentrification. It’s still thriving and healthy with community efforts led by some of the very residents occupying.

3. Project Pat ft. Three 6 Mafia and La Chat- Chickenhead, 2001

Where to start?

First, you need a best friend who can sing this with you to fully enjoy this song.

Chickenhead may be the greatest Southern rap song of all time. Its melody and production style has been sampled and mimicked between trap artists, East Coast hustlers and West Coast bangers. Chickenhead is dedicated to the person who just wants to be left alone! It was “Gold Digger” before Kanye and Jamie Foxx penned a verse. Cardi B sampled it on her song “Bickenhead” on her Invasion of Privacy album.

Project Pat’s Mista Don’t Play album deserves a space in the Smithsonian.  Only a few classics should receive such an honor.

Frank Sinatra’s “Fly Me to the Moon”

Whitney Houston’s “I Have Nothing”

Project Pat’s “Chickenhead”

2. Playa Fly – Nobody, 1998

Did you just break up with your significant other?

About to quit your job? Got fired?

Are your parents riding you again about your college and career choices?

Have your friends posted pictures of them out drinking but they didn’t call you?

There has never been a song to move entire crowds to tears than Playa Fly’s “Nobody.”

This song is for those who realized they can do bad by themselves and need a safe way to not overreact while shutting yourself out from the community-at-large. Playa Fly still rules radio and Spotify’s with this hit. A former member of Three 6 Mafia, Playa Fly is a native South Memphian. His song came after he ended things with Three 6 and went solo. He needed to get the drama off his chest and “Nobody” was born. Fold your arms and bop to this emotional song of self-care and resilience. This was Beyonce’s “Me, Myself and I” before she knew she only needed herself. You don’t need nobody, ok? Godspeed.

1.Yo Gotti – That’s What’s Up, 2006

This is a Memphis millennial’s “Kumbaya.” This is our “Lean On Me.” This is our National Anthem.

Mario “Yo Gotti” Mims is indeed one of the Kings of Memphis and “That’s What’s Up” is the unofficial anthem of the city. From his mixtapes to trapping out of North Memphis, Yo Gotti gives a new meaning to Memphis pride with this one. “That’s What’s Up” is for the Memphian with a dream and a grind. After the prelude, he quickly goes into shouting-out his family, famous high schools, trap houses, friends, enemies, and eventually the entire city. It’s freedom. Entire stadiums have erupted in unison and in acapella belting this song. It is purely Memphis. It may or may not have reached national acclaim, but it surely has earned its keep in the Mid-South. You Gotti is ours. This song is ours. And now, it’s yours.

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“At Wells Fargo, we are committed to the communities we serve through our volunteerism and corporate philanthropy. Our team members are excited to support United Way of the Mid-South and volunteer in the City of Memphis, bringing their passion and helping those where they live and work,” said Wells Fargo Advisors Complex Manager Ari Litvin.

The day will start with a kick-off rally at 7:30 a.m. at the Pipkin Building (940 Early Maxwell Blvd.). Volunteers will be welcomed by City of Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland, receive breakfast and t-shirts and be motivated by the Orange Mound Energizers before embarking on a meaningful day of service.

• 7:30 – 8:30 a.m.:  A New Century of Service Kickoff at the Pipkin Building
• 8:30 – 9:00 a.m.:  Volunteers drive themselves to the project sites
• 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.:  Volunteers participate in service projects

United Way and Volunteer Odyssey have partnered on four projects to offer hands-on volunteer experiences for participants.  These volunteer opportunities are open to the community and volunteers are needed. The four projects include:

• River Front Painting – In partnership with the Memphis River Parks Partnership, volunteers will assist in painting the rails that line the Mississippi River parks to beautify the river front.  

• River Front Cleanup with Clean Memphis – Volunteers will pick up litter that has been left behind as the Mississippi River recedes. This is important to keep our city and environment clean, as well as to keep litter from entering our waterways and ending up in the ocean.

Tires to Trails – Tire Clean-Up – Memphis City Beautiful and the City of Memphis have partnered with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation to bring a three-mile long walking and biking trail to T.O. Fuller State Park. The trail will be made up of more than 40,000 tires that will be collected from around the Memphis community, and when it is complete, it will be one of the longest porous trails in the world.  This collection day will take place at one of eight collection sites around the city.

• Meal Packing at the Mid-South Food Bank – Volunteers will sort and package donated goods in order to support the Food Bank’s mission of eliminating hunger in the Mid-South.

To sign up for any of these projects, visit: https://wearememphis.com/a-new-century-of-service

About United Way of the Mid-South

For over 95 years, United Way of the Mid-South has brought the time, talents and treasures of citizens together so individuals and families in need can enjoy a better quality of life. We do this by being the leading catalyst in stimulating support and services for individuals and families as they progress from poverty to prosperity. Located in Memphis, Tennessee, United Way serves an eight-county region which includes Shelby, Fayette, Tipton and Lauderdale counties in Tennessee; Desoto, Tate and Tunica counties in Mississippi; and Crittenden county in Arkansas. The mission of United Way is to improve the quality of life for Mid-Southerners by mobilizing and aligning community resources to address priority issues.  We strive to advance people from where they are to where they dream to be by addressing the building blocks for success–education, financial stability and health. To learn more, please visit www.uwmidsouth.org.

About Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.9 trillion in assets. Wells Fargo’s vision is to satisfy our customers’ financial needs and help them succeed financially. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, investment and mortgage products and services, as well as consumer and commercial finance, through 7,700 locations, more than 13,000 ATMs, the internet (wellsfargo.com) and mobile banking, and has offices in 33 countries and territories to support customers who conduct business in the global economy. With approximately 262,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in the United States. Wells Fargo & Company was ranked No. 26 on Fortune’s 2018 rankings of America’s largest corporations. News, insights and perspectives from Wells Fargo are also available at Wells Fargo Stories.

About Volunteer Odyssey

Volunteer Odyssey is a one-stop shop for meaningful volunteer opportunities in Memphis. With our VolunteerCompass platform, we connect volunteers to their ideal volunteer experiences in the Memphis area based on their interests, skills, or neighborhood. We also provide the software that our nonprofit partners use to recruit volunteers and track their impact. Our work creates effective nonprofits, empowered citizens, and revitalized communities. Join us in making Memphis a leader in volunteerism.

The post United Way of the Mid-South Presents: A New Century of Service in partnership with Wells Fargo and Volunteer Odyssey appeared first on We Are Memphis.

These museum and historical landmarks are easy for residents and visitors to identify with and top on the list of things to do in Memphis. But the Lorraine and Graceland are not the only museums that hold historic significance for not only the city, but the world. There are plenty of museums and cultural spaces in the area that everyone should plan to see. Here is a short list of five such must-visit places when in town.

1. Pink Palace Museum and Planetarium (3050 Central Avenue) 

The Pink Palace Museum is the largest science and technology museum of its type in the mid-South. Nearly a quarter of a million visitors each year come to see and put their hands on exhibits ranging from archaeology to zoology and everything in-between. The museum is free to members and costs range from $10 for children up to $30 for adults, depending on the types of exhibits you want to see. All can enjoy free admission on Tuesdays from 1 p.m. until museum doors close at 5 p.m.

2. Brooks Museum (1934 Poplar Avenue) 

Founded in 1916, the Brooks Museum is both the largest and oldest art museum in the State of Tennessee. It features a large collection of unique and diverse art which plays to the diversity of the Memphis community. The collection, which is ever expanding, features the works of artists who are local, national, and international. The museum also schedules various programs that discuss these and other works in its collection and the artist who created them.

3. Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum (191 Beale Street) 

Memphis is the home to music. Its musical heritage dates back to the days in the early part of the last century on Beale Street, where free persons brought the music of their heritage to the city and created the forms we know as soul, rock and roll, and rhythm and blues. These are all uniquely Memphis, and its contribution to the world of music is on display at the Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul. Appropriately located on historic Beale Street, it is definitely one of the things to do in Memphis. It is one of the first museums born of the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of American History that is outside of Washington, D.C.

4. Stax Museum of American Soul Music (926 E McLemore Avenue) 

When the historic Stax Records went bankrupt in 1976, many feared for the fate of the old building on McLemore Avenue. Much like Berry Gordy’s home in Detroit, MI, which was home to Motown Records and the famed “Hitsville, U.S.A.” sound, what was to become to the place that was the birthplace to “Soulsville, U.S.A.”? The answer: A museum was created in 2003 to pay homage to the great acts that came out of Memphis, including Isaac Hayes, Sam and Dave, Booker T. and the MGs, and Carla Thomas, just to name a few.

5. The Cotton Museum (65 Union Street) 

Memphis was the center of cotton trade during the period of time before the Civil War known as the antebellum South. It was such an important part of the local economy that an exchange building was built downtown at 65 Union Street to facilitate the trading of this important commodity. The old trading floor is now the site for the Cotton Museum. It was opened in 2006 and its designed purpose is to preserve the cultural history of cotton to Memphis. It boasts 100,000 visitors a year through its doors.

This is an incredibly short list of places that you should plan on seeing when you are in Memphis. Do some research and look up the additional places that provide you with a glimpse of the city’s rich history, culture, contribution to the world of music, and celebration of diversity and life.

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Varying Taxes

When moving to Memphis, it is important to note that there are both county and city taxes. I’ve found that when determining taxes, many first-time home buyers will come up with one, but not the other, which is why they are surprised come tax time when they need to pay both city and county taxes.

Currently, for 2018, the Shelby County property tax for a home’s appraised value is 4.05 percent. Additionally, the city tax rate for Memphis is another 3.19 percent.

Should you move to the county but live outside of Memphis, there are reduced tax rates in neighboring cities. The tax rates for these cities are as follows:

• Arlington – 1.15 percent
• Barlett – 1.83 percent
• Collierville – 1.83 percent
• Germantown – 1.95 percent
• Lakeland – 1.25 percent
• Millington – 1.53 percent

Tax Rate Calculator

To start, you need to know what your 2018 appraised value is. If you are buying a home, you should have the property appraised. The appraised value is not always what you end up paying for it. If there is a bidding war for the home, you may end up paying more than the current value of the property. In this instance, the appraisal will show that you owe less than what you paid for it.

Once you have the appraised value, it’s easiest to start with the county property taxes. For example, if your property was appraised for $150,000, you will multiply it by 4.05 (or 150,000 x 0.0405). This comes out to $1,518.75 for the county property taxes.

Next, you need to determine your city property tax. We will use the Memphis tax rate of 3.19 (if you live right on the city line, it is important to know what side of the street the line is on. It may be the difference of nearly two percent). Using the same calculation method of $150,000 for the property value, you will multiply it by 3.19 (150,000 x 0.0319). This comes out to $1,196.25.

So someone who owns a home with an appraised property value of $150,000 and lives within the city of Memphis will end up paying $2,715 for their home.

Hopefully, this helps you out with determining your property value taxes and what to expect come tax time.

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With so many things to do in Memphis, trying to learn everything you can to plan that perfect vacation can be overwhelming. There are things you can do that will make this task lest daunting and help you make the most of your time.

Visit the Memphis Local Library

The Memphis Public Library is a library system of 18 branches with a circulation of 250,000 items, including books, maps and reference guides. It is the place to go for information about the city and learn all you can about things to do in Memphis. The library offers a tour of the wonderful, rich history of this river city. This tour can be the perfect starting point for learning and becoming familiar with the different parts of the city.

Visiting Memphis Travel and the “I Love Memphis” blog

A way to learn about the many different things that you can do in Memphis is by visiting the website Memphis Travel. Memphis Travel is a comprehensive, one-stop shop portal that provides information about different aspects of the city that you may wish to explore. It is laid out in a fun and easy to navigate format, giving information about hotels in the city, different events and happenings around town, and the attractions that make Memphis one of the great U.S. cities.

The “I Love Memphis” blog is another information source that can help you get to know what things you can do when in Memphis. It is written in a no-apology bias toward the city (in a good way!) and catalogs the food, people, music, and places to see in Memphis. It provides a calendar of events and things to do and is an up-to-date guide on and about the things that make the city uniquely Memphis. Use it as a primary source in educating yourself about the best way to take advantage of your trip to Memphis and maximize your time to create a truly memorable experience.Take a Guided Tour of Memphis

One of the best ways to learn a city is to immerse yourself completely in its culture, the sights and its sound. You can do this by scheduling a guided tour of the city. A tour, whether on foot, by boat or in a bus, takes you to the different places of interest that make a visit to Memphis special. Your tour should include hot spots for dining and entertainment, historical sites and, of course, a visit to Elvis Presley’s home Graceland. Any way you go, it is another way to get to know Memphis, up-close and personal.

Use these resources as your best way to learn Memphis. You can also talk with locals to find out their favorite spots as well as the events and activities that are happening in the city. Learn what you can about Memphis and take that knowledge for a ride in the city of great food, great music and great people!

Additional Reading:

http://ilovememphisblog.com/2018/10/five-reasons-to-go-to-soulsville-usa-festival-2018/

https://www.thrillist.com/eat/memphis/best-restaurants-memphis

https://choose901.com/how-to-make-the-most-of-a-rainy-day-in-memphis/

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One Beale

Beale Street in Memphis is one of the best-known and most historic streets in all the United States. The history of the street dates back to the founding of the city, and yet the future will continue on with its legacy. One Beale looks to bring new opportunity to the city while transforming the Memphis skyline.

One Beale will transform more than 5.5 riverfront acres into a multi-use development. This development will cost an estimated $225 million with the first half of this getting underway in 2019. The building will host the Hyatt Centric hotel, residential space, plus additional retail and office opportunities for the growing community.

Central Station

Central Station has long been a staple in the South Main District. However, in previous years, the building fell on harder times. That is why the new development is so exciting. With a $55 million budget, the new Central Station will be completely renovated, bringing in a boutique hotel plus commercial space.

Memphis is quickly becoming known as the epicenter of small business. Those with a dream of a startup or small business are coming to Memphis thanks to what the city has to offer, both in its desirable tax configuration (plus the lack of a state income tax) and the talent pool located here. Central Station will once again be a beacon in its district.

Mississippi River Park

Fourth Bluff and Memphis River Parks Partnership are working to beautify the park space, with the hope of offering outdoor lovers additional features to help maximize their time while in the park. There will be outdoor space, perfect for picnics and gatherings outside. There will be new walking, hiking and biking trails along the river, not to mention buildings to host small-scale events (because sometimes it’s best to get out of the office and take in the natural surroundings of Memphis). With these renovations underway, 2019 will be an exciting year for lovers of the park.

Activities and events

There are a number of activities and events planned for the coming months (with more to be announced) to celebrate the Memphis Bicentennial. The Memphis in May International Festival is in its 42nd year, and it will bring the world to the city, as everything from unique activities to new museum exhibits will go on display for the event. Additionally, make sure to check out the Birth of Bluff City at local Memphis libraries (starting March 23), the 2019 Beale Street Music Festival (May 3 to May 5) and a Taste of Memphis (April 18).

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Seamlessly fusing the dance forms of New Ballet’s professional and student artists – Ballet, Flamenco, African and Hip-hop – Springloaded honors tradition and celebrates the promise of youth. The program featured beautiful animations of Barber’s Knoxville: Summer of 1915 and Dances in the Canebrakes by Florence Price, while ushering in bold new mixed-genre works choreographed by Noelia Garcia Carmona, Elizabeth Corbett, and Robin Sanders.

With a President’s Committee Award from Michelle Obama, and Kennedy Center ovations for “New Moves, Symphony + Dance,” New Ballet Ensemble & School brings together professional and student artists from the Memphis community through an astonishing intersection of dance forms – Ballet, Flamenco, African and Hip-hop. Acclaimed by New York Times critic, Alastair Macaulay, “New Ballet” celebrates equity and inclusion, leaving audiences wowed and saying, “This is Memphis on stage!”

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This celebration, taking place on May 25th, promises to be one of the highlights of 2019 for those living and visiting Memphis. May is just around the corner, and it’s good to know what to expect as preparations are being made for what is a year-long celebration of the founding of the city. Here are some of the things that have taken place leading up to the big 200th birthday celebration and some of the things you should expect from the Memphis bicentennial celebration.

Events leading up to the May 22 celebration

This year-round celebration has focused on the history, culture, arts, music, sports and food that have all been a part of forming the city’s identity. It grew from a planned city on the banks of the Mississippi River to a fast-growing cultural and population center of 652,000 residents. The city has maintained many of its old traditions while embracing the advances and technologies of modern living to become the thriving metropolis that it is today.

Some of the events that have taken place or are going on prior to May 22 include those that celebrate every aspect of Memphis life. One example is the Pink Palace Family of Museum exhibit entitled, “Making Memphis: 200 Years of Community,” which celebrates the stories of the past, present and future of the city. Other events leading up to the big day include the 2019 Memphis in May International Festival Honors Memphis, a 42-year event celebrating the cultures of 38 countries in the world, and A Taste of Memphis culinary event scheduled in April.

What to expect from the May 22 Memphis bicentennial celebration

May 22, 2019 is a date you should mark on your calendar and make plans to be in the city for a celebration to end all celebrations. The Memphis bicentennial celebration is scheduled to be held as a limited-seating large gala with dinner and entertainment. All 200 years that have formed the history of the city will be celebrated. The event will serve as the kickoff for the city’s bicentennial summer.

Additional Reading

https://mem200.com/

https://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2016/nov/15/citys-bicentennial-in-2019-prompts-memphis-30-plan-to-map-future/

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No discussion about American music can be complete without a discussion about Memphis. Memphis is, hands-down, home to much of what we know as modern American music. Soul, gospel, rhythm and blues, rock ‘n’ roll, and other genres of music all have their roots in the city. Three specific landmarks exist in the city as a tribute to Memphis music history heritage: the Blues Hall of Fame (421 S. Main Street); Rock and Soul Museum (191 Beale Street); and the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, at 926 E. McLemore Avenue at the site of the original Stax Records.

The Memphis Music History is as old as the city itself. At the beginning of the last century, Memphis was a convergence of African-American commerce and culture. Traditional spirituals handed down from generations of enslaved blacks to free people became the foundation for the blues and artists like W.C. Handy. Handy is often called the “Father of the Blues,” having brought his band to Memphis in 1909 to play in the clubs on Beale Street to showcase this distinctive style of music.

The genres (and artists) of Memphis

Memphis is host to many who have come through the city to play Beale Street or make their mark in “Bluff City.” Along with Handy and the blues came the introduction of the electric guitar in 1945 (after World War II) and with it, the advent of a newer form of music called rock ‘n’ roll. Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash and others recorded tracks in the famous studios of Memphis and further solidified the city’s influence on the music of this country.

Sun Studio and Stax Records

 

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Stop by Every Monday Night

Huey’s Southaven is the place to be every Monday night. From 9 pm – 12 pm, you can select your favorite song, go up on stage and sing to your heart’s content. So whether you’ve been practicing that Britney Spears single from your childhood or you want to go with something a bit more modern, chances are the rocking DJs on staff will have the background track just for you.

And even if you’re not a singer, why not come on out with your friends and support their musical talent? Because even though we can’t all sing in tune, we can all have fun.

Happy Hour Makes It Better

If there’s one thing that’s better than karaoke on a Monday night, it’s happy hour combined with karaoke. At Huey’s Southaven, you can enjoy happy hour specials until 10 p.m. So whether you’re hungry, thirsty or just want to warm up your vocal cords, there really is something for everyone at Huey’s every Monday night.

Huey’s Southaven has some great happy hour specials just for you, so whether you’ve had a stressful day at work or you’re just hungry (or thirsty), you’ll find a great selection of options. On Mondays, you’ll find 75 cents off most drinks, beer and wine from 4-7 p.m. If you’re more of a fan of well drinks or have an eye for a certain draft, Huey’s has two-for-one specials going on from 4-10 p.m.

Dinner to Die For

There’s a reason why Huey’s has been going strong for almost 50 years. It’s not just the karaoke and the drink specials. It’s also the amazing food you’ll find here. You can enjoy some of the best munchie options in the entire city, which is great when you don’t want to fill up before going on stage. Or you can have a world-famous burger or sandwich, or order something a bit hardier from the Gold Miner Favorites menu, which includes everything from a steak stick dinner to chicken and tamales.

Additional Reading

I Love Memphis Karaoke Blog

Memphis Travel

Memphis Chamber of Commerce

We Are Memphis

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Cover Photo Credit: downtownmemphis.com

Appreciating creativity

Here are some places for sparking your imagination by observing and listening.

Art museums

Memphis is home to a number of notable art museums, including:

• The Brooks Museum (18th through 20th-century art), 1934 Poplar Ave.
• AMUM, the Art Museum of the University of the University of Memphis (works from ancient Egypt to present), 3750 Norriswood Drive
• The Metal Museum (metalworks, foundry and blacksmithing), 374 Metal Museum Drive
• The Belz Museum of Asian and Judaic Art (historical and contemporary), 119 South Main St.

Garden strolls and art

Winter is a good time to heighten awareness of landscaping shapes, colors and textures (think bark, bare branches and berries) that we often don’t appreciate when blooms are abundant. Enjoy a winter stroll at Memphis Botanic Garden, 750 Cherry Road, and check its website for outdoor art exhibits (Origami in the Garden² through March) and special events like the Jan. 25 Incognito! Art Auction fundraiser.

Downtown mural walks

Take a virtual walk online or an actual one downtown in search of the city’s famous murals, from “The Sound of Memphis” to “I Am a Man.” The downtown Memphis website provides details.

Positively Creative Series lectures

In the spring, Memphis College of Art, 1930 Poplar Ave., will host a series of talks about subjects including entrepreneurial blogging, fashion design, and maximizing social following on websites like Instagram.

Babies at the zoo

What can be more creative than birth? The Memphis Zoo, 2000 Prentiss Place, invites you to visit three new babies — Winnie the hippo, Rowan the orangutan and Lua the Linne’s two-toed sloth.

Being creative

Memphis is home to a number of organizations that encourage you to be creative in a hands-on way. Here goes.

Events and skill camps for creatives

Creative Works, 516 Tennessee St., is an organization that provides a wide variety of networking and learning events as well as a marketplace for creatives. It’s a good place to connect with creative types including animators, entrepreneurs, graphic artists, marketers and screenwriters. Events range from free pub network gatherings to 16-hour skill camps (about $1,000) and an annual creativity conference.

Crosstown Arts, 1350 Concourse Ave., is another organization that promotes creativity with exhibits, presentations and workshops by many kinds of artists, including writers and musicians. It offers residencies as well as community art making areas.

Innovative workspaces and incubators

ArtUp, 138 St. Paul St., is a business hub for entrepreneurial creatives including artists, chefs and designers. It offers lofts and mentoring for about 20 residents in its incubator program as well as support for creatives who don’t live there.

Creativity and mentoring aid the success of all startups. The “Memphis Business Journal” provides a detailed list of local business incubators, including Emerge Memphis, which offers tenant space and technical assistance programs.

Mid-South Makers, 2804 Bartlett Road, is an organization that provides makerspace (aka “hackerspace”) for people who love to tinker and invent. It’s a good place to meet other makers, share ideas and collaborate on projects.

Check out Crosstown Arts Shared Art Making for access to shared art-making facilities and equipment in digital arts, music, woodworking, printmaking, and photography. This space is open to all types of artists – from professionals to hobbyists!

Musical gigs

Love to sing? Perk up your pipes and maybe your picking skills at the Memphis Songwriters open mic nights. They’re held Monday through Thursday nights and Saturdays at coffee houses, restaurants and taverns throughout town.

If you enjoy performing classical works, the Memphis Symphony, 610 Goodman St., holds choir auditions twice a year. If you have some training, give it a go.

Becoming aware of opportunities

Never stop looking for opportunities to experience and practice the arts and innovation. Memphis is a great place to grow creatively.

#WeAreMemphis and we heart our city’s art.

Additional reading:

• http://www.brooksmuseum.org/
• https://www.memphis.edu/amum/
• https://www.metalmuseum.org/
• https://belzmuseum.org/
• https://www.memphisbotanicgarden.com/incognito
• https://www.downtownmemphis.com/downtown-mural-guide/
• http://mca.edu/community/community-education/positively-creative-series/
• https://www.memphiszoo.org/babies-at-the-memphis-zoo
• https://www.creativeworks.co/
• https://crosstownarts.org/
• https://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2018/07/12/creative-business-hub-launching-on-south-main.html
• https://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/subscriber-only/2018/03/09/memphis-area-business-incubators.html
• https://www.midsouthmakers.org/
• https://memphis-songwriters.org/open-mic-nights
• https://memphissymphony.org/chorus

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And don’t ignore the fact that Memphis stays fresh by being a hub of musical experimentation, producing hybrids such as surf rock with a Memphis twang.

Plus, the Memphis music producer Sam Phillips recorded what is often cited as the first rock ’n’ roll song, “Rocket 88,” at his Sun Records studio when it opened in 1952. Ike Turner wrote the song about a powerful auto, and his band member Jackie Brenston sang it.

Music tourism

Memphis serves up a banquet of musical history and styles. It’s a major part of our tourism appeal as demonstrated at the Memphis Travel website, which tops its “what to do” page with the following iconic music hot spots:

• Graceland, 3765 Elvis Presley Blvd.
• Sun Studio, 706 Union Ave.
• STAX Museum of American Soul Music, 926 East McLemore Ave.
• Memphis Music Hall of Fame, 126 South Second St.
• Memphis Rock ’n’ Soul Museum, 191 Beale St.
• Blues Hall of Fame, 421 South Maine St.
• Beale Street, which has so many music clubs that it has its own app

Impact of Graceland

Memphis Magazine contributor Chris Davis identifies 1982 as the year that forward-thinking entrepreneurs began shaping our city’s music history as a tourist attraction. In a December 2015 article, Davis noted the tourism renaissance as beginning “when Graceland first opened its doors to the public.”

According to Davis’ article,  Beale Street had lots of boarded-up buildings the year Graceland opened. Sun Records (eventually renamed Sun Studio), where stars like Elvis Presley, Ike Turner, Johnny Cash, B.B. King, Jerry Lee Lewis and Roy Orbison recorded, was just a quick flash outside the window on Gray Line Tours in the early 1980s, according to Davis’ article.

STAX Museum of American Soul Music is housed in the old STAX Records studio where stars like Booker T. and the M.G.’s, Isaac Hayes, Otis Redding (backed by the Bar-Kays), Sam and Dave, and the Staple Singers all recorded.

Nowadays, the city’s musical landmarks hum with visitors. Ted Evanoff of the Commercial Appeal notes that the neon 1950s appeal of Beale Street was Tennessee’s top tourist stop as of 2016 when it attracted six million visitors.

Additional Reading:

https://www.songfacts.com/facts/ike-turner/rocket-88

https://www.memphistravel.com/what-do

https://memphismagazine.com/culture/music-tourism-is-transforming-memphis/

https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/money/columnists/ted-evanoff/2017/06/24/ted-evanoff-if-elvis-fading-you-wouldnt-know-numbers/413344001/

https://www.staxrecords.com/pages/artists

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A space for space

Victoria Jones, Executive Director of The CLTV explains that when searching for a permanent location for the organization, it was important to choose a space that represented the black culture and the future of black art in Memphis. After viewing locations in other sects of the city such as Crosstown Concourse and Midtown, the team realized that the potential creative energy of the already thriving Orange Mound would allow The CLTV to provide a platform for the black community in its entirety. Positioned in South Memphis, Orange Mound is historically known for being the first community established for and by African Americans in the South, as well as being an essential region for the establishment and prosperity of black-owned businesses and culture. The neighborhood was designated a Preserve America Community in 2016 by First Lady Michelle Obama who described Orange Mound as a “treasured place in the American story.” The Preserve America Community award is an honor which recognizes communities that protect and celebrate their heritage, use their historic assets for economic development and community revitalization, and encourage people to experience and appreciate local historic resources through education and heritage tourism programs. Today, the area features some of the highest civic pride and engagement in the city as new developments such as the Orange Mound Senior Center become established. The CLTV’s new space features a large open gallery in the front of the building with walls that already mount local black photography and art projects. In the back of the building, artists and students have access to a large workshop stocked with art supplies and an ample amount of space for freedom of creative expression. Currently, the organization consists of fourteen staff members who work entirely on a volunteer status for students and local artists in the community. The CLTV is continuing to prepare the new space for its grand public opening on January 11th, 2019.

Art gives people hope

The CLTV focuses on caring for themselves and each other differently. By giving black artists the tools to ethically engage in communities, the organization fights to shift cultural inequality through elevating a consistent spotlight on art within the black community. Jones states that the significance and importance of black culture are rooted throughout Memphis history and The CLTV team seeks to make that known by showcasing and cultivating black art.  

“The wider our platform becomes, the more black artists become involved and the louder their voices get.”

–    Victoria Jones, Executive Director of The CLTV

Looking forward into 2019, The CLTV hopes to plant a strong stake in the ground with its new permanent space and residency programming. After the grand opening, there will be about twelve large shows every year and smaller-scaled shows every 3 weeks, along with performing arts and concert series all year long. Community members, as well as those looking to become involved, can donate money or feasible and age-appropriate art supplies to The CLTV, sign up for newsletters and volunteer events, and of course, continue to bring their soul to Memphis.

For more information on The CLTV, head to the official website!

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Tennessee’s second largest city shone in the New York Times this year when the publication ran “36 Hours in Memphis.” The article praised a number of innovative, adaptive reuse projects with colorful public art installations, the bike-share program that debuted in the spring, the charms of the Broad Avenue Arts District, and the world-class amenities at Shelby Farms, one of the nation’s largest urban parks.

CNN Travel named Memphis one of its “Five Great Places to Visit in May,” recommending late spring as a the perfect time to enjoy pleasant weather and the start of festival season with Memphis in May, the city’s month-long celebration of its unique music, food and culture. Other reasons to visit included Graceland; Beale Street; The Peabody Hotel’s parade of ducks; Sun Studio; Stax Museum of American Soul Music; Memphis Brooks Museum of Art: National Civil Rights Museum; and local hangout Jerry’s Sno Cones.

Thrillist named Memphis among its “Underrated Places to Visit in Winter,” when visitors can enjoy strolling down Beale Street on a chilly night and being drawn indoors by the sound of the blues, smell of smoky barbecue, and the opportunity for quiet, meaningful conversations with the friendly locals. Thrillist also named Memphis Zoo a must-see winter attraction, with its central tented skating rink, and recommend March visitors check out all the delicacies and deals offered during the city’s popular Black Restaurant Week.

And Frommers, looking ahead, named Memphis one of its “Best Places to go in 2019,” with the city taking its place among the top spots with Singapore, Bulgaria, French Polynesia and Australia’s Northern Territory.

“One of the best parties in the world will take place in Memphis in 2019,” said Frommer’s editorial director Pauline Frommer.  “As Memphis turns 200 during its bicentennial year, this is the perfect time to explore a city rich in music, history and culture, in addition to a flavorful culinary scene that offers more than just the Memphis-style barbecue that the city is already known for around the world.”

Tourism continues to grow in this city on the banks of the Mighty Mississippi. According to Memphis Tourism, Memphis welcomed a record 11.7 million visitors, whose economic impact totalled about $3 billion dollars.

“As we kick-off our bicentennial year, we look forward to welcoming the world to our city,” said Kevin Kane, president and CEO of Memphis Tourism.  

In rankings created with the input of top travel influencers from around the world, Travel Lemming, a popular blog dedicated to exploring the world’s emerging and inspirational travel destinations, named Memphis as one of North America’s Best Emerging Destinations for 2019. The article attributed the Bluff City’s travel boom to its robust nightlife scene and cited the Bluff City’s importance as the epicenter of many of America’s most culturally defining moments, from the Civil Rights Movement to the birth of Rock ‘n’ Roll.

To accommodate its growing number of travelers, Memphis is adding new hotels, with 13 now under construction or in the planning phases and an additional 2,000 new hotel rooms in the pipeline for Downtown, according to the Downtown Memphis Commission. And Memphis International Airport has embarked on a new plan to modernize the airport by adding moving walkways, wider corridors, larger boarding areas, higher ceilings and natural lighting.

But it’s not just tourists that continue to be drawn to Memphis. The city is attracting transplants drawn to its laid-back lifestyle, amenities, academic institutions, low cost of living, and business-friendly climate.

Memphis is growing as a destination for job-seekers. In fact, Glassdoor named Memphis one of its Best Cities for Jobs in 2018,  citing the ease of being hired, living affordability, and employee satisfaction.

Mimeo this year announced it will relocate to Memphis, investing $16 million and creating 300 local jobs. And Indigo Ag, a Boston-based agricultural technology company, chose Memphis as its new North American operations headquarters, which is expected to generate about 700 new jobs in the city over the next few years. This move could mean the addition of non-stop flights between Memphis and Boston.

Memphis is particularly attractive to entrepreneurs, thanks to its connectivity and an atmosphere that nurtures creativity and passion. Howmuch.net named the Bluff City as the nation’s number one boomtown for women entrepreneurs, stating that between 2007 and 2016, the number of women-owned businesses in the city rose from roughly 31,000 to just under 70,000 — the largest increase of any metropolitan area in the country.

Black Enterprise wrote that Memphis was the top U.S. city to open a Black-owned small business, and BlackTech Week reported Memphis topped the list of cities where black businesses are thriving and business owners feel supported by the community. Examples include dining concepts like Black Restaurant Week, artistic initiatives like Hattiloo Theatre, and innovative nonprofits like MentorMe and The Collective.

And looking at residential real estate investments, Rented.com named Memphis one of its best cities to buy a second home, noting the diverse rental market and low housing prices and real estate taxes.

The robust residential market was evident in 2018 proposals like Union Row, which would be Memphis largest mixed-use development ever, featuring apartments, shops,  restaurants, a hotel, office spaces and green spaces.

Speaking of mixed-use developments and green spaces, Crosstown Concourse, the $200 million transformed former Sears building, made the shortlist in the “New and Old” category at the 2018 World Architecture Awards in Amsterdam. Shelby Farms Park also made the shortlist. Its Heart of the Park makeover, which features a visitors center, restaurant, stage pavilion, boat-rental kiosk and more, was a contender in the “Civic and Community” category. Shelby Farms Park this year also earned a spot in the Family Attractions and Experiences category of the TripSavvy Editors’ Choice Awards.

Memphis continues to be recognized for its world-class hospitals, like St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, which treats pediatric patients from around the world at no cost. St. Jude is developing Family Commons, a new treatment-free floor where patient families can relax, recover, and spend quiet time together. St. Jude also announced it will build a 3.5-acre green space for patients and families, featuring landscaped gardens, walking paths and a special playground designed for children with restricted mobility.

Also this year came the announcement that the FedEx St. Jude Invitational would join the World Golf Championships circuit, with Memphis welcoming its first World Golf Championships event in 2019. The PGA said fans can expect to be treated to a host of global superstars on the green.

Memphis is known for its love of basketball, and Penny Mania swept the city when Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway, a two-time All-American and four-time NBA All-Star, returned to his alma mater in the spring to coach the University of Memphis men’s basketball.

The 901 also welcomed a professional soccer club, Memphis 901 FC, a United Soccer League franchise that will begin playing at AutoZone Park in 2019.

Memphis continued to make its mark in film and television. Elvis’ historic home — one of the world’s most visited historic homes — served as the setting for Hallmark Channel’s “Christmas at Graceland,” as well as the Netflix film “Uncorked, which will be released next year. The barbecue-themed film stars Memphis celebrity chef and former Food Network host Gina Neely, Tony-winner Courtney B. Vance, and comedienne Niecy Nash.

The Food Network’s ongoing affection for Memphis’ culinary community continued in 2018 when the Food Network featured three Memphis food trucks — Stanley’s Sweet Street Treats, El Mero Taco, and Soi No. 9 —  on the series “Big Food Truck Tip with Andrew Zimmern.” The network also invited some Memphis BBQ pitmasters to appear on the popular show “Chopped” and named the Pucker Up Cake at Muddy’s Bake Shop the best cake in Tennessee on its “50 States of Cakes” list.

And Saveur Magazine ended 2018 in Memphis, where it hosted the 2018 Saveur Blog Awards. Finalists flew in from as far as West Africa, Switzerland, and India to share culinary knowledge, create recipes, and discover the city’s soul through its food and culture. The blogger awards were held in the historic Clayborn Temple — a perfect testament to a city where old meets new and where residents honor their history while looking forward to a bright future.

This New Year’s Eve, let’s raise a glass to this lively metropolis in honor of the Bluff City’s bicentennial.

The post Memphis Shines On the Cusp of Its Bicentennial appeared first on We Are Memphis.

Crosstown Arts is having a huge impact on the Memphis artscape. Today, the integrated venues provide spaces for exhibition, music performances, film, and video screenings, and workshops and programs for visiting artists—and the current program for Memphis artists is set to be expanded into a full-scale, residency program. This program will host 16 visiting and Memphis-based residents for extended stays at the Concourse, with the goal of promoting creative exchange among Memphis artists and the larger art world.

The Concourse will also be the site for a new art-making facility that will provide continued public access to a communal woodshop, digital lab, print shop, and recording studio. In addition, the newly built Performing Arts Theater will soon host live performances, film screenings and a community theater program.

“Give A Damn” about Crosstown Arts

Presented by the Stax Museum of American Soul Music and hosted at Crosstown Arts through December, the “Give A Damn” exhibition includes an array of previously unviewed artifacts, including rare photos, documents, short films and music. But you don’t have to be a music fan to have a reason to drop by! Crosstown Arts invites individual artists, curators, scholars, community leaders and arts groups from across the country to participate in exhibitions, projects and programs, so you’re bound to experience something new during your visit.

Beyond simply attending Crosstown Arts exhibits and events, here are some other ways to immerse yourself in the Memphis creative scene:

• See monthly art shows featuring local and visiting artists
• Attend opening-night events, gallery talks and monthly discussion groups
• Check out a concert, art show, performance, screening, lecture or another arts-related event

Volunteering with Crosstown Arts

If you’re looking to get even more involved, why not consider volunteering with Crosstown Arts? As a volunteer, you’ll help the team enrich and extend the creative community in Memphis by assisting at galleries, leading craft activities and games, and performing numerous other valuable functions to make Crosstown Arts a continuing success.

Find out more info about our city, check out the City of Memphis’s website.

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Celebrities from Memphis include:

• Justin Timberlake, who was born in Memphis to Lynn and Randall Timberlake on Jan. 31, 1981. This former “Mickey Mouse Club” regular and Man of the Woods also has several films under his belt, including “Friends with Benefits” and the Oscar-winning “Trouble with the Curve.”
• Cybill Shepherd, who was born to a homemaker and a small business owner in Memphis. She modeled for major magazines and has been credited as both a movie and TV actress.
• Actor and Memphis native Chris Parnell, who took drama and auditioned for every play during his time at Germantown High School. When he was a senior at Germantown in 1985, he was voted “Most Talented” by his classmates.
• Ginnifer Goodwin, who got her start in west Tennessee and is best known for starring in the award-winning “Walk the Line,” a film about country music star Johnny Cash.
• Kathy Bates, who took her first breath in Memphis. Her role in “Fried Green Tomatoes” earned her a solid spot in the nation’s heart, and she has not looked back since.
• Memphis-born Lucy Hale, who is a budding country music star and renowned actress best known for her portrayal of goth-princess Aria on the TV show “Pretty Little Liars.”
• Morgan Freeman, who has grown into one of the most respected figures in modern American cinema. Morgan was born in Memphis to Mayme Edna Revere and Morgan Porterfield Freeman on June 1, 1937.

Additional reading:

https://wearememphis.com

https://memphischamber.com/

https://www.imdb.com/list/ls003267972/

https://choose901.com/

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Cappricio Grill

Located inside the famous Peabody Memphis Hotel, the Cappricio Grill will be offering traditional Thanksgiving fare. Open on Thanksgiving from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., the Cappricio Grill has a flexible schedule that will ensure anyone can come in for a Thanksgiving meal, no matter what mealtime suits them best.

The Cappricio Grill Thanksgiving dinner costs $45 per adult and $19 per child, with reservations available by phone or online.

The Cupboard Restaurant

Famous for its meat ‘n’ plates, The Cupboard Restaurant is a well-known and beloved restaurant located in the heart of Memphis. It serves traditional southern fare and casual home-style food sure to whet the appetite and send everyone home satisfied. The restaurant is open all day on Thanksgiving, and it’ll be adding turkey, ham and other favorites to its menu to mark the occasion.

The Cupboard Restaurant doesn’t accept reservations, so be prepared to plan ahead! It’s a popular gathering place, and seating is limited.

Piccadilly

As a traditional cafeteria-style eatery with five locations throughout Memphis, Piccadilly is the perfect restaurant to host your 2018 Thanksgiving festivities. Big family? No problem! Piccadilly is accustomed to hosting large events, and the sizable cafeteria is sure to seat anyone you want in attendance for your Thanksgiving event. Piccadilly will be serving up a traditional Thanksgiving dinner for all, with classics like sweet potatoes, cranberries, cornbread and more.

Holiday hours vary from location to location, so call ahead to determine the best time for your Piccadilly Thanksgiving feast.

Huey’s

Known for providing diners the chance to kick back with a delicious burger and refreshing beer, Huey’s may not be the first option Memphis families consider when picking a restaurant for Thanksgiving dinner, but it’s the perfect place to watch football and enjoy a lively atmosphere among friends.

Huey’s has locations throughout Cordova, Germantown, Poplar and more, although not all of them are open for Thanksgiving, so you’d be wise to call ahead. Oh, and be prepared for a later dinner—Huey’s historically hasn’t opened until 5 p.m. or later for Thanksgiving, though it stays open well into the night.

Additional resources

• Where to get a great Thanksgiving dinner in Memphis
• The history of Thanksgiving
• Memphis Thanksgiving events

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Imagine that after a long job hunt, you’ve landed a position with great benefits. After three months with the company, you attend a benefit enrollment session. The HR representative gives you a heavy packet and says all needed information can be found inside. What would you do if you couldn’t read the information provided? Would you ask for help in a room filled with your coworkers or stay silent? Would you take a guess at the best option hoping it’s the right plan for you and your family?

Basic literacy skills are required to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Think about reading prescription labels, medical paperwork, and job applications. The ability to read and write at a 6th-grade level is a quality of life issue affecting more than 100,000 adults in our community.

The ability to read and write at a 6th-grade level is a quality of life issue affecting more than 100,000 adults in our community.

Now, imagine you’re a 4th grader who reads on a 2nd grade level. You’ve managed to make it this far despite the stress, anxiety, and isolation that often comes with low literacy. What would you do if the language on your standardized test, in your textbook, and your daily worksheet was too difficult to understand? What if your parents also read at a 2nd grade level? Would you become the class clown so everyone would focus on your behavior and not your schoolwork?

76% of 4th graders in Shelby County left 3rd grade without reading on grade level. 3rd grade is the final year students are taught to read. It is assumed and expected that all students are reading at grade level by the end of 3rd grade. Unfortunately, this is not the case in Shelby County.

Literacy Mid-South is transforming Grind City into a community engaged in lifelong learning.

Literacy Mid-South provides education resources to children and adults of all ages and backgrounds. They serve as a literacy hub for local nonprofits by providing them with the tools needed to influence literacy education in Memphis. Literacy Mid-South provides a platform for local organizations to collaborate and maximize their impact on the community. They address low literacy through two programs: The Adult Learning Program and Read901.

Literacy Mid-South is the only organization in Memphis providing adult basic education services to the 100,000+ adults reading at or below a 6th-grade level. They have a dedicated team of 250+ trained volunteer tutors facilitating both one-on-one and classroom sessions for over 600 Adult Basic Education and English Language Learning learners. More than 80% of learners have reached their personal and academic goals.

The Adult Learning Program supports learners like Darlene, who dreams of one day becoming a Pharmacy Technician. Darlene always knew she struggled with reading, but never imagined she was on a 3rd grade level until entering the Adult Learning Program. Darlene was matched with a one-on-one tutor and quickly began making progress. She moved up 3 reading levels every year for four years and exited the program reading at a 10th-grade level!

Read901 is a citywide initiative on one of the most important indicators of academic success: grade-level reading by the end of 3rd grade. Read901 combines the strength of community-based organizations, funders, city agencies, and corporations around 3rd grade reading proficiency. Through partnerships with the Boys and Girls Club, Memphis Athletic Ministries, the Refugee Empowerment Program, Streets Ministries, and many others, Read 901 provides out of school time literacy education to over 3,500 students in Shelby County.

Read901 helps partner organizations bridge the gap between student’s current reading levels and their academic success. Without their support, students like 9-year-old old Sandibel would continue to fall behind in school. When Sandibel entered the program, she tested at a very low reading level. She has since made great strides, even surpassing some of the students that entered the program with her. Now, Sanidibel has empowered herself to become an extremely successful reader and wants to be a police officer one day. Her love of reading has also impacted her family. Sandibel reads a bedtime story to her two baby brothers every night! A love of reading like Sandibel’s is contagious, and Literacy Mid-South is helping it spread to every corner of the city.

Want to join Literacy Mid-South in transforming Grind City into a community actively engaged in lifelong learning? Click Here to get involved!

Sign up to participate in the upcoming New Tutor Training Session on November 10th.

Visit their website at www.LiteracyMidSouth.org to learn more or contact the Literacy Mid-South Team.

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The Big River Presents-sponsored Mempho Music Festival is all set to treat fans who attend its inaugural ceremony on Oct. 6, and the fun will continue through Oct. 7. The event will be held at the famous Shelby Farms Park and is set to feature good food, live performances by award-winning artists and more.

In addition to seeing Grammy Award-winning artists Beck and Phoenix, attendees will witness hip-hop legend Post Malone in action, as well as live performances by the Grammy-nominated Funkstress and indie rock supernova prince Mac DeMarco. This year, the festival will pay tribute to Memphis heritage by honoring the award-winning and globally renowned Royal Studios. For many years, Royal Studios in Memphis hosted music sessions with notable and award-winning artists.

The Mempho Music Festival’s philanthropic partner, the nonprofit organization Mempho Matters, works locally to promote humanitarian movements, raise awareness of social issues and positively impact the local community through educational programs, music, and charity-based art education. Plus, the organization is planning to provide complimentary Mempho Music festival admission to Memphis-area music teachers and their students.

In addition, the 2018 Mempho Music Festival will partner with the Oceanic Global Foundation to promote ocean safety, as well as with the Memphis Area Women’s Council on the Memphis Says No More safety initiative. This means the festive ground will be straw-free this year to support the noble ocean safety campaign.

As well as enjoying the live musical performances, Mempho Fest attendees can also take advantage of the on-site camping opportunities and the outdoor activity options available within the Shelby Farms Park. Adventure seekers can delve into various park activities such as biking, zip lining, and canoeing.

To experience this unique event for yourself, secure your GA, VIP or Super VIP admission while tickets last. Come and join us for this biggest music celebration!

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1. Memphis’ largest maritime disaster occurred in 1865

On April 27, 1865, a steamboat known as the Sultana exploded just north of Memphis, killing more than 1800 of the union prisoners aboard who had just been released from Alabama and were headed to New Orleans. Despite having a capacity of just 376, the boat was holding more than 2,100 passengers, and the excess weight caused three of its boilers to explode. If you can’t believe you’ve never heard of this tragedy, here’s some historical context for you: It happened the same week as the assassination of President Lincoln.

2. Tom Lee Park is named for the hero of another steamboat disaster

You’ve probably heard of Tom Lee Park, but did you know that Tom Lee saved 32 passengers from a sinking steamboat on May 8, 1925? Lee, a river worker, saw the M.E. Norman capsize and rushed to assist the passengers. At 23 deaths, the loss of life was still significant, but Lee’s intervention prevented a far bigger tragedy.

3. Memphis was home to the South’s first African-American millionaire

Robert R. Church, also known as the South’s first African-American millionaire, developed his riches by purchasing real estate. After amassing his wealth, he paid it forward by opening the first black-owned business in Memphis—a bank that extended credit to black entrepreneurs and residents looking to build homes or establish businesses of their own. Church is also known for paying a $1,000 bond to restore the city’s charter. To honor his memory, modern-day Memphians can head to Robert Church Park, which is located adjacent to the FedEx Forum.

4. Memphis didn’t have parks until the late 1800s

The parks we know and love in today’s Memphis were created as part of the City Beautification Movement, a reform philosophy that took off in North America in the 1890s. Before then, Memphis was an agricultural city known for having the world’s largest market for spot cotton, hardwood lumber and mules. Today, Memphis is home to a wide array of green spaces—notably Shelby Farms Park, which is one of the 20 largest urban parks in the country.

5. A quartet of Memphis thoroughfares used to be named after the four seasons

Modern-day Memphis residents and frequent visitors to the Bluff City will probably be familiar with Summer Ave. and Autumn Ave., but did you know there used to be a Winter Ave. and a Spring Ave. to round out the set? The former is now known as Faxon Ave., while the latter’s current name is Forrest Ave. We bet you’ll remember this fun fact next time you’re driving in the city!

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Big River Crossing has never looked better. Another example of Memphian Adarryll Jackson‘s unbelievable photography skills. Follow @adarrylljacksonsr to be blown away by his ability to capture the soul of Memphis. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ——— 📷: @adarrylljacksonsr ——– Want to be featured on our page? DM us! #BringYourSoul #WeAreMemphis

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Fortunately, businesses can’t pay to be included on Expertise.com, which means you can trust the site’s findings. This independent company researches more than 100 business categories in approximately 1,000 cities across the U.S, using criteria such as:

• Availability: Consistently approachable and reachable
• Credibility: Accreditation, awards, licensing
• Experience: A history of practical experience and education
• Professionalism: Respected locally for honesty and reliability
• Reputation: A history of good service

It’s all about art

Painting is easy when you don’t know how, but very difficult when you do.
-Edgar Degas

Human beings across time and place have created art for a variety of reasons—to express ourselves; to help others understand what we see, hear and feel; to validate who we are to ourselves and more. Whether this takes the form of acting, ceramics, textiles or watercolors, nurturing and developing an artistic passion is important, but it can be tricky to know where to start.

That’s where we come in. Check out this list of 10 establishments helping artistically inclined residents find and recreate the beauty of Memphis:

1. Art Interior Murals & Design: Commercial and residential decorating, as well as private/semi-private art lessons
2. Broad Strokes: Furniture decor creation classes and workshops
3. Collierville Arts Academy: Fine arts, martial arts, performing (acting/modeling) arts programs
4. Fine Art from Anne Enochs: Drawing/advanced painting classes, private lessons
5. Flicker Street Studio: Drawing, oil/acrylic/encaustic painting and watercolor classes and workshops
6. John Helms Gallery: Gallery and painting classes, including classes for adults and beginners
7. Mery Pera: Beginner through advanced classes and events
8. Pitter Potter Studio: Paint-your-own pottery parties and events
9. The Art Project: Classes for kids in-studio or outside, art camps, adult workshops, events
10. The Shorty Gul Art Shop: Drawing, arts and crafts, textiles, glassware/pottery/ceramics, furniture, traditional and digital art classes

Photo Credit: Pitter Potter Studio Facebook

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Stunning and breathtaking. The talent and poise of @collagedance always inspires us. Follow their page to see how these diverse Memphians showcase the beauty of ballet and dance. ——— 📷: @collagedance ——– Want to be featured on our page? DM us! #BringYourSoul #WeAreMemphis

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Known as the “South’s Grand Hotel,” The Peabody won 1st Place among a field of 20 historic hotels from around the country. The Peabody was the only hotel in Tennessee to be nominated.

The top ten winners in the ’Best Historic Hotel’ category are as follows:

(Full List Here: http://www.10best.com/awards/travel/best-historic-hotel/)

1. The Peabody Memphis
2. Grand Hotel
3. The Broadmoor
4. Marriott Syracuse Downtown
5. Deer Path Inn
6. Hotel Emma
7. West Baden Springs Hotel
8. Zero George Street
9. Wentworth Mansion
10. The Royal Hawaiian

“We placed in the Top 3 for the last two years, so we are beyond excited to have taken home the top prize this year,” said President of Peabody Hotels & Resorts Douglas V. Browne.

A Forbes 4-Star, AAA 4-Diamond property, The Peabody has also been named the #1 Hotel in Tennessee by Southern Living (2017), among the “Top Hotels in the South” by Conde Nast Traveler (2016), and “Best Historic Hotel” by Historic Hotels of America (2015). The Peabody has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1977.

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#BringYourSoul to the Memphis Riverfront and take on the Mississippi by kayak! 🚣🏽‍♂️ #MustBeMemphis⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ——–⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 📷: @memphistravel via Alan Spearman⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ——–⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Want to be featured on our page? DM us!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #BringYourSoul #wearememphischefs .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #Memphis #ILoveMemphis #MemphisTN #MemphisTennessee #Tennessee #TennesseeLife #Travel #Photography #Photographer #Photographers #Pictures #MemphisPhotography #Photography #InstaPicOfTheDay #InstaPic #InstaGood #photographs #Choose901 #MemphisTravel #River #Mississippi #Night #Lights #Kayaking #Water #Nighttime

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Memphis roots

At the center of Unapologetic is IMAKEMADBEATS, the producer and guru behind a solid group of artists who lay down their funky styles at Dirty Socks recording studio. IMAKEMADBEATS is a native son returned from a journey that took him to the epicenter of East Coast hip-hop and back.

Growing up in Orange Mound, IMAKEMADBEATS—a.k.a. James Dukes—was exposed to a wide array of the ingredients that make Memphis so soulful. Although his father had an almost encyclopedic collection of records that spanned soul, blues and jazz, Dukes found himself most drawn to the inherent randomness of jazz and how order was created out of disorder. With just one listen to the music IMAKEMADBEATS produces, you can hear those influences clearly.

His father’s eclectic tastes were passed down to Dukes, whose musical favorites set him apart in high school. While he and his classmates were often found exclusively booming Three 6 Mafia, Dukes gravitated toward Wu-Tang Clan, A Tribe Called Quest and Gang Starr, with a dash of UK Techno.

“When I got on the Orange Mound Bus to go to school… I had to be playing Three 6, or nothing,” said IMAKEMADBEATS of his high school days. “If it ain’t that… You were weird.”

Finding that sound

Not long after high school, IMAKEMADBEATS moved to New York City to spread his musical wings. He landed a gig as an engineer at Quad Recording Studio in Manhattan, rubbing elbows with MCs like Talib Kweli, Common, Missy Elliott and Ludacris. In 2009, he recorded “The Transcontinental,” but before long, family ties pulled him back to Memphis.

Upon arriving home, Dukes holed up in his sound lab and honed his craft. Before long, he felt the tug to share his creations with the world, and Unapologetic was formed after he met kindred spirits in the Memphis hip-hop scene—artists like PreauXX, another core component of what Unapologetic is all about.

A triumphant return

“Better Left Unsaid” was IMAKEMADBEATS’ first EP on his new label, featuring his intricately layered and unmistakable instrumental hip-hop styles. Beyond IMAKEMADBEATS, Unapologetic has a whole stable of artists taking over the Memphis hip-hop scene. Cameron Bethany dropped his  “YOUMAKEMENERVOUS” EP in early 2017”. Cameron’s groundbreaking EP encompasses many styles and influences, a sound all its own that he has dubbed as Mod Fusion.

With those releases now in the rearview mirror, it’s clear Unapologetic has nothing to be sorry for as it continues its genre-bending journey.

Follow IMAKEMADBEATS on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Soundcloud for updates.

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If you’re eager to see more of the works that Memphis creatives have unleashed on our city, you might want to take the long route to your next destination. Here’s a rundown of some of the best locations to view urban public art in Memphis:

Broad Avenue Arts District

The name says it all. Broad Avenue serves as the canvas for some of Memphis’ most popular works of art—chief among which is the Broad Avenue Water Tower, which features a mural inspired by the Mississippi River.

At the base of the water tower, there are two more works to behold. At 200 feet wide, “This is We” by Guillaume Alby is the biggest mural in Memphis, and is situated adjacent to another mural named “Terpsichore.” Further down Broad Avenue, the Wiseacre Container Bridge plays host to an ever-evolving mural that changes every six to eight months.

Photo Credit: Broad Ave Arts District Facebook

South Main Arts District

Local artists are the focus of the South Main Mosaic Artwalk, a collection of eight temporary public art installations along South Main. On the way to the nearby train station, you can view “Modern Hieroglyphics,” a mural composed of eight song lyric snippets mentioning Memphis that celebrates the city’s unique musical heritage.

A self-guided walking tour will show you all the best art installations and architecture along the way. Learn more at gosouthmain.com.

Main Street Pedestrian Mall

When students from the Memphis College of Art set out to transform this mall, they left nothing untouched, from the green utility boxes to the pedestrian bridge near the law school. Highlights include “Quiltsurround,” a sculpture by Greely Myatt made of recycled street signs that is located behind City Hall, and “Roof Like Fluid Flung Over the Plaza” by Vito Acconci, located at the Cannon Center.

Crosstown

Thanks to the revitalization of the old Sears distribution center, the Crosstown community has a renewed interest in urban art. A piece titled “Beacon”—also known as the bicycle windmill—welcomes all to Crosstown, while the “Jackie in the Secret Garden” billboard beams down from high in the sky. Other art murals in Crosstown include “I Love Memphis” by Jay Crum and Kong Wee Pang, as well as a rotating set of murals known as The Moonpie Project.

Overton Park

Overton Park has long been considered the crown jewel of Memphis, and the UrbanArt Commission has further cemented this reputation. The public is welcomed to the park by a gorgeous arched gateway constructed by local artist Tylur French and composed of 300 scrap bicycles. In addition, the East Park Playground, Rainbow Lake Playground and Levitt Shell feature similar gateway installations, while the park’s golf course is adorned with a movable sculpture titled “Rhapsody.”

On your way to Overton Park, be sure to cruise through Overton Square and enjoy the assorted murals and sculptures.

Overton Square

Overton Square has been revitalized in recent years, emerging as a hot entertainment area that is home to one of the most stunning lovebird murals in the world. The mural is the most recent addition to the beautiful pieces of art that can be found in the area, and it’s unlikely that it will be the last.

Cooper-Young

The neighborhood around Cooper Street and Young Avenue hosts some of the most iconic works in all of Memphis. Perhaps most notably, the original “I Love Memphis” mural is situated adjacent to the Cooper-Young Trestle, a 150-foot steel sculpture that depicts the neighborhood. Those taking in the art by foot can also behold the numerous underpasses that have been transformed from eyesore to eye candy.

The fact that the Memphis arts scene is clearly alive and well is just one more factor that makes Memphis a beautiful place to live.

Additional resources

Thrillist

ILoveMemphis (map available!)

Choose901 (breaking news)

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Blues, brews and BBQ

Memphis residents are eagerly anticipating the 30th annual Blues on the Bluff on Saturday, July 21. Bring your lawn chairs, lay out your picnic blanket and enjoy an incredible night of music on the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River. You can expect an eclectic mix that runs the gamut from blues and soul to rock and alternative.

The festival takes place on the grounds of the Memphis Metal Museum, an open expanse of grassy lawns and tall trees that sits atop the bluffs just south of downtown and has a spectacular view of the river. Free guarded parking will be available nearby.

As for the food and drink on offer, the Central BBQ food truck will be on location to serve its award-winning BBQ and much more. Non-alcoholic drinks, wine and beer will all be available, including a limited-edition craft brew from Memphis Made Brewing, a local brewing company that is the official beer sponsor of the event.

2018 Blues on the Bluff

Blues on the Bluff is put on by WEVL 89.9 FM, Memphis’ only independent, listener-supported radio station for blues, rock, country, bluegrass and Americana. The event is essentially a fun-filled fundraiser for the 42-year-old radio station, and all proceeds from Blues on the Bluff will go toward the station’s continued operation. There will be a silent auction on the day of the event where you can bid on art, musical performances, merchandise and gift certificates from restaurants, shops and venues all over town.

Check out this year’s lineup!

• Lightnin’ Malcolm 6:30 PM
• The Kenny Brown Band 8:00 PM
• Marcella & Her Lovers 9:35 PM

Advance ticket sales will be available tonight until midnight!

Get your tickets here

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Just ask the 102 new players who recently joined the NBA 2K league draft, among whom are the inaugural class of the Memphis Grizzlies gaming team.

HISTORY! Here’s a look at our first pick in the @NBA2KLeague Draft: Winner_Stayz_On pic.twitter.com/2nlndXJfFE

— Grizz Gaming (@GrizzGaming) April 4, 2018

How does it all work?

The popularity of esports has soared in the past few years as gaming became increasingly versatile, challenging and engaging. Today, the NBA 2K esports league boasts professional gamers from across the country who are drafted by NBA to engage in a national tournament.

Players earn a salary of more than $30,000 and are given housing, products to facilitate their gameplay and the chance to earn prizes from a pool of over $1 million.

Much like big-name basketball players, NBA 2K gamers are true professionals who spend hours perfecting their craft. In fact, most draftees and members of the league spend eight to 12 hours a day practicing, analyzing plays and sharpening their competitive edge.

Introducing the inaugural class of gamer Grizzlies

After the Memphis Grizzlies drafted the inaugural class of gamers just a few months back, the team had the 15th overall pick in the draft. Post-draft, general manager Lang Whitaker said he “got all the players [he] wanted” and is excited about the upcoming tournament. Sounds like the Grizzlies gaming team is ready to put our city on the esports map.

Your 2018 @NBA2KLeague draft class! pic.twitter.com/ZC18FcycZV

— Kofie (@KofieYeboah) April 4, 2018

Impact on Memphis and Memphians

Whatever the tournament’s outcome, one thing’s for sure: The recent draftees to the Grizzlies team are slated for a life-changing experience, with many players quitting their jobs, putting school on hold and moving to Memphis.

In the process, the city itself will be exposed to an array of growth opportunities, with local businesses taking advantage of advertising and Memphians of all stripes jumping on the gaming bandwagon. Watch this space!

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Since releasing their first recordings in 2009, the members of Ghost Town Blues Band have been blazing their own trail in the blues world, racking up awards, hitting the Billboard charts and garnering a devoted following thanks to their raucous live shows and unmistakable Southern influences. Through it all, they’ve called Memphis home.

A Memphis original

Like a lot of great artists, Ghost Town Blues Band’s reputation was solidified by explosive live shows that blend a dizzying array of influences into a unique, high-energy sound that draws from the past but belongs firmly in the present. Fans of Ghost Town Blues Band know exactly what they’re getting when they go to see the band live—and that’s a little bit of everything.

Wailing harmonicas, scorched-earth cigar-box guitar jams, soulful organs and funk-infused bass and drums… Ghost Town Blues Band has something to offer anyone with an appreciation for Southern music. Simply put, the band melds the North Mississippi Hill Country blues of R.L. Burnside with New Orleans-style brass and Allman Brothers-like improvisational blues-rock jams.

Ghost Town Blues Band combines all these influences and more into a sound that is distinctly its own and distinctly Memphis. Multi-instrumentalist and frontman Matt Isbell puts it best, telling Blues.Gr, “We definitely have a Memphis sound because we are from Memphis. It’s a very eclectic mix of cigar-box slide guitar, energized Hip-Hop Trombonist, Allman Bros. influenced twin guitar solos, rock ‘n’ roll drums [and] a horn section with pounding keys.” Although the band has toured nationally and become a festival favorite, it remains a mainstay of local Memphis venues like Newby’s and Blues City Cafe.

Additionally, Ghost Town Blues Band has acted as ambassadors of our great city by sharing our music from the Blues Tent at the Beale Street Music Festival to the main stage of the Montréal Jazz Festival in Montréal, QC Canada.

Big things on the horizon

Ghost Town Blues Band has been hitting the road hard for years now, and it’s clear that all the hard work is paying off. The band snagged a 2015 Blues Blast Music Award nomination for “Best Blues Band” and won the 2016 Independent Blues Award for “Best Contemporary Blues Song.”

Ghost Town Blues Band’s 2018 album, a take-no-prisoners live recording called “Backstage Pass,” hit No. 4 on the Billboard Blues Album Chart and was praised by American Blues Scene for its versatility and ingenuity. The publication wrote, “Anyone who’s ever walked into a random bar and wound up hearing an extraordinary band will love the energy of ‘Backstage Pass.’” And if you live in Memphis, there’s a good chance you could walk into such a bar on any given night.

Ghost Town Blues Band’s music is available to stream and download through Bandcamp or iTunes, and fans of live music can expect to see a lot of Isbell and the gang this year. But although they’ll be on tour across the country, you can always count on Ghost Town Blues Band to come back to Memphis sooner or later.

Know of a Memphis-based band or musician whose story deserves to be told? Click here!

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1) Rock ‘n’ roll

Can you imagine life without rock ‘n’ roll? Elvis and Johnny Cash are just a couple of the Memphis musicians who pioneered this unique music genre—and many of them got their start at the legendary Sun Studio and Stax Records right here in Memphis.

2) Jazz, soul and R&B

Beyond rock ‘n’ roll, Memphis is famous for a host of other musical genres, including jazz, soul and R&B. There’s no better place to enjoy some local tunes than Beale Street, a vibrant thoroughfare lined with bars, clubs and restaurants that also plays host to a wide variety of concerts and music festivals throughout the year.

3) Self-service grocery stores

The first self-service grocery store quickly became a hit after its Memphis debut—so much so that the chain has grown in number to encompass more than 500 stores today. It may be hard to imagine now, but there was a time when consumers were supposed to hand their order lists to grocery store clerks who would select their products for them. Thank goodness Piggly Wiggly founder Clarence Saunders was around to revolutionize the shopping experience!

4) Unisex hair salons

Nowadays, we take unisex hair salons for granted, but when Sam Ross introduced the concept, it was unthinkable to imagine men and women getting their hair cut at the same establishment. Needless to say, the idea took off.

5) Overnight delivery

Headquartered in Memphis, FedEx changed the delivery game by getting packages from A to B overnight. Anyone who’s ever left their belongings in another city or forgotten a loved one’s birthday is surely thankful for this particular innovation!

6) Budget-friendly hotels

Before he became the founder of Holiday Inn, Kemmons Wilson had a series of disappointing lodging experiences while on a family road trip. After he recognized a market dearth of comfortable yet affordable lodging, he decided to change the game himself. Today, Holiday Inn is one of the largest hotel chains in the world.

7) Bottled soda

Before two lawyers from Tennessee had the great idea to bottle Coca-Cola, people had to go to soda fountains to get their fix. The next time you’re enjoying a bottle of soda, remember you have Memphis to thank!

8) The Modern Grocery Store

You can thank Clarence Saunders for the introduction of the first self-service grocery store. On Sept. 6, 1916 he opened Piggly Wiggly® in Memphis, but with a completely unheard of concept. It was the first time that shoppers could walk grocery aisles on their own and find items to purchase. This broke the traditional shopping mold in which shoppers presented their lists to clerks, who gathered the goods for customers. Saunders noticed this was time consuming and devised the solution that revolutionized shopping.

9) Morgan Freeman

Blockbuster films like “Driving Miss Daisy,” “Bruce Almighty” and even “Lego Movie” wouldn’t be the same without the uber talented Morgan Freeman. The acting legend who continues to make his mark on Hollywood claims Memphis as his birthplace. He was born here June 1, 1937.

10) Justin Timberlake

Speaking of uber talented, Memphis, TN is the birthplace of yet another celebrity. On Jan. 31, 1981, Justin Timberlake was born in this fair city. Since then he’s gone on to be a musical and comedic powerhouse, also delving into movies.

11) Kathy Bates

That’s not all, by a long shot. Celebrated actress Kathy Bates was born in Memphis on June 8, 1948. Her work on “Misery” “Titanic,” and “American Horror Story” are among the numerous roles that earned her to earn Bates critical acclaim.

12) Aretha Franklin

Memphis is also the birthplace of the undisputed Queen of Soul. Aretha Franklin, who demands “R-E-S-P-E-C-T,” was born here March 25, 1942. She went on to dominate the international music scene with her unmistakable voice.

13) The VeinViewer

The VeinViewer was invented in Memphis by Luminetx Technology Corp. The device uses a pulse of infrared light to provide a sort of X-ray of hemoglobin in veins. This allows healthcare workers to be more precise with drawing blood or administering medication.

14) Typewriter Ribbon

Although electronic devices have taken over, some people still love the sound and feel of using a typewriter. Part of what makes it work is the typewriter ribbon, which was invented by George K. Anderson of Memphis, TN. In 1886, he patented the device.

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Each of the 18 libraries in Memphis has its own Facebook page, giving you the opportunity to get a feel for each library before you visit as well as keeping you informed about upcoming special events. Most locations offer public Wi-Fi, meeting rooms and copy services, with additional available amenities listed online. Here’s a quick rundown of all 18 libraries in Memphis:

• Benjamin L. Hooks Public Library is located at 3030 Poplar Ave. Its normal hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Notably, this library is home to Cloud 901, a state-of-the-art creative research and performance lab just for teens.
• Bartlett Library is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. It’s located at 5884 Stage Rd.
• Cherokee Library is located at 3300 Sharpe Ave. Its hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
• You’ll find Cordova Library at 8457 Trinity Rd. It’s open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
• Cornelia Crenshaw Memorial Library is located at 531 Vance Ave. It is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and it offers public Wi-Fi and laptop checkout.
• Cossitt Library is located downtown at 33 South Front St. While the library undergoes renovations, events are being hosted in the Cossitt Courtyard.
• Located at 7200 East Shelby Rd. (East Shelby Dr. and Old Germantown Rd.), East Shelby Library is open Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Frayser Library is located at 3712 Argonne St. It is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
• Situated in Gaston Park, Gaston Park Library is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday. It is located at 1040 South 3rd St.
• Hollywood Library is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday. It is located at 1530 North Hollywood St.
• Levi Library sits at 3676 Highway 61 South, otherwise known as South 3rd St. Its hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
• You’ll find North Library at 1192 Vollintine Ave. Its hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
• Parkway Village Library is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. It is located at 4655 Knight Arnold Rd.
• Poplar-White Station Library is located at 5094 Poplar Ave. Its normal hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday and Friday.
• Located at 3157 Powers Rd., Raleigh Library is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday and Friday.
• Randolph Library is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. It is located at 3752 Given Ave.
• You’ll find South Library at 1929 South 3rd St. Its normal hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
• Whitehaven Library is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday through Thursday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. It is located at 4120 Mill Branch Rd.

As previously mentioned, each library maintains its own special events calendar. You can also find a list of those events and many more on the I Love Memphis blog.

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The when, where and why of the 2018 Juneteenth Urban Music Festival

The 2018 Juneteenth Urban Music Festival is a three-day event scheduled to run from Friday, June 15 to Sunday, June 17. Its major draws include the annual Veterans 5K Run/Walk, the Ultimate Dance Showdown, the Lifetime Achievement Awards and the Evening of the Stars youth awards. In keeping with the theme of Juneteenth as a celebration of the June 19, 1865, announcement of the abolition of slavery in Texas, the themes of freedom, fellowship and togetherness are a prominent thread running throughout the festival’s lineup this and every year.

Photo Credit: Juneteenth Urban Music Festival Facebook page

The range of public and private community events on the schedule include—but are by no means limited to—rodeos, block parties, baseball games, a job fair, and an outdoor market filled with local vendors selling arts and crafts, food and more. If you’ll have little ones in tow, be sure to stop by the Kid Zone. As the Juneteenth Urban Music Festival’s name implies, there’ll also be an abundance of live music throughout the weekend, running the gamut from gospel to hip-hop. Whatever your tastes, get ready to jam to the classics and discover some new favorites.

The 2018 Juneteenth Urban Music Festival will be going down at Robert R. Church Park on Beale Street, located right next to the FedEx Forum. The festival will run from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 10 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, head to http://www.memphisjuneteenth.com. Come one come all and have a good time.

For more news on Memphis, check out the Greater Memphis Chamber!

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Brooks Museum

Situated in historic Overton Park, the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art was founded in 1916 and houses the oldest and largest major collection of world art in Tennessee. The museum features more than 10,000 works from Ancient Greek and Roman artists, Renaissance masters, early American painters, cutting-edge art world disruptors and more.

Photo Credit: Brooks Museum’s Facebook

Box Gallery

The student-run Box Gallery is one of the premier places for Memphis art students to display their work. Located on the first level of the Arts & Communication building on the University of Memphis campus, it’s the best place to check out the works of young up-and-coming artists in Memphis.

Photo Credit: Box Gallery’s Facebook

Dixon Gallery and Gardens

When Hugo and Margaret Dixon founded the Dixon Gallery and Gardens in 1976, they combined an expansive fine art museum with a beautifully manicured public garden. Spanning 17 acres in the heart of Memphis, the garden and arboretum offer spectacular natural scenery, while the museum is home to more than 2,000 works ranging from French impressionist paintings to a 600-piece collection of German decorative porcelain.

Photo Credit: Dixon Family Garden’s Facebook

Withers Collection Museum and Gallery

Celebrating the lifelong work of Memphis-born photographer Ernest Withers, the Withers Collection Museum and Gallery preserves and displays this legendary artist’s priceless portfolio. Withers, who spent much of his life as a photojournalist, passed away in 2007, leaving behind a legacy of work that captures 60 years of African American history in the South.

Photo Credit: Withers Collection Museum and Gallery’s Facebook

Memphis Murals

You don’t have to go to a museum or gallery to see great art in Memphis, as urban art is everywhere. From the Artery Murals in Barboro Alley to Main Street’s Sound of Memphis Mural, the dozens of spectacular murals in our city make up one of America’s most impressive collections of street art.

Photo Credit: Downtown Memphis

Metal Museum

As the only museum in the United States devoted entirely to metalwork, the Metal Museum boasts a huge array of architectural ironwork, jewelry and sculpture, and regularly hosts exhibits by nationally and internationally renowned metalsmiths. The Metal Museum’s grounds come complete with 100-year-old trees and stunning outdoor sculptures, and are open to the public free of charge. Did we mention that this museum offers one of the city’s best views of the Mississippi River?

Photo Credit: Metal Museum’s Facebook

Memphis Botanic Garden

Spanning 96 stunning acres of meadows, trees, ponds and gardens, the landscape at the Memphis Botanic Garden is a work of art in itself—one that you can immerse yourself in any day of the week. Meanwhile, on-site galleries at the Memphis Botanic Garden show off an ever-changing lineup of exhibits by local and national artists.

Photo Credit: Memphis Botanic Garden’s Facebook

Flicker Street Studio

The classes and workshops at Flicker Street Studio prove that art is for everyone. The studio offers an opportunity to explore and create virtually every kind of art under the sun, from drawing and painting to printmaking and bookbinding. Flicker Street is a great place to learn and develop your artistic skills in a nurturing environment, while being supervised by some of Memphis’ most accomplished local artists.

For Memphis makers, musicians, artists and creators of all kinds, there’s no better place to call home than our fair city. If you’re ready to start exploring art in Memphis, you’ll find it everywhere you turn.

Photo Credit: Flicker Street Studio’s Facebook

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Mempho Music Fest is back for two days of good eats, fun times, and most importantly, amazing music! We’re giving our ambassadors first dibs on pre-sale tickets. Want in on the action? Here’s how…

All you need to do is sign up for our newsletter just below!

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Sign up for our newsletter before Monday the 11th and get the following:

• A special pre-sale promo code to get your pre-sale tickets!
• Exclusive information on the talent lineup for the festival that has yet to be announced

We will be sending out this information on Monday, May 11th via our newsletter, so sign up today!

We’ll see you there and don’t forget to #BringYourSoul!

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Welcoming back the trolley

The Memphis Area Transit Authority trolley system began running in 1993. Although the trolleys enjoyed a 21-year run of shuffling locals and tourists through the heart of the city, they haven’t operated in Memphis since 2014, when service was suspended after fires broke out on two cars.

Lucky for us, after extensive repairs, renovations and refurbishment, the trolleys are back! Memphians and visitors alike can once again experience the romance of a vintage trolley car ride along Main Street.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony and inaugural ride on the new trolley system took place on April 30, 2018. Initially, three trolley cars will be in service (a green car, a gold car, and a blue-and-white two-tone car), with more to be added throughout the year. Before you know it, these colorful cars will be a common sight in Memphis, and their whistles blowing will be a familiar sound.

2018 Memphis trolley guide

For now, one trolley line—the Main Street Line—is in operation, running from Butler Avenue to A.W. Willis Avenue past the Convention Center. The Riverfront Line and the Madison Avenue Line will return in the coming years.

The trolleys make 13 stops along the Main Street Line, many of them sheltered, and cars will run once every 20 to 30 minutes depending on the day of the week. A map of the route is available here along with information on the coming-soon Riverfront and Madison Ave. lines, while the MATA website offers details on trolley fares and passes. At the time of publication, a ride on the trolley costs $1 and you can get a day pass for $3.50.

Are the trolleys fast? Well, not exactly. But they are fun, reliable, stylish and will get you from A to B a heck of a lot faster than walking. To be more specific, traveling from one end of downtown to the other via trolley takes half an hour or less.

If nothing else, the experience of rolling through Memphis aboard a vintage trolley car sporting an antique-looking interior and wooden seats is an experience that every visitor to Memphis should have at least once. And if you happen to live here, the trolleys are a great option for getting around and seeing our city in a new way.

Looking for an App that tells the history of Memphis? Check this out!

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For Memphis travel tips, visit Memphis Travel!

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901Fest 2018

After a successful 2017 festival, we couldn’t be happier to welcome back 901Fest! Now in its third year, the festival hits Tom Lee Park on May 26 and promises to be a fun-filled celebration of all things Memphis—Memphis food, Memphis music, Memphis merchandise and more.

Live music

Given that Memphis is the home of the blues and the birthplace of rock ‘n’ roll, any celebration in these parts wouldn’t be a real Memphis party without great music. Rest assured, 901Fest will deliver the goods in the form of an incredible lineup of home-grown talent performing on multiple stages. This year’s performers include hip-hop duo 8Ball & MJG, the bluesy five-piece Southern Avenue Band, IHeartMemphis, the Mighty Souls Brass Band and more. So no need to type “concerts near me,” come to the event!

Fun and games

Get ready for the first 901Fest Cornhole Tournament, as well as a chance to bounce around inside a Knockerball (it’s as much fun to watch as it is to do). Don’t miss the air show above the Mississippi River followed by a spectacular fireworks display.

Dozens of food trucks will be on location to offer a wide variety of Memphis staples, from Johnson’s BBQ and Shuck’s Grilled Corn to Polar Tropical Shaved Ice and Memphis Soft Serve.  Don’t forget to mingle with the local artists and craftspeople who’ll be on hand with a tremendous variety of unique handmade items. Check out the full vendor list here.

Get ready for 901Fest

The gates open at 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 26, which is coming up quick—do you have your tickets yet? If not, they’re available now, and admission is free for participants of the Great American River Run taking place earlier in the day. Click here to get tickets, and be sure to check out this recap of last year’s 901Fest!

901Fest marks the beginning of summer in Memphis, and we can hardly wait. What’s more, it’s the final music event of Memphis in May, a month-long celebration of all things Memphis. Join us for the festivities, then stick around for the rest of this fun-filled season!

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Q: Why did I stay in Memphis?

A: When I first meet someone, I always ask if the person is from Memphis, and some of my favorite conversations have stemmed from learning about their “Memphis story.”

Let me tell you about my Memphis story.

Six years ago, Memphis was not in my vocabulary. In fact, it was not even on my radar until Spring 2012 when I visited the city for the first time. Later that fall, I moved from a small town in Kentucky to attend Rhodes College. Little did I know, I would soon identify myself as a “Memphian.”

My experience at Rhodes College would not have been complete without this city. I chose to be an Urban Studies and Community Health major because I saw Memphis as a bridge to real-world application. Through an urban studies lens, I was able to see Memphis as a hidden gem and simultaneously learn about the opportunities for growth. Unlike other cities I had visited, I saw Memphis as an opportunity to directly engage with and be a part of a community that could use me just as much as I needed it. I was not quite sure what it was, but there was certainly a draw to know more about the place, its rich history, its authentic culture, and where the city would be in ten or twenty years.

Tremendous opportunity exists to connect urban planning and design to public health, especially as people begin to rebuild and reimagine space. Oftentimes people’s health is directly correlated with their built environment. The Memphis Medical District Collaborative, the organization I work for, and its partnerships are a major key to the development of this city’s future. Being able to create a more vibrant atmosphere, connect neighborhoods, and strengthen human relationships is essential to building on what is already present. Each day I have the opportunity to work towards a mission that I hope will bring positive change to our community.

-Mariko Krause

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That heritage can be seen throughout Memphis to this day. Though Beale Street may get most of the attention, there are great places to hear live music all over. If you find yourself in Memphis, here are a few venues you need to check out.

B.B. King’s Restaurant & Blues Club

Beale Street’s most famous live music venue brings in some of the most sophisticated and diverse modern blues lineups in Memphis. Swing by on any given night for the chance to see the B.B. King All-Star Band tearing through a set.

FedExForum

When it’s not hosting the Memphis Grizzlies as the “Grindhouse,” the FedExForum welcomes some of the biggest names in music. Located near the west end of Beale Street, the state-of-the-art arena can accommodate 18,000 cheering and screaming music fans. Past acts who’ve stopped by have included the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Paul McCartney, Bon Jovi and Bruno Mars.

Orpheum Theatre

While it may be best known for its Broadway performances, the Orpheum on South Main Street offers its fair share of live music, with symphonies, singers and major bands all populating its calendar. The gilded ceiling, plush interior and upscale feel contribute to a live music experience like no other.

Halloran Centre

The Halloran Centre is located right next to the Orpheum and consists of both a modern theater and an education center. The Halloran Centre welcomes classical music groups and artists from all over.

The Cannon Center for the Performing Arts

You’ll find no better acoustics in all of Memphis than at the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts. It’s the home of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra and has hosted a number of nationally known artists from a wide array of genres, including Bonnie Raitt, Marc Cohn, Bell Biv DeVoe and Shirley Caesar.

BankPlus Amphitheater at Snowden Grove

There’s something special about watching major national touring acts while sprawling on an outdoor lawn, so it’s no wonder crowds are attracted to the BankPlus Amphitheater at Snowden Grove. Matchbox 20, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The White Stripes and Miranda Lambert are just a few of the musical acts that have taken the stage. As an alternative to the lawn, you can snag some of the 4,000 premium seats if that’s more your jam.

The Handy Park Pavilion

Located on the legendary Beale St., the Handy Park Pavilion was named for W.C. Handy—a musical titan otherwise known as the “Father of the Blues.” Needless to say, blues is a regular sound in Handy Park to this day, and the live performances at this venue are top-notch.

Blues City 

If you consider yourself to be a lover of jazz-funk fusion, look no further than Blues City for energetic live performances and the best of local acts poised to go national.

The Levitt Shell 

They say the best things in life are free, and concerts at the Levitt Shell are no exception! This 1930s-era band shell has been a hub of music in Memphis for decades and hosts more than 50 free shows every year.

The Hi-Tone

This bar is a hangout for fans of rock, hip-hop, indie and more. There’s no telling what kind of music you’ll hear when you drop by the Hi-Tone, but one thing’s for sure—you’ll have a great time.

No matter your tastes, one thing is for sure in Memphis: There’s a great venue nearby to help you make some of your own musical history.

The post The top music venues in Memphis that you have to check out! appeared first on We Are Memphis.

By Jayne Ellen White

An 80-year-old man from a small town in India once told me that when he was a teenager, he earned 10 cents a week. There was a jukebox in his village with two Elvis records in it, and each play cost five cents. Every Friday night, he spent his entire weekly wage listening to Elvis.

At 24, I was a former Army brat who never stopped moving from city to city. After college in Philadelphia and a short stint in Phoenix, I was ready to land in a place that felt like home—somewhere I actually wanted to stay for a while.

I’m originally from Appalachia, and I knew I needed to get back to the South. After all, that music informed my childhood. My early days were rich with Americana record players that played through fuzzy, blown-out speakers as my father yelled the names of the musicians over their songs. “James Burton!” “Carl Perkins!” “Johnny Cash!”  In their own way, these musicians would become like gods to me.

In 2004, I was 22 and obsessed with both the blues and the biblical narrative of Robert Johnson. Naturally, this led to a musical road trip through the South. My then-boyfriend and I headed from Philadelphia to Nashville’s country and folk music museums, then explored the rock ‘n’ roll and soul of Memphis. In Mississippi, we delved into the Delta Blues, soaked up New Orleans’ jazz and its pre-Katrina vibe, then made our way through Texas.

When we finally landed in Arizona, I stayed for a whole year and a half, but I couldn’t seem to get Memphis—or its music—off my mind. When it was time to move on, my decision was easy: On Dec. 26, 2006, I hopped on a bus in West Virginia and embarked on an 18-hour ride to Memphis. After I found a place to live with a childhood friend, I got a job working at a Midtown bar. One day, I called Sun Studio on my flip phone and asked if they were hiring. As serendipity had it, I would end up working at Sun Studio for nearly a decade.

My first live music experience as brand-new Memphian came only a few days later in the form of the Reigning Sound on New Year’s Eve. On that freezing night, the Hi Tone on Poplar Avenue was so packed with fellow Memphis music lovers that I could barely move in the crowd. I knew I was home.

I went on to experience the likes of Alex Chilton, Rufus Thomas, Mud Boy and the Neutrons, Blackrock’s “Yeah, Yeah,” Tommy Burk and the Counts, Otis Clay, Wayne Jackson and so on. I devoured every piece of Memphis music that I could find—or that found me—and I fell deeply in love. I became obsessed with figuring out what made it possible for artists to create so much magic in this city, and for decades, historians and music academics have been pondering the same question. Why did all of this happen in Memphis? Geography? Economy? Agriculture? Boredom? The variables that influence art seem to be immeasurable.

Eleven-plus years later, the Stax Museum of American Soul Music is my professional home. I continue to enjoy the opportunity to speak on our great city—the joy and comfort that its music has brought to cultures near and far, its effects on social and civil rights, and the fact that we still have so much art to make here. Some of our visitors don’t speak the language. Some weep because they waited their entire lives to be here. Some are fulfilling a bucket-list quest. Some are here to answer the question, “Why Memphis?” But all are eager to celebrate and experience not only the city itself, but the cultural imprint that Memphis has left on the world.

To many of our visitors, Memphis represents an immeasurable emotion that we cannot touch. There is nothing I’d rather do with my days than spend them with the people I relate to so much. After all, I’m just a tourist here, too. #BringYourSoul

For all things Memphis, check this out!

The post I’m Just A Tourist Here, Too: A Love Letter to Memphis Music appeared first on We Are Memphis.

The festival takes place in the 33-acre Tom Lee Park, with the Mississippi River as the backdrop to the music. There will be four music areas in total, with three main stages and a blues tent delivering three days of tunes and fun at what will be the 41st annual Beale Street Music Festival. Even though the event takes place in Tom Lee Park, it takes place at the end of Beale Street (which is located inside the park), hence its name.

The very first Beale Street Music Festival was held at the corner of Beale Street and Third Street in 1977, the year after Memphis in May was launched. However, at that time, another musical celebration—the Sunset Symphony—held court in Tom Lee Park, which was much smaller and seldom used.

By 1990, the Beale Street Music Festival had officially become part of Memphis in May. As it had outgrown the Beale and Third location, it moved to Tom Lee Park and embraced the Memphis in May ethos of bringing a true multicultural music experience to the banks of the Mississippi.

While Beale Street may be most famous for the blues, artists performing at the Beale Street Music Festival cross all genres. Rockers Jack White, Queens of the Stone Age, Odesza, Cake and Incubus will share the stage with Ludacris, Action Bronson, Erykah Badu and the North Mississippi All-Stars. Also appearing will be David Byrne, Gov’t Mule, Alanis Morissette, The Flaming Lips, Third Eye Blind and Dashboard Confessional. Meanwhile, in the blues tent, festival-goers can experience performers such as Earl “The Pearl” Banks, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Sam Joyner and Jimmy “Duck” Holmes.

Advance tickets for the event are currently available online, and can also be purchased at the park on the day of the show. Tickets are available for single days or for the entire event, and three-day passes are available at a discounted price until April 30. There is no age restriction—all ages are welcome!

The post The 2018 Beale Street Music Festival is coming with amazing artists! appeared first on We Are Memphis.

The purpose of the strike was to take a stand in favor of higher wages and better working conditions. When Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. made his fateful journey to Memphis, he came to support the striking workers in their efforts. As we commemorate 50 years since Dr. King was assassinated, it’s important to remember how far the struggle has come and how far we have yet to go.

On April 5th, one day after the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s death, the city of Memphis unveiled it’s I AM A Man Plaza. A crowd of over 200 people came to take part in this historic event to reflect on honor the cost of justice. Boarding the plaza is a marble wall with the names of the 1,300 sanitation workers who participated in the strike. It is a site to behold that is both beautiful and tells the story of Memphis’ past

As a joint undertaking by the city and the UrbanArt Commission, the project was led locally by Memphis landscape artist John Jackson, with artwork by Garten Studios of California. Local poet and spoken word artist Steve Fox authored the text to be etched into the stone monument that is also part of the plaza. The total cost of the installation was around $1.5 million, with $700,000 of that provided by grants and donations.

The post I AM A MAN Plaza sculpture – A tribute to the Memphis Sanitation Strike appeared first on We Are Memphis.

We have our share of musical landmarks, as famous artists like Elvis Presley, B.B. King, Otis Redding and more have called Memphis home. But present-day Memphis is also experiencing a musical renaissance that new artists want to be a part of.

A dollar goes further in Memphis

Once you’ve sold a million records, you can live anywhere you want. If you’re just getting your start in the music industry, however, the world isn’t quite your oyster—yet. That said, music industry jobs in Memphis pay fairly well, coming in at around 79 percent of the average national salary. It also helps that Memphis is one of the cheapest big cities to live in, regardless of what you do for a living.

The live music scene

Beale Street is one of the biggest reasons Memphis has such a reputation for being a musician’s city. While the highlight is B.B. King’s Blues Club, the downtown street is lined with venues featuring live music on any given day of the week. And, who knows? Maybe you’ll see your name in lights on Beale sooner rather than later.

An eclectic musical mix

Seattle’s got grunge, New York and Los Angeles have hip-hop and rock, and Nashville is the home of country music. While Memphis is known as the birthplace of rock ‘n’ roll and the home of the blues, today’s Memphis music scene boasts a bit of everything.

For instance, 8ball & MJG put Memphis hip-hop on the map in the ‘90s, then Three 6 Mafia picked up the mantle around the turn of the century. If punk is more your jam, Goner Records is home to a loyal and talented group of punk musicians. Whatever you’re into, you’re bound to find your people in Memphis.

Famous music studios

Electrophonic Records and Goner Records may be the current hot spots, but the studios of old have a major presence in Memphis to this day. Why not take a tour of Sun Studio, which became ground zero for rock ‘n’ roll? Alternatively, head on over to the site of Stax Records, which was home to artists such as Otis Redding and Booker T & the M.G.’s in the 1960s.

A lower cost of living

Compared to Nashville, New York and Los Angeles, the cost of living in Memphis is much more reasonable. What does that mean for you? Less time hustling to make ends meet and more opportunities to focus on your art.

Myriad music studios

The iconic Sun Studio is a cornerstone of Memphis music, but it’s by no means the only recording studio in town. Electrophonic Records and Goner Records are just two of the enterprises putting the next generation of Memphis musicians on the map. Could you be one of those musicians?

A vibrant live music scene

Music has been rated the biggest tourist attraction in Memphis, and it’s not hard to see why. In fact, there’s live music playing on Beale Street pretty much any time of the day that you visit, with countless clubs roaring to life each night. To catch large acts and national tours, stop by the nearby FedEx Forum.

Support for the arts

Music is the heart and soul of this city, so it’s no surprise that the arts receive a lot of support from residents and municipal funding alike. The numerous arts and music festivals hosted in these parts offer ample opportunities to showcase new talent—including your own.

A rich music history

It feels like an understatement to say Memphis has a rich musical history. There’s nothing like looking back at the past to get inspired for the future, and reacquainting yourself with the stories of Memphis music legends who made it big will help you do just that.

A lower cost of education

Memphis colleges charge lower tuition fees compared to many of their counterparts, and the selection of art schools in the city is ideal for upcoming songwriters eager to add a string or two to their bows.

Livability

Livability—the balance between work and social life—tends to quickly fall by the wayside in many cities, but not Memphis. If you’re considering a move to Memphis, you can rest assured that it’s a well-balanced city offering both business opportunities and a wide range of social activities.

Friendly people

The people of Memphis are warm and friendly, which will help newly relocated artists stave off homesickness and assimilate into new personal and professional networks. Newcomers to the Bluff City are warmly welcomed and embraced by everyone, but don’t just take our word for it—come see for yourself.

A cultural mix

Memphis is filled with different people from all walks of life, each with their own assorted backgrounds and customs. This yields a social and cultural mix that has inspired many a local musician to experiment with sound and rhythm.

You can find your inspiration

Memphis’ musical past gives the present a profoundly soulful feel. There’s just something about living at the crossroads of an urban vibe mingled with the slow rhythms of southern living that lends itself to the small-town feel and close-knit community that have been inspiring artists in Memphis for years.

Looking for musical inspiration in Memphis? Check this out!

The post 14 reasons why upcoming songwriters need to move to Memphis! appeared first on We Are Memphis.

So, how is Memphis a phoenix? If you studied mythology because you were a nerd like me or if you read or watched any Harry Potter films (which also makes you a nerd!) then you know that a phoenix is a bird that sets itself on fire to regenerate. When you look at Memphis, you see that cycle too. Memphis has constantly risen from its own ashes, never losing hope along the way.

Following the Yellow Fever epidemic in the 1870s, the city lost over 50% of its population and ultimately its charter, but this setback could not stop Memphis. With the establishment of a revolutionary sanitation system, Memphis fought back the source of the disease and transformed the way the world handled its waste. However, little did the city know that these newly created sanitation jobs would catalyze a more insidious tragedy a few short decades later with the deaths of Echol Cole and Robert Walker. In 1968 these sanitation workers were crushed to death while seeking shelter from the rain.

In a flash, Memphis’ and the south’s history of socioeconomic imbalance and systematic racism towards the African American community catapulted the city to the forefront of the Civil Rights Movement. Dr. King came to help organize a strike for Memphis sanitation workers. On April 4th, 1968 a shot rang out at 6:01 pm piercing the Civil Rights leader through the throat. A photographer, Joseph Louw, would shoot an iconic photograph of three men pointing upwards, trying to ascertain where the shot came from while the life seeped from the King on the ground. He would not make it to the Promised Land with us.

However, there was a fifth subject in the photo- Memphis.

In mythology, the Phoenix doesn’t always combust to start itself anew. Sometimes it rises from its own decay. Among the older generations in Memphis, there’s a sentiment that Memphis froze in place after they shot King, but nothing stops time.

In the following decades, Memphis found itself with problems faced by metros across the nation. From white flight and annexation, to the crack epidemic and the subsequent War on Drugs that hollowed out the neighborhoods I now cherish and consider home. Memphis was decaying. Our city became more impoverished, less safe, and seemingly less relevant every day. But while Memphis appeared to be heading towards its worst, life was beginning to stir in its ashes.

Since the assassination, we’ve made progress. A recent study published by the National Civil Rights Museum and the University of Memphis found that since the 1960’s, black families have attained more high school diplomas and more post-secondary degrees. Additionally, these citizens have accessed more white-collar jobs. However, progress has been slow and black families have not caught up to their white counterparts in median income levels. Memphis, unfortunately, recently recaptured the title of the most impoverished metro in the nation. Child poverty rates have climbed to the same levels as the 1980’s and affect black children the hardest.

In this way Memphis is not unique; our issues simply mirror the ills of society. But given our history, isn’t Memphis uniquely positioned to show the rest of the country how to fix these issues? Isn’t that our duty as a city- to model Dr. King’s radical legacy of racial and socio-economic justice? So, as we ask ourselves the question, “Where do we go from here?” I can see no other way except forward.

As Dr. King said, “Something is happening in Memphis. Something is happening in the world.” Every day at my job, I have the privilege of witnessing the people on the ground doing the hard work in education, in neighborhood connectivity, and in arts and culture. In the next 5-10 years, the landscape of the city will shift drastically. The riverfront will change and allow more people to have access to it, the future Greenprint will connect the entire county through bikeways and trails and community development corporations like The Works in South Memphis are working tirelessly to help lower income families afford homes and claim their part of the American Dream. In the arts, organizations like the Collective and the Center for Southern Literary Arts both beautify the city through art and make space for marginalized voices. In education, I get to witness the sharpest minds work to make our system more equitable and advocate for both parents and students.

The city is witnessing an undeniable shift. Memphis’ indomitable spirit has returned. The conversations feel more thoughtful and intentional. People ask about the racial implications of new policies and the effects on our lower-income communities. We understand as citizens that another fifty years cannot pass us by without us making substantial and lasting changes in our communities.

Dr. King posed this question, “Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community?” When presented with these options, Memphis should always choose community.

Memphis is not perfect. I fell in love with neither the city’s perfections nor its imperfections; I fell in love with Memphis’ people. Untiring. Unshakeable. Unrivaled. I know whatever challenges we face this city will prevail and will rise to confront any difficulties ahead. There is still much work to be done.

The post Issues and Innovators: The Way Forward appeared first on We Are Memphis.

“I’ve seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land. And I’m happy tonight. I’m not worried about anything. I’m not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.”

King’s assassination is a dark chapter in our city’s history, but his legacy can be seen everywhere you look. This spring, PRIZM Ensemble presents “A Concert For The Next 50 Years,” commemorating 50 years since King’s passing, and looking forward with hope toward the next 50 years.

A concert for the next 50 years

Part of a series of events that will honor the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on the 50th anniversary of his assassination, A Concert for the Next 50 Years promises to be one of the great musical events of the year in Memphis. The concert will feature the PRIZM Chamber Orchestra, the PRIZM Celebration Chorus and several guest soloists performing music by Mahler, Florence Price, Moses Hogan and others.

The concert takes place at the Clayborn Temple—the site of Martin Luther King’s Jr.’s final speech—on Thursday April 5, 2018 from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Tickets are available now for $19.68 General Admission. $50.00 VIP Admission tickets are also available, which include a reception with light refreshments at 5:30 PM the evening of the concert, along with a special behind-the-scenes look at the making of the concert.

The PRIZM Ensemble

Since its inception in 2005, the PRIZM Ensemble has established itself as one of the premier performing and touring musical ensembles in Memphis, the group’s diversity reflecting the diversity of the city itself. PRIZM’s goal all along has been to build community through chamber music education, youth development, and performance.

A Concert for the Next 50 Years is the latest project for the group, which has never shied away from socially-charged musical performances. During last year’s Juneteenth celebration, PRIZM performed “Seven Last Words of the Unarmed” by Atlanta composer Joel Thompson alongside Mozart’s Sinfonia concertante and Common and John Legend’s “Glory” from the film “Selma.”

The performance proved—if it needed proving—that the beauty of music and social justice go hand-in-hand. It’s a message with which Dr. King would no doubt agree.

Visit the National Civil Rights Museum to learn about more upcoming MLK50 events in Memphis.

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McKissick, now age 79, is a Memphian through and through. A native of North Memphis, she graduated from Douglass High School and received her teacher training through her years studying at historically black LeMoyne-Owen College and the University of Memphis, then known as Memphis State.

Like McKissick’s teaching career, Georgia Avenue, which closed several years ago, was brand new in 1960. McKissick, who comes from a family of teachers, entered the classroom with tremendous enthusiasm and passion for education.

But she also felt a strong sense of duty to nurture and provide a safe space for the children entrusted to her care each day, particularly during a time of tremendous upheaval in Memphis.

In 1968, when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. traveled to Memphis to support the sanitation workers’ struggle for equal pay and safer working conditions, McKissick was teaching at Lincoln Junior High, located in an impoverished African American community.  All 800 students at the school were black, as were all faculty members, except for four white teachers.

“The kids did know, in a sense, what was happening, but they weren’t as aware because they didn’t have television — we didn’t have that much news,” said McKissick, who taught at Lincoln for 14 years. “There was not a lot of discussion around it, but we knew something was going to happen for the sanitation workers.”

McKissick had first-hand insight into developments in the community because of her father’s involvement in the civil rights movement.

“He wanted us to be part of the movement, as he was when he was a Firestone worker,” she said. “We watched him create changes there at Firestone. He’s the one who integrated the cafeteria there.” There were eight kids in my family, and we were aware of the struggles – the segregation and everything that was going on, maybe more so than other young people because of our dad.”

McKissick said civil unrest spread throughout the community, and the NAACP began organizing Black Monday boycotts against Memphis City Schools. Students and teachers throughout the city protested inequality in the classroom by boycotting schools on Mondays, and black workers from various sectors across the city joined them in a show of solidarity.

“We started to have turmoil throughout the communities,” she said. “On Black Mondays, teachers and staff members were encouraged to stay away from school to honor what was going on at that time.”

McKissick, however, remained at Lincoln on Mondays for children who needed a safe space.

“I did not stay away,” she said. “I would go to school but still honor what was going on…I felt I needed to be at school with my kids because I knew they were fearful, and they felt safe at school. Our school didn’t have many kids who were absent during those turbulent times because a lot of our teachers were at school. It was scary, but we assured them we were there to keep them safe.”

On April 4, 1968, McKissick learned through a radio broadcast that Dr. King had been assassinated at the Lorraine Motel.

“We were stunned that it happened,” she said. “The children had questions about why it happened and what was going on, and we tried to get them to understand that things were changing, as Dr. King had talked about in his speeches. Change had to come, but he wanted things to be peaceful. And we told them we wanted everything to be peaceful at school.”

During her 58 years in Memphis’ public schools, McKissick has witnessed more change than any other educator in the city – from segregation to integration to re-segregation.

“Things have changed quite a bit — from bussing kids from their communities to other places in an attempt to bring about some equality in education so they can all be prepared for the future. For some it worked well, while others found themselves back in their previous situation, in the re-segregation of schools, because many white kids did not attend those schools.”

Today, McKissick is principal of Avon Lenox High School, where she works with young adults with special needs.

“I love what I do and believe I made a difference in the lives of a lot of kids. I would say to young educators that there is hope. We have a lot of work to do. It’s our responsibility to prepare our children.”

The post Memphis’ Longest-Serving Public Educator on MLK50 appeared first on We Are Memphis.

Wednesday, April 4, will be a day of remembrance across the city. During the black sanitation workers’ movement, there was a call for change that needed a voice, and Dr. King provided it. Ultimately, he gave his life in service to our community. Although we will remember what came before, April 4 will also be a day of looking forward.

At 10 a.m., a daylong celebration of Dr. King’s legacy will begin on the Main Stage in the museum courtyard at the National Civil Rights Museum, featuring music, dance and spoken word performances. Admission is free and the event is open to the public.

Also on April 4, an anniversary ceremony will be held from the balcony of the Lorraine Motel. Wreath-laying, music and spoken word performances, and an ecumenical liturgy will lead up to the time at which Dr. King was shot—6:01 p.m. At this point, a bell will toll to mark the exact passing of 50 years since that fateful day. Across the nation, the bells of schools, churches, and colleges will ring 39 times—once for each year of Dr. King’s life. 

Following the bell toll, MLK50 will conclude with An Evening of Storytelling, with veterans from the front lines of the fight for civil rights both yesterday and today taking the stage at the Crosstown Concourse to reflect upon the fight up to this point as well as what lies ahead. The evening will focus on the main question of MLK50—”Where do we go from here?”—with a moderated discussion, music, and dance to celebrate Dr. King and what he continues to mean to the city of Memphis.

For more information on all scheduled activities for the April 4 commemoration, check out the MLK50 website.

The post 50th anniversary commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. appeared first on We Are Memphis.

Building Foundations

The lack of access to healthcare in Tennessee was exacerbated when the Tennessee legislature chose not to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Healthcare Act in 2015.  In Memphis, however, local organization Church Health has helped fill the void for those who work but have no insurance. This extensive health operation provides care, extends compassion and provides resources to 70,000 workers and their families across the community.

Since its inception in 1987, Church Health has been committed to healing bodies and spirits, so people can enjoy the full richness of life.  Distinguished by a commitment to whole-body health and compassion, what began as a small medical clinic located in a house in Midtown Memphis gradually grew to a comprehensive operation occupying thirteen facilities.

In 2017, Church Health consolidated its facilities under one roof, relocating to Crosstown Concourse, a redeveloped Sears distribution center. As the anchor tenant, Church Health provides high-quality, affordable medical care, dental care, eye care, behavioral health services, nutrition programs, physical therapy, wellness and children’s programs. Church Health works closely with the 42 dynamic entities within Crosstown Concourse that focus on health, education, and the arts, sharing in a commitment to be “better together.”

Church Health employs 20 medical providers and engages 1,000 volunteer physicians.  Primary care services are offered onsite while sub-specialist physicians care for patients in their offices and in hospitals without charging patients. In addition, diagnostic services and in-patient hospitalization are offered to Church Health patients, who will not incur any cost for care.

Their services are offered without relying on federal funding. Memphis ranks as one of the most charitable cities in America, and the work of Church Health reflects the incredible generosity present in this city.

Church Health’s approach to healthcare centers on a belief that health is not about the absence of disease, but instead, it is about helping others live a wholesome life. Church Health has developed a Model for Healthy Living, which asserts that there are seven elements that are equally important for a healthy life and must be in balance: movement, nutrition, work, faith, family and friends, emotions, and medical care. The Church Health programming and services are driven by the understanding of these elements.

Wholesome Living

Nutritional programs are facilitated in partnership with the Goldring Center for Culinary Medicine at Tulane University, emphasizing the concept that “food is medicine.” Both healthcare providers and students are trained to understand the significance of balanced nutrition through courses aimed to build the skills and confidence to educate patients about food selection, preparation, and consumption.

Church Health’s dental program focuses on restoring patients’ smiles, oral health, and emotional well-being. Frequently, restored dental health leads to a patient’s improved sense of self-worth and ultimately to a higher-paying job offering health insurance.

A family medicine residency is housed at Church Health in partnership with the Baptist Memorial Health Care Family Medicine Program. The three-year training program attracts young physicians who want to serve the underserved, understand spiritual well-being, and care for patients through prevention and a whole-person approach.  The desire to learn in this environment is stunning: the most recent class of residents was selected from an applicant pool of 1,800.

Community Impact

In addition, Church Health runs Perea Pre-School in a neighborhood north of Crosstown Concourse and the organization will open an elementary school in 2018.   A charter high school will open this fall in the Crosstown Concourse. Following these openings, the teachers and young doctors will work in concert to care for families from birth through high school graduation.

Crosstown Concourse is the sixth former Sears distribution center to have been fully renovated, following successful efforts in Seattle, Minneapolis, Dallas, Boston, and Atlanta.  The Memphis endeavor, however, was directly inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King’s notion of creating “a beloved community” by working collaboratively to serve the city.

As a result, the culmination of the events commemorating Dr. King’s life and legacy and marking fifty years since his assassination will take place at Crosstown Concourse the evening of April 4^th.  While this will be a night to remember Dr. King, it will present an opportunity for Memphis to look around and see what is possible when a community has faith, shares vision, persists, and comes together in efforts to follow his dream.

The post Church Health Helps Build MLK’s ‘Beloved Community’ appeared first on We Are Memphis.

Over the past five decades, Memphis has seen its fair share of change and growth. That said, a portion of that growth into newer and trendier areas has left behind and sometimes pushed out Memphians. The danger in this is that as trendy areas sprout up, often in traditionally minority neighborhoods, the new and costly developments price out old residents. Without an intentional strategy of how to ally redevelopment projects and new residents with old residents, Memphis is at risk of excluding some Memphians from being able to access the future of the city’s expansion, and, of course, any exclusion of peoples in this new city would certainly not honor the legacy of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

In the second half of the 20th century, the population of Memphis grew, but so did its spread. As the outer suburbs of Memphis, such as Germantown and Bartlett, saw their populations and vitality grow and improve, the inner areas of Memphis witnessed stagnation. During this time, city planning focused more on the growth of the suburbs and less on the core districts of the city. As a result, there was a lack of investment in many minority areas, including North and South Memphis.

Now, after nearly four decades without a comprehensive city plan, Memphis 3.0 is seeking to recraft what the city will look like heading into its third century. When the last such plan for Memphis development was written and implemented, the trend in the city was to move farther and farther east. Today, Memphis 3.0 aims to see a strengthened core as well as growth and empowerment occurring in the northern and southern areas of Memphis in addition to the eastern areas.

Along with the plethora of ideas coming from the nonprofit sector for how to improve the city, Memphis 3.0 has sought to directly gain the input of city residents from the fourteen districts of Memphis. Memphis 3.0 has enlisted three locally-based artists to facilitate responses from residents on what improvements they wish to see in their communities. While striking up conversations with city residents using their art, these three artists have been able to ask complex questions in simple ways so that city planners can develop the Memphis 3.0 plan to better serve the people of this city. Dividing the fourteen Memphis districts between the three of them, the small crew of artists has spent ten weeks in each district to which they were assigned gathering data on residents’ needs, wants, and likes about their communities. The district data-gathering projects are set to conclude this summer after having begun in late 2017.

Though not a conventional approach to gaining resident feedback, embedding artists into Memphis communities is a valuable tool used by Memphis 3.0 to gather data on how city residents are really feeling about their neighborhoods and what they want to see improved. These artists have been able to engage with residents in ways that city planners cannot using art as a medium to illicit the thoughts and opinions of many Memphians. The significance of the artists’ presence and their work is that many residents of neighborhoods that were ignored or overlooked by the last sizable city planning initiative now have the chance to have their voices heard by those who will write the next plan for the city. Perhaps for the first time in Memphis’ history, the city is making an effort to gather and incorporate the thoughts of Memphians who have long been told how their neighborhoods will be developed rather than asked.

One of these artists, Yancy Villa-Calvo, has engaged with Memphians through her project GEMS (Go Explore Memphis Soul). In this project she has created a map of Memphis gems and has used it to ask city residents to share which parts of their communities they would consider gems and then to place tiny gems on her illustrated map over the spot that they treasure. Through this project, Villa-Calvo has sought not only to gather data points on people’s feelings towards their communities but to capture the stories that Memphians have regarding their city and their neighborhoods. Her care for the stories of regular Memphians has become a valuable asset in designing the Memphis of the future for these residents and for countless others.

Memphis 3.0 has stated on their website, “No one is more important to this [city planning] process than Memphians themselves because the best experts about our neighborhoods are the people in them.” With this belief and basis for action of those who will plan and implement the first comprehensive city plan for Memphis in nearly 40 years, then our city has the potential to become a more representative and livable place for all of its people.

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One of the many areas affected by institutional racism was education, and we still see the consequences in our school systems across the country today through segregated schools and barriers to education. The aftermath of school segregation has been linked as a cause of an educational gap. Now, Memphis is driving innovation through a variety of non-profits and initiatives that work to close this gap and make quality education a reality for all students.

Fast Facts

• The city of Memphis has presented a plan to potentially pump $6,000,000 into Shelby County pre-kindergarten programs, using funds from property tax revenue without further affecting taxpayers. If approved by the city council, this effort would work towards increasing the accessibility of pre-k for an estimated 1,500 more students.
• Tennessee is also allocating $30 million this year to promote summer-reading programs across the state, which also aims to increase literacy proficiency in young students. Memphis students will directly benefit from the summer reading and pre-k program funding.
• Along with increasing this budget, by 2022 Memphis is planning to raise the full-time hourly wage for school employees to $15 an hour. These policy changes will help schools provide a more stable foundation for children entering pre-k and for the staff and employees of the schools.
• In a recent report by the University of Memphis, researchers write, “It is important to note that greater levels of education appear to be associated with lower poverty rates particularly among the overall population. It is interesting to note that greater high school completion seems to have a dramatic impact on African American poverty rates.”

Memphis is home to countless educational innovators, with over 4,000 charitable organizations dedicated to ending poverty by promoting educational success for underprivileged students.

“The function of education is to teach one to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of education.” -Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Innovators

The local organization, CodeCrew provides tech literacy for children around the city, furthering diversity within technological fields. CodeCrew strives to ensure that through developmental learning, students have access to technological education on digital systems and software. This education is essential to prepare students for higher academic careers and making sure they are well equipped with modern skills for high paying, high demand jobs (coding, software developers,etc.). CodeCrew holds several after-school programs, summer camps, three in-school elective programs, and special events throughout the year.

Along with CodeCrew, LITE Memphis works in Shelby County Schools to promote the furthering of education. Their vision is for African American and Latinx students to close the racial wealth gap by becoming entrepreneurs and securing high-wage jobs. LITE Memphis begins their program by taking students into a 6-month entrepreneurship program to develop ideas, places students into paid internships, and then helps students inculcate financial success in their communities through entrepreneurship. The organization’s statistics show 2,000 youths empowered through entrepreneurship, $112,000 invested in small business growth, and that over 90% of students have launched entrepreneurial projects since 2014.

Organizations in Memphis like CodeCrew and LITE Memphis are dedicated to disrupting the achievement gap through innovative, modern approaches. Other non-profits working to close the achievement gap in Memphis include The Memphis Lift, Memphis Education Fund, New Leaders for New Schools, Stand for Children, and many more. It is easy to lose hope and become discouraged when staring at the hard truth of injustice, but the soul Memphis and the vision of Dr. King will never be lost, forever paving a path of light across our world.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “Somewhere we must come to see that human progress never rolls in on the wheels of inevitability. It comes through the tireless efforts and persistent work of dedicated individuals.” Memphis is filled to the brim with persistent and dedicated individuals – and we thank them for their work as keepers of Dr. King’s dream.

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Where do we go from here?

The MLK50 symposium, ” Where do we go from here?” is part of a full slate of events happening this spring to mark the occasion of Dr. King’s assassination at the Lorraine Hotel on April 4, 1968. The Lorraine Hotel is now the home of the National Civil Rights Museum.

The University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law and the National Civil Rights Museum will host the symposium at the Peabody Hotel, two days before the 50th anniversary of his death. The event will bring together nationally renowned scholars, historians, thought leaders and other veterans of the movement’s front lines to discuss how far we’ve come since that fateful April day, and where the future of the civil rights movement is headed as we continue the fight for equality and justice.

Scheduled to appear

Former United States Attorney General Eric Holder will be the keynote speaker at the symposium. Holder served as the United States Attorney General from 2009 to 2015, before becoming a partner at Covington and Burling. He’ll be joined by other important voices on the topic of the legal accomplishments, hurdles, and challenges that the movement faces as they relate to Dr. King’s enduring vision. Holder will be joined by a number of other panelists, including:

• Mark Osler
• Toussaint Losier
• Roy Austin
• Tracey Maclin
• Dayne Matthew
• Debo Adegbile
• Rick Hasen
• Pamala Karlan
• Sherrilyn Ifill
• Dorothy Brown
• Tomiko Brown-Nagin
• Dorothy Roberts
• Claude Steele
• Beverly Tatum
• Charles McKinney
• Cornell Brooks

Symposium Details

Panels will include Criminal Justice, Voting Rights, Confronting Persistent Poverty and 21st Century Activism. Topics covered will include housing, education, voting rights, equal opportunity employment and the criminal justice system, and how they affect the rights we still fight for.

Registration and check-in will start at 8am on April 2, followed by opening remarks at 8:45am. The day will wrap up by 5pm with concluding remarks. The panel sessions of the symposium will be held in the Continental Ballroom of the Peabody Hotel, while the keynote luncheon will be held in the Grand Ballroom.

You can find a full schedule of events for the MLK50 remembrance on the events page of the MLK50 website.

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A good long walk

Participants in the 50 Mile March to Memphis will be walking to raise awareness and build a new sense of community along the way. Much like the black sanitation workers in 1968, these young men will walk with a higher sense of purpose.

The PEARSON Foundation is organizing the walkers, an interracial group of boys aged 14 to 19. PEARSON, which stands for People Employing Available Resources to Strengthen Our Neighborhood, takes part in faith-based mentoring and community service rooted in a desire to teach participants about civil rights, justice and healthy race relations.

Building a community

Along the route, the group will be lodging at schools and churches, taking part in community meetings while in host cities to ensure they share and learn along the way.

The group will arrive in Memphis on April 4 to join a much larger march in commemoration of 50 years since the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., which will end at the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Hotel—the site of Dr. King’s assassination.

Drawing inspiration from those who have come before

As with the black sanitation workers in 1968, the theme of “I am a Man” will be prominent among participants in the 50 Mile March to Memphis, and issues of adulthood and manhood will be topics of discussion. The group will receive a police escort along the entire route, and will not be walking in protest, but instead to honor Dr. King and express hope for the future.

The PEARSON Foundation is based in Pearl, Mississippi, and the group of boys participating will be composed of members of PEARSON’s educational programs as well as their peers from local schools. The group has its own Facebook page, and will be tracking its progress each day so families and friends can stay updated.

With historical events as a backdrop, the 50 Mile March to Memphis will look at what Dr. King stood for 50 years ago and examine how those ideals can be applied today.

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It houses a network of professionals from 14 local partner agencies who help with the investigation, healing process, and other needs. The Memphis CAC is based on a nationally recognized model of care that creates an environment where children experiencing trauma feel comforted, and sometimes the little things can make a big difference — like a welcoming family reception area, a colorful playroom and a new pal.

Every child who comes into the center for services selects the teddy bear of their choice from what’s known as “The Bear Wall” – a wall of 54 cubbyholes, each stuffed with several brand-new teddy bears of all colors and sizes, some wearing bowties, t-shirts or tiny hats.

Memphis Child Advocacy Center’s motto is “Helping Victims Become Children Again,” and a snuggly teddy bear sends victimized children a positive message.

“The Bear Wall is one of many ways we neutralize the sense of shame caused by abuse,” said Beryl Wight, Memphis CAC Communications and Grants Manager, adding that the process of choosing a bear often inspires smiles, laughter, and even occasional dancing. “It’s so wonderful to see a smiling child standing in front of The Bear Wall, deciding which bear she wants to take home…we want kids who have been victimized to know they deserve a brand-new teddy bear.”

Wight said no one is sure exactly how the tradition began, but The Bear Wall been has remained stocked for more than 20 years, thanks to the generosity of Memphians. During that time, Memphis CAC has received tens of thousands of bears donated by individuals and groups from all over Shelby County. That includes church congregations, groups of co-workers, and even families who hold drives to collect bears and other wish-list items.

“We’ve received bears from people who came here for services as children, families memorializing a loved one who has passed away, and corporations during giving campaigns,” Wight said. “I once accepted a donation of bears from an elementary aged child. She asked her classmates to donate bears instead of exchanging gifts during the holidays. I learned later that she had previously received services at the Memphis CAC.”

In addition to bear donations, the center is seeking more adults in the community to get involved in its Stewards of Children program, in which a trained ambassador presents sexual abuse prevention and response training for parents and professionals who work with children to take simple actions that can help protect kids from predators. To date, about 20,000 Shelby County adults have been trained by Stewards of Children.

Memphis CAC is in the process of expanding its campus to include the neighboring historic property at 1101 Poplar Avenue. In addition to staff, the building houses representatives from law enforcement, the District Attorney’s Office, child protective services and other agencies that together create a strong support system for the children served by Memphis CAC. The expansion will allow them to move even more partner agency members on campus. To strengthen that network and help victims become children again.

If you’d like to donate a teddy bear — brand new and preferably medium sized — for The Bear Wall to comfort a child, please contact Memphis Child Advocacy Center. Because of the confidential nature of services, arrangements must be made ahead of time. Sometimes the wall is fully stocked with fuzzy friends, but the center always has other wish list items, such as packaged snacks and drinks, therapy supplies, and gift cards for department and office supply stores.

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Speakers will include living icons of the early civil rights movement and emerging social justice leaders giving an intimate look at the American Civil Rights Movement from its past foundations of the 1950s and 1960s to the mobilizations and grassroots organizing happening now.

Michael Eric Dyson and April Ryan will co-moderate a session with a set of candid discussions on the political, legal, and cultural aspects of social justice activism.  Former MSNBC anchor Tamron Hall will moderate the event with John Lewis and James Lawson.

The speakers at the event will share personal experiences, analysis of modern strategies, and ideas for new techniques that current activists can use to further Dr. King’s platforms for peace, justice, and equity.

Confirmed guests include seasoned civil rights icons U.S. Congressman John Lewis, Jesse Jackson, James Lawson, Marian Wright Edelman, Diane Nash, Clarence Jones, Bill Lucy, Mike Cody, and Elaine Turner along with newcomers Yadon Israel, Bree Newsome, Quentin James, Nicole Porter, Ta.

Get tickets to this event here!

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Continuing the Fight

When minimum wage workers marched on February 12, 2018, it wasn’t just in remembrance of MLK50 or the efforts of the black sanitation workers all those years ago; it was instead to improve their own situation and carry on the fight. Their demands? A minimum wage of $15 per hour and the right to unionize.

Memphis may have been the focus on February 12, but it was not the only city that saw minimum wage employees take to the streets. Two dozen cities throughout the mid-South saw minimum wage walkouts and strikes that same day. In Memphis, nearly 1500 workers followed the same route sanitation workers did in 1968, marching from Clayborn Temple to Memphis City Hall. The minimum wage workers in Memphis were joined by many who support their cause.

• Reverends Dr. William Barber II and Dr. Liz Theoharis, co-chairs of the Poor People’s Campaign
• President of the Service Employees International Union, Mary Kay Henry
• A coalition of Black Trade Unionists founder Bill Lucy
• Original sanitation workers who walked in 1968

A Groundbreaking Movement

When the sanitation workers marched in 1968, they sought better working conditions in addition to a $2 per hour raise, a pay rate that would equate to $15.73 today, adjusted for inflation. Those sanitation workers in 1968 carried signs declaring “I AM A MAN,” and the current movement that is drawing inspiration from them has taken to carrying their own signs. Updated for the internet age, protestors are able to design their own signs, replacing the “MAN” of the original signs with whichever descriptor they choose.

While the sanitation workers of 1968 were singularly black men, today’s effort to improve working conditions for minimum wage workers are not singularly bound by skin color. However, people of color remain over-represented among them. More than half of African American and 60 percent of Latino employees in the fast-food industry alone make less than $15 per hour.

The fight that began on the streets of Memphis 50 years ago continues today, decades later.

See the video of the Memphis March below:

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When it comes to generosity and investing in the community, Memphis leads the pack. According to a study from the Chronicle of Philanthropy, Memphis ranks as the most charitable city in the United States.

Inspired to do even better

After trailing Salt Lake City, the last time rankings were revealed, Memphis broke into the top spot in 2017, spurred by increased giving to the public-school system. All told, Memphians give 5.6 percent of their overall income to charitable causes. That number is up from 5.1 percent in 2014, the last time the study was released.

Memphians were largely inspired to keep giving generously by a $90 million donation from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to the Teacher Effectiveness Institute (TEI) of Memphis City Schools in 2009. Their belief in Memphis’ ability to keep growing and thriving have renewed belief in the Bluff City and opened the floodgates for local residents to also contribute.

Over the last decade, the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis has grown to an asset size of $430 million, and many of the donations coming in were specifically targeted to the public-school system. In 2017, that allowed the group to hand out $161 million in grants around the city.

It’s in our blood

Many also point to Memphis’ being a Southern city rooted in church philanthropy as influencing charitable giving. Cities like Birmingham and Atlanta, who also carry the same distinction, also ranked high on the list.

Besides the education system, other benefactors of Memphis’ philanthropy included:

• Extension of the Green Line bike trail
• Renovation of Shelby Farms Park
• Completion of Big River Crossing project
• Overton Square improvements

Sustained generosity

While some point to big changes in the federal tax code as it relates to charitable giving possibly hampering philanthropic giving across the country, there’s reason for optimism in Memphis. The number of public projects that have been sustained or initiated through Memphis’ generosity seems almost self-sustaining. That is, seeing all the good charitable giving has done for our city spurs continued giving.

Now that’s something to be proud of!

For more information on all things Memphis, click here!

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Openings are basically big parties. There’s sure to be a crowd, odds are you can meet the artist(s), and at the very least you’ll get a free drink. If you miss the opening, no big deal – shows typically run anywhere from two days to a month. Visit during normal gallery hours when you can view the work in more serene conditions and possibly discuss the work with the curator.

The best nights are when there are so many openings that you have to make a plan of attack in order to see them all.

Want to know the best way to get in the loop on local art openings? Elizabeth Alley, whose “Two Stories of Iceland” is currently on display at Crosstown Arts, says that The Memphis Flyer has always been good about listing art openings, but these days she primarily uses Facebook. “I make sure to follow the ‘main’ galleries in town – L Ross, David Lusk, Jay Etkin, Crosstown Arts, Orange Mound Gallery, plus schools – U of M has two galleries, and CBU, Rhodes, and MCA all have galleries,” she says.

Alex Paulus, another local artist, says, “The best places to go are David Lusk, Crosstown Arts, and Tops. I think those are the 3 best galleries in Memphis right now. They’re showing really interesting work.”

Tops Gallery in the Madison Avenue Pocket Park. La Boheme by Motoko Fukuyama (showing until March 10).

Tops is located in the basement of the Jack Robinson Gallery and has an ancillary gallery in the Madison Avenue Pocket Park. While the artists who show there are not always local, curator Matt Ducklo (who is also a celebrated photographer) chooses unique and cutting edge contemporary work to highlight. Right now, you can see La Boheme featuring the multi-media art of Motoko Fukuyama. The gallery is only open on Saturdays from 1-6pm, but you can view her work in the park gallery 24/7.

Alley believes that it’s important for both artists and non-artists to go to shows. “If you are an artist, it is important to go to see what other artists are up to. There is a lot to learn from seeing a gallery show – are there local trends? How is this artist choosing to display their sculpture/drawing/installation? It is also a great way to meet other artists – there are so many artists in town that I know because I met them at an art opening,” she says.

If you are not an artist, Alleys says it is important to go to show your support for artists and local art. “And you can learn things and meet artists, too! Ideally you will buy something, plus there is usually free wine,” she says.

Crosstown Arts gets the best snack award. “The last show I went to there had bacon wrapped dates and potato skins!” exclaims Paulus. In terms of art, he offers an important etiquette tip: “Don’t touch the art, unless you are specifically instructed to do so by the artist.”

Here’s Alley’s primer on what to do once you are there:

Enter the gallery, do a quick survey of the room, then choose a place to start. Look at the art, but don’t fret about studying it (art openings are for socializing as much as they are for learning something, and often people are standing in the way of the art anyway). Make your way to the wine, relax, look at the price list. Drink more wine, buy something.

Buying local art is a great investment. Often, galleries will do payment plans so don’t be shy if there’s something that you really love but cannot afford all at once. Most galleries do get a percentage of the selling price. However, artists who show at Crosstown Arts keep 100% of their proceeds.

Alley also encourages visitors to say something to the artist if they see them. “We want to hear from you and part of our job requirement is to be able to talk about our art,” she says.

Many galleries like Lusk and L Ross will schedule artist talks with the artists currently on display, so you can hear even more about their work. These talks are generally the second Saturday after the opening, but that can vary.

Familiarize yourself with the following galleries, follow them on Facebook, and watch your Fridays fill up!

Galleries

Art Museum of the University of Memphis (AMUM) 

Beverly and Sam Ross Gallery (Christian Brothers University)

Circuitous Succession 

Clough Hanson (Rhodes College)

Crosstown Arts

David Lusk

Dixon Gallery & Gardens

Jay Etkin

L Ross

Marshall Arts 

The Martha and Robert Fogelman Galleries of Contemporary Art

Orange Mound Gallery

Overton Park Gallery

Tops Gallery 

The post Tap into the Local Art Scene appeared first on We Are Memphis.

GRAMMY Award-winning engineer Boo Mitchell talks about his father Willie Mitchell’s continued influence on artists like the Talking Heads, Tina Turner, Wu-Tang Clan, and even Kanye West. It’s amazing to see the reach of Memphis’ sound from classic hits to the music we all know and love today.

See the full video below:

To stay up to date with the latest Memphis news, be sure to sign up for our mailing list and be sure to #BringYourSoul!

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At the Super Bowl LII Halftime Show, Memphis’ own Justin Timberlake performed in front of millions with a melody of his most famous songs. We want to hear from you on our Facebook page, what did you think of his performance?

To stay up to date with the latest Memphis news, be sure to sign up for our mailing list!

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Mentorship works, which is why then-President George W. Bush declared January National Mentoring Month in 2002. This year, Memphis celebrates 15 years of mentoring since the declaration. In addition to the intangible effects of mentoring, the hard numbers are pretty staggering as well. Youth who have a mentor are:

• 52 percent less likely to skip school
• 46 percent less likely to use drugs
• 55 percent more likely to go to college
• 81 percent more likely to participate in extracurricular activities
• 90 percent more likely to want to become themselves in the future
• 130 percent more likely to hold a leadership position in a club or sports team

Over 9 million youth in America are in need of a mentor, including youth throughout Memphis. Mentor Memphis is our citywide program that strives to reduce crime and inspire young people by putting them on a positive trajectory.

There’s no shortage of mentoring opportunities in Memphis, each with different time and duration commitments. No matter your degree of availability, there’s a program in need of your help.

Some of the groups taking the lead in Memphis mentoring include:

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mid-South
• Girlzlife Empowering Mentoring Program
• The Giving Hour
• Grizzlies Preparatory Charter School
• Reach Memphis
• STREETS Ministries
• Veritas College Preparatory School
• Virtue Quest
• Youth Villages
• Memphis Grizzlies Team Mentor Program

Those interested in volunteering their time and talents for the betterment of the greater Memphis community can start by visiting the MentorMe website. When you sign up, the site collects some basic information and uses an advanced algorithm to match you to the perfect mentoring opportunity. MentorMe will also offer support by providing the tools you’ll need to be an outstanding mentor.

Although January is drawing to a close, the need for mentoring in Memphis won’t end when the calendar turns to February. By making a commitment to youth in Memphis, you are helping to ensure a bright future for our community at large. Visit the Mentor Memphis webpage on the City of Memphis site today to take your first step

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ThankGod4Cody and Teddy Walton were responsible for some of 2018’s hottest music, and they’ll be looking to make Memphis proud at the Grammys. These two producers are just the latest to carry on a long tradition of Memphis music-makers.

Deep roots

No stranger to the Grammys, Ike Turner made a name for himself in Memphis before earning nationwide notoriety. His first recording, “Rocket 88,” is considered by many to be the earliest rock ‘n’ roll song. Hailing from Clarksdale, Mississippi, Turner arrived in Memphis in 1952 and found work as a session musician for such stars as B.B. King. Before he debuted on the national stage in the 1960s, Turner worked as a talent scout of sorts, discovering another Memphis treasure: Bobby Bland. Turner was twice awarded a Grammy and nominated another three times.

Speaking of Bobby “Blue” Bland, this local legend had the distinct honor of being enshrined in both the Blues Hall of Fame and the Memphis Music Hall of Fame. Renowned as a lyrical storyteller, Bland landed in Memphis at the age of 17 and started singing with local gospel groups. It wasn’t long before he found himself down on Beale Street, rubbing elbows with B.B. King and Junior Parker. Bland received the Grammy Award for Lifetime Achievement in 1997.

Another singer who achieved fame shortly after arriving in Memphis was Otis Redding, who caught his big break in 1962 when he gave a bandmate a lift to the Stax Records recording studio. At the end of the session, Redding was allowed to cut two tracks—one of which, “These Arms of Mine,” became one of his biggest hits. It was at the Stax studio that Redding recorded “Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay” in December 1967. Three days later, his plane went down near Madison, Wisconsin, causing his untimely death at the young age of 26. In addition to being inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame in 1998, Redding was posthumously awarded the Grammys for Best R&B Male Vocal Performance and Best R&B Song in 1969, as well as a Lifetime Achievement Grammy in 1999.

New school

With those soulful roots as a backdrop, ThankGod4Cody made a name for himself with his work on Sza’s album “CTRL.” Sza is 2018’s most nominated female artist, earning nods for Best New Artist, Best R&B Performance, Best R&B Song, Best Urban Contemporary Album and Best Rap/Sung Performance.

In the Best Rap/Sung Performance, Sza will get some competition from Goldlink, produced by Teddy Walton. Walton has also earned credits for working with Kendrick Lamar and A$AP Rocky— and like ThankGod4Cody, Walton was born and raised in Memphis.

Looking to keep up with the Memphis music scene? Check this out!

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One such place in Memphis, a favorite of many students attending nearby universities and book lovers alike, is Burke’s Book Store. And while there is certainly a wide variety of locally owned stores in the Memphis area, Burke’s is one of those classic Memphis gems that has become a staple in the Cooper-Young neighborhood as well as the broader community. Having occupied four different locations around the city since it opened it 1875, Burke’s Book Store has certainly seen its fair share of beginnings and endings and even close calls as brick and mortar book stores continue to be phased out by online retailers and e-book readers.

Well known for both its collectible books (signed copies, first editions, rare books, etc.) as well as its wide collection of many of the latest, most popular titles, Burke’s Book Store carries an impressive collection of Memphis-focused literature. From a strong collection of history books on the city of Memphis to recently published works authored by Memphians, Burke’s masterfully curates a literary reflection of the mid-south appealing to both newcomers and lifelong Memphians.

In 2018, the city of Memphis will observe and honor the 50^th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and in 2019, Memphis will celebrate its bicentennial. With those anniversaries on the horizon, now more than ever seems an appropriate time to consider reading up on the complex history of the Bluff City that brought us to this point in time.

Burke’s also hosts a variety of events, one of which recently included a conversation with international best-selling author John Grisham (who, in case you didn’t know, wrote a book about Memhis that was made into a movie that was later filmed in Memphis and starred Tom Cruise!). Of course, you’ll find the usual bookstore staples of postcards, notebooks, artisan book marks, and other knick knacks, all with a uniquely Memphis flair.

To embrace 2018, Memphis, and all that the road ahead may bring this riverside city, read up on our city’s history from a handful of perspectives you might not have considered before. And for even more information about Memphis’ best bookstores, check out this article by our partner, Choose901.

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