Month: June 2022

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News News Blog News Feature

Face ID, Self-Check Baggage, Online Parking Reservations Could Be the Future at Memphis International Airport

(Credit: Memphis International Airport/Facebook)

Rolling into the parking lot at Memphis International Airport (MEM), the garage arm lifts without stopping to take a ticket. You don’t hunt for a spot. You pull into the spot you reserved and paid for online. 

Inside, natural light spills into the expanded ticketing floor from a massive wall of glass that replaced the gift shops and coffee shops along the airport’s north wall. A buzz of your phone says your airline knows you’ve arrived and have been checked in. 

You scan your face at a baggage kiosk. It prints your claim ticket. You attach it to your bag, and drop it on the appropriate belt and walk away. 

The Transportation Safety Adminstration (TSA) agent scans your face again, no photo identification needed. You walk through a security portal and you keep walking, unless the system has flagged an inadmissible item in your carry on. 

In the concourse, you walk to the coffee shop counter. Without ordering or standing in line, really, the clerk calls your name and hands you your order.    

This is where MEM is headed, as outlined in its proposed new master plan. Lots will likely change before the scenario becomes reality. But airport officials are working fast on it to try and capture some money from the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which has earmarked $15 billion for airport improvements projects across the country.

Airport officials just published its strategic overview, a document that drives decisions for the next one to three years, explained MEM president and CEO Scott Brockman. The master plan is different, though, setting out goals in the longer term. 

“Obviously, the entire world is going to more technically advanced programs,” Brockman said. “Airports are no different. We are moving towards much more seamless travel.”

Airports around the world are already testing much of the future-sounding tech described above, Brockman said. Airports in the future will likely be easier to traverse, with shorter wait times, fewer human interactions, and more seamless transitions between stages, like from ticketing to security for example. Wireless internet and mobile phones will likely push much of these advancements. 

But physical changes will help push the future at MEM, too, Brockman explained. For example, the north wall of the ticketing floor and the structures there (River City News & Gifts, a temporarily closed Starbucks, and a temporarily closed Maggie O’Shea’s restaurant) would be removed, have their spaces pushed out all the way to the street, and replaced with floor-to-ceiling glass. The stairs and escalators now running through the middle of the ticketing floor would be moved out to the edges of the building. It all “cleans up the lobby,” Brockman said, but also makes it more functional.          

“It gives us the chance to expand the security checkpoint to allow for additional lanes for the TSA, which, then, allows for greater throughput, which cuts down on the amount of time people stand in line,” Brockman said. 

Moving the stairs would also allow for a fifth belt in the baggage claim area. This would allow passengers to spread out, give the airport more flexibility, and “make it a much more pleasurable experience,” Brockman said. 

The master plan includes many more improvements, including a de-icing facility for aircraft. But they’re not cheap. Brockman said the price tag could range from $350 million to $500 million, and reminded that the recent modernization of Concourse C cost $250 million. Brockman also reminded that the airport gets no city or county tax funding and wouldn’t get any for these future improvements.

“That is why we’re really pushing hard to move forward — taking elements of the master plan even before the master plan is published and try to get this funding,” he said. “It’s through the federal government, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. If we can get funding through that program, then we will move this process forward quickly.”   

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Music Record Reviews

Gay Prudes: The Sissy Dicks Laugh All the Way Through Pride Month

Gay Prude by The Sissy Dicks

Even as New York City prepares for the mother of all pride marches this coming Sunday, June 26th, we Memphians are still savoring memories of our own Mid-South Pride Festival on June 4. One eye-catching, prize-winning float in the parade that day was sponsored by Goner Records and was manned by those new musical comedic sensations, The Sissy Dicks.

Actually, they’re not that new, but don’t let that diminish their pride or yours. Memphis Flyer readers may know them from Andria Lisle’s profile in their earliest days, when they were known as the Dixie Dicks. Now re-branded, presumably for more international appeal, The Sissy Dicks soldier on with a new EP released at the top of the month, Gay Prude.

From their band name to the album title, The Sissy Dicks are designed to turn heads, but don’t let that distract you from the fact that they really do make good music. Their hearts are clearly in the country camp, and proof of their earnestness is made plain in the simple fact of their harmonies. Harmony singing is a dying art in some genres, but not in the realm of The Sissy Dicks.

The Sissy DIcks (Photo by Micah Winter)

It helps that drumming duties are handled by Charlotte Watson, best known for her work with Nots and Hash Redactor. She’s now been welcomed aboard as a full-fledged member, and, as always, her drumming is powerful and expressive. Indeed, the driving Go-Go’s rhythm of opening track “Circle Jerk” is key to the spirit of fun it conjures. In less than a minute and a half, it’s come and gone, but it certainly clues listeners in to what’s in store.

Some of the bawdy fun is actually based on the group’s own songwriting, but there’s also plenty of Weird Al Yankovic-type fun when the group takes on old bar band warhorses like “Wagon Wheel” (transformed into “Fuck Me Daddy,” a heartwarming tale of two men “out back behind the dumpster in the parking lot”), or “Learning to Fly” (here redone as “Learning to Top”). No matter what your sexual preference, there’s something satisfying in hearing overplayed radio hits transformed into something so deeply radio-unfriendly.

To be fair, they do credit the Old Crow Medicine Show and Tom Petty as the songwriters for the above tracks, and they carry them off musically with aplomb. As Lisle wrote in 2018, “Their musicianship, which harks back to the folksy, bluegrass style re-popularized with the release of 2000’s O Brother, Where Art Thou?, is top-notch.” And with Gay Prude, it’s better performed and recorded than any of their previous efforts.

This is partly because Watson is not the only finely-trained ear in the group, which is built around the trio of guitarist Brandon Pugh, percussionist Joel Parsons, and banjo player Brandon Ticer (who plays keyboards for the New York-based rock band Wheatus). The music goes down easy, thanks to their focused playing and well-blended vocals. And their straight delivery makes everything that much funnier.

And so, even as many plan for Pride Night on Tuesday, June 28th, at AutoZone Park, before moving on to the other cis-dominated 11 months of the year, Gay Prude will remain long after June is behind us, always ready keep the gaiety in “gay” with a laugh and a naughty wink.

Watch The Sissy Dicks on the Goner TV Pride Special, Friday, July 1, 8 p.m., at www.gonertv.com.

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News Politics Beat Blog Uncategorized

Remembering Mark Flanagan (1943-2022)

Mark Flanagan (from Hallie Flanagan)


(The following was received from Paula F. Casey, Steve Cohen, Patty and Joe Dougherty, and members of the Flanagan family)

Think of the most intriguing, fun-loving, good-natured, well-traveled, kind spirit you’ve ever known. For those who knew Mark Flanagan, he immediately comes to mind. Flanagan, 79, exited this earthly realm on June 15, 2022, after a life that was truly well-lived, impacting thousands of people along the way. 

Born in Washington, D.C., on March 13, 1943, he was the second oldest of nine children. Growing up in the District, he developed a lifelong love of politics. His father, Frip Flanagan, was a close friend of House Speaker Tip O’Neill and the Kennedy family, especially Bobby Kennedy. Mark became known as the “Mayor of Adams-Morgan,” a neighborhood in D.C. similar to Memphis’ Overton Square.

He was proud of his Irish heritage and loved spending his summers in Lisdoonvarna, Ireland, where he was beloved by men and women, locals, and tourists, alike. Many Memphis friends made the trek to Ireland, where Mark proved to be the ultimate tour guide. The late Silky Sullivan and he started the barbecue contest that was held in Fanore, Ireland, for several years so the Irish would know about Memphis barbecue.

He attended East Carolina University and American University in D.C. His professional career included plywood retail sales, real estate, and restaurant investments as well as successful associations with the late restaurateurs Silky Sullivan, Bud Chittom, and Thomas Boggs. 

He came to Memphis in 1968 and proceeded to positively impact the city in numerous ways. In 1973, he founded the Memphis St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Pub Crawl, the forerunner of the Beale Street St. Patrick’s Day Parade. He served on the boards of the Hollywood Child Care Center and the ACLU, on the Shelby County and State Democratic Executive Committees, and was a 1980 delegate for Ted Kennedy at the Democratic National Convention. He ran for Congress on the Democratic ticket in the ‘70s and ‘80s.

A founding member of the Irish Eyes of Memphis, he was also active in the Memphis Irish Society. He worked with the late Irvin Salky on the first Beale Street Music Festival. He was active in Saving Overton Park and worked with David and Yvonne Acey on Memphis Honors Africa in April.

Flanagan worked closely with his longtime friend, U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, when Cohen served as police advisor. They were able to petition the city to establish a 20 mile an hour speed limit to make Overton Square safely walkable.  Cohen said Flanagan was “a progressive and reformer. He was my longtime and valuable advisor. He was always willing to help anyone.” Cohen’s late mother referred to Flanagan as “the handsome Irishman.” Another longtime friend, Joe Dougherty, called Flanagan “the ultimate consultant.”

He was proud of his children and his brother Dennis Flanagan’s success in the restaurant/bar business.

His friend, Susan Sowell, said, “Along with the authentic architecture of Midtown, we’re losing its absolute legends. Mark was the Mayor of Midtown, political activist, cultural ambassador and all-around bon vivant who celebrated life each day. He, along with Irvin (Salky), was a vibrant thread of the colorful fabric of Midtown and Memphis. I consider myself so incredibly fortunate having known him for there will never, ever be any replication. Although they may not know Irvin or Flanagan and may not ever know who they are, these young people of Memphis owe so much to these men. These men were the real deal and free thinkers.”

Predeceased by parents, Francis D. Flanagan and Margaret L. Flanagan, sisters Martha Casper and Moira Cates. Survivors include his partner of 13 years and love of his life, Brenda Ofenheusle; his three children, Francis (“Frip”) Flanagan, Margaret (“Peggy”) McNamara Flanagan, and Hallie Goodman Flanagan; and siblings Sheila Cones, Cathy Flanagan, Nora Flanagan, Dennis Flanagan, Molly Flanagan, and Patricia Flanagan Sheehen.

A celebration of his life will be held at a later date.

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Film Features Film/TV

Music Video Monday (On Tuesday): “Get Out” by Dirty Streets

It’s a rare Tuesday edition of Music Video Monday featuring Dirty Streets. Memphis’ hard-hitting guitar rock trio has a new record out, produced by Matt Ross-Spang. Guitarist Justin Toland, bassist Thomas Storz, and drummer Andrew Denham are currently barnstorming the West Coast. If you’re in San Francisco, you can find them tonight playing at the legendary Bottom of the Hill with El Perro.

“Get Out” is a road song that is relevant to their current touring regime. “The first line refers to ‘moving out west to the rolling hills’ which is really just the concept of any place other than here,” Toland recently told Wildfiremusic.net. “Moving around throughout my life and going on tour has really made me think more about how the idea of going to a new place can be so inspiring, but can also be a trap within itself. The song is really just about how there is no escape from life itself.”

Toland says the band found inspiration in working with the soon-to-be-legendary, Grammy-winning producer. “Matt Ross-Spang is like nobody I’ve ever worked with. There is a knack some people have for sensing a feeling in one bone of a song and building a whole skeleton. Matt is one of those people. He works more like an artist than a producer, shaping sounds and guiding without effort.”

The video, directed by Blake Heimbach, brings you into Matt Ross-Spang’s new Southern Grooves studio with the band as they “Get Out.” Rock on!

If you would like to see your music video featured on Music Video Monday, email cmccoy@memphisflyer.com.

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Film Features Film/TV

Lightyear

Buzz Lightyear (Chris Evans) and Izzy (Keke Palmer) take flight with the Space Rangers in Pixar's Lightyear.

If you’ve seen Toy Story, or any of its sequels, you know who Buzz Lightyear is. In the original film, the vainglorious astronaut action figure is the new toy that replaces Tom Hanks’ Sheriff Woody as Andy’s favorite. Voiced by Tim Allen, he’s one of the great sidekicks in movie history, and he’s already had a direct-to-video spinoff movie and a short-lived animated series. 

Lightyear, Pixar’s latest animated opus, opens with a note of explanation: This is the film that Andy saw in 1995 that made him want a Buzz Lightyear action figure. It’s a particularly tricky way to reboot a character, now voiced by former Captain America Chris Evans. But it does have the advantage of creating a blank slate upon which Pixar’s army of animators can draw a whole new animated space adventure. 

Lightyear opens with a huge spherical spaceship, colloquially known as The Turnip, hurtling through deep space. When the automated systems discover a potentially habitable planet, Buzz is awakened from hypersleep to check it out. He and his partner Hawthorne (Uzo Aduba) scout the new territory to see if it’s worth waking up the rest of the colony ship, and soon find that the local life is angry and numerous. Their escape goes bad, and Buzz crashes the ship. In the process, the refined crystalline fuel that powers the ship’s faster than light drive is exhausted, stranding 1,200 passengers and crew on a hostile planet. 

But Space Rangers are nothing if not resourceful, and the newly awakened crew settles in to create their own fuel from local resources. It’s not easy, and it’s made worse by the fact that they have to build a new ship for each new batch, because Buzz’s test flights tend to end destructively. Even worse, because of Relativistic time dilation, when Buzz flies at speeds near c, four minutes is four years to those left behind. He watches his friends and crew mates grow old, while he barely ages. Meanwhile, the colony is flourishing. Everyone else is leading a fruitful, reasonably happy life except Buzz, who is obsessed with completing a mission that began decades ago. To help cope, he is issued a robot cat named Sox (voiced by Pixar veteran Peter Sohn).  

Finally, after returning from an almost successful test flight, he finds his friend and commanding officer Hawthorne has died of old age. The new commander is shutting down the test program, just as Sox announces that he has, after 62 years of work, finally found the right formula for hyperspace fuel. Buzz (who presumably has seen Top Gun: Maverick) steals the final test ship and sets off to prove he can finish the mission and rescue the colony that no longer seems to want or need rescuing. 

Emperor Zerg menaces our hero in Lightyear.

The flight is successful, but the superluminal speed Buzz achieves also means his time dilation problem is much worse. He returns to a far future world where the colony is hiding from an invasion of alien robots under the command of Emperor Zurg (James Brolin). Buzz must rally a ragtag group of human allies, led by Hawthorne’s granddaughter Izzy (Keke Palmer) to destroy Zurg’s advanced spaceship and save the colony. 

For a movie purposefully backdated to 1995, Lightyear draws on surprisingly contemporary sources: The time dilation situation from Interstellar, and a Gravity-esque vacuum crossing, being only two of them. (If ir had really been made in 1995, there would have had a lot more Star Wars references.)  Writer/director Angus MacLane, who previously co-helmed Finding Dory, translates these grown-up movies for his younger target audience. As you can tell from my summary of the first act, the plotting is unusually dense — although it does stretch out a bit for big action sequences once Zurg arrives planet-side. 

It probably goes without saying that Lightyear looks amazing, but I’m going to say it anyway. The film’s biggest asset is Chris Evans, who grasps both Buzz’s arrogance and endearing earnestness. 

Lightyear does not have the emotional depth of Pixar classics like Toy Story or Up, so you could say it’s a lesser product of the storied studio. But I’m a big believer in judging a film on how well it accomplishes what it’s trying to do. Lightyear aspires to be nothing more than a fun space adventure, and that’s a mission MacLane and Pixar easily accomplish.  

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Art Art Feature

TONE’s Juneteenth Weekend Celebrates the Theme of Family Reunion

From TONE’s 2021 Juneteenth celebration at Orange Mound Tower (Credit: TONE)

Family reunions have long been staples in the Black community. Scholars are unclear as to when family reunions came to be, but many note that as a result of the Great Migration, many Black families were separated, causing them to hold large gatherings to reunite and rekindle.

With fellowship and celebration being major themes of family reunions, it’s a fitting theme for TONE’s Juneteenth weekend. TONE’s chief storyteller, Nubia Yasin, explains that the family reunion theme is reflective of the culture that TONE would like to see built “across the creative community, across the Black community in general, whether you see yourself as a creator or not.

“TONE is very special because it’s not like we’re doing this work for the community, but with the community. With that being said, we don’t know everything. We don’t know everything, and we’re going to get stuff wrong, so we’re leaning on the community to fill in those gaps.”

Yasin says it’s also about collaboration, which she believes that family is about.

“Family is about interconnectivity, it’s about collaboration, and that’s why the theme for our Juneteenth festival every year is a ‘family reunion,’ because we really want folks to feel connected to this work like they would their family.”

Yasin explains that this event serves as an invitation for those who have left the South to come back and find solace and familiarity. In fact, executive director Victoria Jones “hopes that this will be an opportunity for ‘all our cousins,’ so to speak, to come back home and celebrate with their Memphis family.”

“It is for Memphis, but the goal is for the work that we do here will make Memphis a hub for Black creatives across the country and internationally,” Jones says. “One only needs to look at the story of being Black folks in America for a couple of seconds to see how central Memphis is to that story.”

The two-day celebration is jam-packed with events starting with a sold-out Afroturism-themed Juneteenth gala, shortly followed by an afterparty on the Mississippi Queen #3 Riverboat. The weekend culminates on Sunday, June 19th, with the Juneteenth Family Reunion festival in Orange Mound.

According to Yasin, Orange Mound serves as the prime location for an event that celebrates the rich history and legacy of Black people. 

“It’s the oldest Black neighborhood, built by Black folks for Black folks, in the country,” Yasin says. “Memphis is a city that is inextricably linked to the story of being Black in America.”

The story of being Black in America can only be told best by those who’ve experienced it. It’s a story marked by continuous triumph over adversity, which is often defined by systemic challenges, and unequal protection from the powers that be.

A heartbreaking chapter was recently added to that story, when a gunman opened fire at Tops Friendly Market Store, which according to NPR, is the only Black-run grocery store in Buffalo, New York. This incident left 10 people killed, three injured, and a community shaken by domestic terrorism.

“The nature of being Black in America is like a persistent state of a mix of emotions. Whether that be fear or anger, or a lot of times apathy, because of fear and anger,” Yasin explains.

“If we stopped ourselves from shining, if we stopped ourselves from smiling, if we stopped ourselves from laughing and celebrating every time there is a threat of danger, we would never have moments to smile and dance and shine.”

Yasin believes it is important for Black people to claim moments to be happy, which is why she believes it is imperative for a Juneteenth celebration to persist, despite recent events in America.

“Systems of oppression are as evident as ever, and I think it’s important to celebrate the little things that make us smile, and build culture around that,” Yasin says. “That’s what makes the hard work of beating back those systems sustainable.”

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We Recommend We Saw You

We Saw You: Loving Local and The Ravine

Laura Gentry, Michael Donahue, and Dory sous chef Brandon Burke with a citrus-braised pork tostada at Loving Local. (Credit: Nannie Harris)

Memphis never fails to amaze me. And I’m a native Memphian.

I received an invitation to Loving Local, a Project Green Fork tasting event with cuisine from area restaurants, which was held June 16th at The Ravine at 435 Madison Avenue.

I’d never been to The Ravine. And, I discovered, this was the first event at the venue, which hasn’t officially opened yet.

Wow. Was I surprised when I saw the space. In addition to the beautiful about-to-open Memphis Made Brewing Co., the outdoor area in the rear was mind blowing. Looking down from a balcony, I saw tables, food vendors, DJ Crystal Mercedes, and plenty of room.

Let me reiterate. Wow.

I called Ethan Knight to fill me in on The Ravine. Knight is vice-president of development for Development Services Group, the lead master developer for a number of efforts in The Edge District, which includes The Ravine, Rise apartments, and Orion Federal Credit Union.

 “The Ravine is difficult to describe because it’s really unusual,” Knight says. “It’s a community gathering point, a public plaza, a park, and, ultimately, it creates a natural gathering point for The Edge District.

Loving Local at The Ravine. (Credit: Michael Donahue

“We’ve taken a piece of land that was basically a throw away. Was totally forgotten. We saw this unique opportunity to make it a very unique public space. That idea has evolved over time. Me and our team have been working on this for seven plus years. Trying to figure out how this whole Edge District comes together.”

The Ravine was an old railway, which used to be the end of the old Norfolk Southern Railway, Knight says. “There was a railroad station north of Madison back before Danny Thomas [Boulevard]. Tracks ran along The Ravine and underneath Monroe and Madison. In the ‘60s and ‘70s the train station went away and they put in Danny Thomas. I’m a civil engineer by trade, so all that stuff is fascinating to me.”

That view from the balcony where I was standing is “20 feet below Madison,” Knight says. Noting the trees above, he says, “We have tons of shade — morning shade, evening shade. You’re down in this bowl. Down in this ravine. It’s a good bit cooler down there than up on Madison and Monroe.”

And that’s a fact. I told someone at the party, “It’s not so bad tonight.” I thought temperatures had cooled down, but I think it was because of where I was standing at The Ravine.

The Ravine is “a long term vision,” Knight says. “What you saw last night is just the beginning in a sense. We have a whole second phase of plans for The Ravine after we see how people use it. It will continue to grow and evolve over time as The Edge District grows.”

Memphis Made Brewing Co. co-owner/president Drew Barton says, “I’m hoping we’re up and running pretty soon. Waiting on a few final things. Code inspections.”

This will be the second location of Memphis Made Brewing Co., which is at 768 South Cooper. It put out its first beer October 11, 2013, Barton says. “We’re keeping our current location. We’re just adding a second location, (which is) probably 17,000 square feet. So, it’s roughly three times the size of our current location.”

Janet Boscarino and Drew Barton at Loving Local. (Credit: Michael Donahue)

They thought The Ravine would be open in time for the event, says Janet Boscarino, executive director of Clean Memphis, the umbrella group that includes Project Green Fork. “We pushed on,” she says. The event “allowed people to see the space and see what it’s going to look like.”

Clean Memphis’s mission is “to work on Memphis, making a cleaner and greener city.”

Project Green Fork is “our restaurant sustainability certification, where our restaurants take six steps to reduce their environmental impacts.”

That includes “recycling, composting, and not using styrofoam. And so all the chefs that were there are all from Project Green Fork certified restaurants.”

Participating Project Green Fork restaurants represented at Loving Local were Good Fortune Co., Hen House, Salt/Soy, Tsunami, Da Guilty Vegan, and Dory. Mempops also was on hand. The Tipsy Tumbler provided the bartending service.

Loving Local at The Ravine. (Credit: Michael Donahue)
JeraVonte Twillie from Hen House at Loving Local. (Credit: Michael Donahue)
Manus McMeen at Loving Local. (Credit: Michael Donahue)
Sarah Cai and Arturo Leighton from Good Fortune Co. at Loving Local. (Credit: Michael Donahue)

“We do zero-waste events,” Boscarino says. “We control the atmosphere so that anything that comes in material wise can be recycled and composted, including forks, cups, everything. Food scraps, plates, everything that can be composted, and beer and wine bottles recycled. It’s a way for us to socialize the idea of zero waste.”

More than 200 attended, Boscarino says. “We loved it. Every time we do Loving Local — we’ve been on a two-year hiatus from the pandemic — we try to do it in a new location. The first one we did was when Loflin Yard was just opening. We were the first event in the Old Dominick space. We always try to find a new and interesting place that’s about to open.”

The Ravine has “that perfect indoor/outdoor atmosphere. The fact you’re in a ravine, which was something overlooked as a dead space, is now infused with energy and innovation. We love those kinds of spaces and bringing people together in them.”

Lajoyce Cole, Becky and Mike Todd, Devin Marzette, and Kevin Marzette at Loving Local. (Credit: Michael Donahue)
Ari Zelig and Danielle Blake at Loving Local. (Credit: Michael Donahue)
DJ Crystal Mercedes at Loving Local. (Credit: Michael Donahue)
Henry Turley and Wanda Shea at Loving Local. (Credit: Michael Donahue)
Rob Jaffe, Sara Boscarino, Conner Forrester, Stewart Hart, Leesa Gavin, Georgia Edwards, and Jake Ratliff at Loving Local. (Credit: Michael Donahue)
Bill Ganus, Ali Manning, George Abbott, and Shaleen Ragha at Loving Local. (Credit: Michael Donahue)
Faith Butler and Nannie Harris at Loving Local. (Credit: Michael Donahue)
We Saw You
Categories
News News Blog News Feature

Memphis In May Records Low Attendance and Record-High Losses in 2022

(Credit: Memphis In May/Facebook)

Memphis In May (MIM) attendance fell to a 20-year low this year, yielding a record-setting financial loss, officials said Wednesday, “as a result of being held outside of the traditional riverfront home Downtown in Tom Lee Park.”

Combined attendance for Beale Street Music Festival and the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest fell below 115,000, officials said. The figure was 178,478 in 2018, and 175,330 in 2019. 

Low attendance brought a record-setting financial loss of $1.9 million for 2022 festival operations. The previous record loss of $1.8 million was set in 2020 when the festival was canceled due to Covid. Smaller festival events were presented in 2021 due to ongoing concerns on Covid. 

“Our fans were pleased we presented the full-scale festival in 2022, for the first time in three years,” said James Holt, MIM president and CEO. “We knew we would experience a significant decline in attendance because of our displacement from Tom Lee Park. 

“The ongoing Covid pandemic, inflationary environment, and artist cancelations at Beale Street Music Festival also partially contributed to the decline in attendance.” 

However, MIM said its 2022 programs were a “boon” to local hotels. Occupancy rates across the city peaked at 88.8 percent during Music Fest and Barbecue, according to MIM. 

The 46th edition of MIM is slated to return to Tom Lee Park next year.  

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News News Blog News Feature

Dean Steps Down as Zoo CEO

JIm Dean (Credit: Memphis Zoo)

Jim Dean stepped down as president and CEO of the Memphis Zoo Wednesday.

Dean will be replaced by Matt Thompson, the zoo’s current executive director and vice president (and the Zoo Dude personality on the zoo’s social channels).  

“It was an honor and a privilege to be able to come back home to Memphis and be a part of this amazing team and help in the great work they do every day,” Dean said in a statement Wednesday. 

Dean is a native Memphian who served as president of SeaWorld and Busch Gardens before coming back to Memphis in 2019 to lead the zoo. Dean replaced former president and CEO Chuck Brady.

Dean was instrumental in leading the zoo through the final stages of the thorny parking issue that will, ultimately, end parking on the Overton Park Greensward forever. A news release from the zoo said Dean served on the board of the Overton Park Conservancy and “led many diplomatic conversations and initiatives with the city of Memphis.” He will remain involved in the project, the zoo said. 

“Jim had a keen attention to guest experience and appearance of the zoo that significantly impacts guests’ view of the zoo as soon as they walk through the front gates,” said incoming president Thompson. “He also impacted the internal experience for the employees in many ways, most importantly though, he increased communication between departments across the entire zoo.” 

Matt Thompson (Credit: Memphis Zoo)

Thompson has worked at the Memphis Zoo for 26 years. He began work there as a zookeeper and served later as assistant curator, curator, and Director of Animal Programs. In 2003, he was part of the team to escort the zoo’s pandas to Memphis from China. In 2019, he was named the zoo’s Chief Zoological Officer, overseeing the facility’s collection of more than 4,500 animals.

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Politics Politics Beat Blog

Mulroy Campaign Claims 12-Point Polling Lead

Steve Mulroy (Credit: Jackson Baker)

The campaign of Democratic D.A. candidate Steve Mulroy has released a poll showing that their man leads incumbent Republican Amy Weirich by 50 percent of those polled for him, compared to 38 percent for Weirich, with 12 percent undecided.

Blueprint Polling, which conducted the poll from May 26th to May 30th, conducted a random survey of 350 registered voters in Shelby County.

A press release from Blueprint says the firm contacted people on both landlines and via cellphones, and “weighted the sample by age, race, and gender based on previous August general election turnouts.”  The margin of error was estimated as plus or minus 5.24 percent.

Noting that a previous poll with 26 percent undecided showed the same 12-point margin for Mulroy, Blueprint says the results suggest “that Steve Mulroy has ample room to grow into his Democratic base, especially with women voters — who are four times more likely to be undecided and are more likely to lean Democratic.

“Republicans are decided: only 4 percent say they are unsure about their vote. Democrats are more likely to be undecided, suggesting more potential to widen the lead. Weirich would have to capture all the undecideds, plus bring back at least some Mulroy supporters, in order to win.”

In an accompanying press release, the Mulroy campaign says it has attracted significant national attention. “A recent Huffington Post article highlighted DA Weirich’s inability to reduce crime in Shelby County. The article referenced Steve Mulroy as being ‘for a shift in Memphis’ criminal justice system and supports reform efforts …’ The article also noted Memphis’ record-breaking homicide years while the majority Black residents have been ‘… hurt by her ruthless approach.’”

The campaign also notes that singer/songwriter John Legend, citing the Mulroy-Weirich contest, has tweeted to some 13.8 million followers that “District Attorney elections are crucial to improving our legal system” and that Innocence Project co-founder Barry Scheck  has also weighed in on the race, saying that “Shelby County deserves a change. …”

Weirich responded to the Mulroy press release with this statement: “It sounds like Professor Mulroy is having trouble raising money and is cooking up bogus poll numbers to try and get donations. When your entire platform is built around freeing criminals from jail, it’s hard to raise money beyond the radical out-of-town Defund the Police activists.”