Month: January 2025

Categories
We Recommend We Saw You

WE SAW YOU: Graceland’s ‘90 For 90 Exhibit’

Anthony Pacheco, Sam Barlow, and David Hamilton of Sam Barlow & His True Blue Band (Photos: Michael Donahue)

Elvis fans turned out in chilly weather to pay homage to their King.

Though it was the day after Elvis’ 90th birthday on January 8th, out-of-town fans remained in Memphis and visited the various exhibits, including the new “90 for 90 Exhibit,” which features Elvis clothing and other memorabilia and artifacts.


Kala Morris, Logan Morris, 
and Tori Hutson
Sinclair and Jean Walker and Eric Hall

Lisa Vible and Penny Hendrix

Shane Marshall

Tessa Jensen and 
Megan Kurz

Lauren, Samuel, and 
Steven Calmas
Bonnie Carmack, Dottie Smith, 
and Dottie Whalen

The birthday celebration, which ran through January 11th, included a birthday cake, a Proclamation Day Ceremony, live concerts at the Graceland Soundstage, dance parties, special tours, and panel discussions.

Jessica Herring and
William Hill

Crystal Vazquez and
Tonya Brown

Kylan Owens and
Sally Fracchia
James and Cody Woods
Karen Dyas and Dana Ball
Rick Button

Ruby Jackson and Crystal Harris

Elvis’ gold lamé suit

A threat of snow, which became a reality January 10th, apparently didn’t deter the loyal fans. The only snow the truly avid fans probably had on their minds was — according to Google — “When the Snow Is on the Roses,” which Elvis sang in a live concert in 1970; “Snowbird,” which he covered in 1970; and “On a Snowy Christmas Night,” which the King recorded in 1971. 

Categories
At Large Opinion

L.A. Hot Takes

Entire neighborhoods have been reduced to ashes. (Photo: MMPhoto21 | stock.adobe.com )

And the lights of L.A. County
They look like diamonds in the sky … 
— Lyle Lovett

As I write this, devastating wind-fed fires have killed at least 25 people and swept through 40,000 acres in the greater Los Angeles area. If you’re looking for a size comparison, that’s equal to a fourth of the acreage of the city of Memphis burned to the ground — an area equal to Downtown, Uptown, and everything inside the beltway. Thousands of people have lost their homes. Hundreds of schools, churches, businesses, studios, and iconic architectural structures are gone. Entire neighborhoods are reduced to ashes.

Los Angeles County officials characterized the fires as a “perfect storm” event in which hurricane-force gusts of up to 100 miles per hour prevented them from deploying aircraft that could have dropped water and fire retardant on the drought-ravaged neighborhoods when the fires first broke out. The combination of the winds, unseasonably dry conditions, and multiple fires breaking out one after another led to the widespread destruction.

But as L.A. firefighters battled the flames, disinformation was spreading like, well, wildfire: One theory pushed by right-wing media was that the blazes were raging because fire-fighting personnel were led by a lesbian fire chief and the department utilized DEI hiring criteria. X account Libs of TikTok, known for spreading anti-LBGTQ rhetoric posted: “DEI will get people k*lled. DEI MUST DIE.” Donald Trump Jr. said that donations the Los Angeles Fire Department sent to Ukraine in 2022 were somehow related to its response to the current fires.

Not to be outdone, the president-elect himself posted a deluge of misinformation on Truth Social, including this: “Governor Gavin Newscum [sic] refused to sign the water restoration declaration put before him that would have allowed millions of gallons of water, from excess rain and snowmelt from the North, to flow daily into many parts of California, including the areas that are currently burning in a virtually apocalyptic way.” 

And what’s a good tragedy without a trash take from Alex Jones, who posted that President Biden had grounded firefighters and that the fires were being spread as part of a “globalist plot to wage economic warfare”? First Buddy Elon Musk responded to Jones’ tweet in a now-deleted post with one word: “True.” 

None of it was true. The level of diversity in L.A. Fire Department personnel is typical of most urban fire departments in the U.S. The Southern California reservoirs were full, above historic levels. Water intended for the city was not diverted to save a fish called the smelt. Some hydrants went dry because they were intended for use against urban fires — houses, buildings in a self-contained area for a limited time — not wild-blown wildfires spreading over many acres for many days. 

Janisse Quiñones, chief engineer of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, said, “We are fighting a wildfire with urban water systems, and that is an unprecedented kind of event.” Quiñones added that experts have seen wildland fires move into urban areas only in the last 10 to 15 years and that they’re still figuring out how to address it.

“The way that firefighting has traditionally been, there are wildland firefighters and agencies, and then there are urban firefighters and agencies,” she said. “Are we having wildland firefighters fighting fires in urban areas or the reverse? Sometimes the approaches are really different.”

All this brings to mind an interview with Denzel Washington I saw last week. When asked about today’s media, he said: “If you don’t read the newspapers, you’re uninformed. If you do read the newspapers, you’re misinformed.” 

He went on: “What is the long-term effect of too much information? One thing is the need to be first. … We live in a society where it’s just, get it out there, be first! It doesn’t matter if it’s true, who it hurts, who it destroys, just be first. So what a responsibility [the media] have — to tell the truth!” 

To which, I would add: What a responsibility you and I have — to seek out the truth, and to learn not to blindly swallow the first piece of information offered, no matter who offers it, no matter how it tickles your confirmation biases. A hot take is seldom the best take. 

Categories
News News Feature

New Year, New Goals?

Photo: Clay Banks | Unsplash

Are you starting the year off with fresh financial goals? Great! Recommitting to your finances by focusing on your goals is a great way to enter the new year. One of the best ways to ensure progress toward your goals is by considering how they impact each part of your financial plan and making updates to accommodate them, including the following.

Account for life events.
One of the most important reasons to continually update your financial plan is to ensure it continues to meet your needs as your life evolves over time. Anytime you experience a major life change, such as a marriage, divorce, new baby, death of a loved one, new job, etc., work with your wealth manager to make sure that change is accounted for across all aspects of your financial plan. 

Update your goals.
Your goals may not be the same today as they were a year ago. Maybe you successfully saved for a down payment on a home and made a purchase. Perhaps your son graduated college and you no longer need to plan for that expense. Maybe you injured yourself skiing and decided that purchasing a ski condo is no longer something you wish to pursue. Whatever changes may have occurred in your goals over the last year, be sure to incorporate them into your financial plan. 

Minimize your taxes.
Proactive tax planning can lead to significant savings over time, which is why it’s important to regularly check in on your tax planning strategies. A fiduciary financial advisor should regularly review your portfolio’s tax efficiency and make changes as necessary to help minimize your tax liabilities. However, it’s still important to check in and ensure you’re taking advantage of all tax planning strategies available to you. 

Check in on your investments.
When you and your wealth manager first established your portfolio’s asset allocation, you carefully chose a mix of investments you believed would give you the best possible chance of achieving your financial goals. You should review your investments and target allocation with your wealth manager in your annual reviews, discussing whether any changes should be made (as life events take place and risk tolerances vary). 

If you regularly review your investments, your allocation can begin to drift away from your targets (as some sectors outperform others over time). It’s important to periodically rebalance your portfolio back to your original (or an updated) asset allocation. Rebalancing is the process of selling off outperforming investments and reinvesting in lower-performing assets in order to get back to your target allocation. While this may seem counterintuitive, it prevents your allocation from drifting too far from your target investment ranges. This is an important risk management strategy because it prevents one asset type from dominating your portfolio and exposing you to too much risk. 

Plan for retirement.
Planning for retirement is an important goal to focus on at any age. In fact, the younger you start, the better off you’ll be when you’re ready to retire. As you review your financial plan, don’t forget to review progress toward your retirement goals. If your financial situation allows, talk with your wealth manager about possibly increasing or even maximizing your 401(k) and/or IRA contributions.

Prepare for emergencies.
If you don’t already have an emergency fund, consider starting one as soon as possible. Generally, you should have at least three to six months’ worth of expenses set aside in a liquid account for emergency use. If you have an emergency fund in place but have recently dipped into it, be sure to focus on building it back up to your ideal level. 

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

Categories
Fun Stuff News of the Weird

News of the Weird: Week of 01/16/25

The Passing Parade

Have you ever really loved a car? The Polara family of Padarshinga Village in India really loved their 18-year-old Suzuki Wagon R, Oddity Central reported. They believed the hatchback to be their lucky car, so when it burned its last gallon of gas, they gave it a special send-off: a lavish burial ceremony attended by more than 1,500 guests. The Polaras had a 15-foot-deep hole dug on their property, then had the car, covered with flowers and decorated with garlands, lowered into it as music played. The ceremony included several rituals and cost the Polaras more than $4,500. “This car was more than just a vehicle,” Sanjay Polara said. “It was part of our journey toward success.” He plans to plant a tree over the grave as a marker.

News You Can Use

Looking for a torture method even more sinister than sitting across from your politically outspoken cousin at the holiday dinner table? LAD Bible reported on Nov. 21 that Italian monk Franciscus Brunus de San Severino described “goat’s tongue” in his 1502 treatise on torture methods — but it’s not entirely clear whether the medieval practice actually took place. It involves soaking the subject’s feet in saltwater, then securing them in a stock and letting a goat lick them to the point of peeling and bleeding. The torture method, which may date back to ancient Rome, could have resulted in death from infection.

The Golden Age of Air Travel

• On Nov. 25 at Boston’s Logan International Airport, two planes got a tad too chummy on the tarmac, Fox News reported. An American Airlines Boeing 777 was being towed when its wing clipped the wing of a Frontier Airlines Airbus A321 that was parked at a gate, the Federal Aviation Administration said. There were no injuries reported to passengers, but all passengers exited the planes, and American removed its plane from service. Frontier said all passengers would receive a $100 travel voucher, as well as the option to rebook on Frontier or receive a full refund. An airport spokesperson called it a minor incident.

• On Nov. 16, aboard United Airlines flight 502 from Austin, Texas, to Los Angeles, one traveler lost his composure and started beating up … his seat. The New York Post reported that the unnamed man, dressed in sweats, stood on his seat and repeatedly kicked its backrest as bystanders watched and took video. “The flight attendant walked by a couple times, nobody was doing anything,” said witness Gino Galofaro. He and two other passengers decided to take matters into their own hands, zip-tying the irate passenger’s hands and feet and strapping him into a seat. About an hour later, as the flight landed, law enforcement met them at the gate. United Airlines said he has been banned from future flights.

Unclear on the Concept

Sam, 22, is an assistant manager at a frozen yogurt shop in Florida, Newsweek reported on Dec. 26, but even at his young age, he is able to recognize cash that might be counterfeit. Unlike his employees, that is, who flagged a $10 bill and a $5 bill as FAKE. “I shed a tear because of the sharpie they scrawled onto the bills,” he wrote on Reddit. Sam said he had to explain that the bills were “just old, not counterfeit.” He admitted that people his age and younger might rarely use cash: “It’s a digital world nowadays, so I would suspect that to be one reason [they flagged the bills].”

Questionable Judgment

On Dec. 17, California Highway Patrol officers in Madera County shared a photo on Facebook of a Honda Ridgeline truck they had pulled over, Carscoops reported. With an unintentional nod to The Grapes of Wrath, the truck was piled to at least twice its height with random items, some of which were flying off into traffic, officers said. “It is important to always secure your load/cargo and not exceed your vehicle’s load capacity,” CHP cautioned. “Flying debris can make motorists take evasive action and potentially be involved in a traffic crash.”

Send your weird news items with subject line WEIRD NEWS to WeirdNewsTips@amuniversal.com.

NEWS OF THE WEIRD
© 2025 Andrews McMeel Syndication.
Reprinted with permission.
All rights reserved.

Categories
Opinion The Last Word

Of Fathers and Faulkner

Faulkner and friends (2010) (Photo: Sharon Murtaugh)

For two decades, I have begun the calendar year by reading a William Faulkner novel. My father died in September 2005, and he loved Faulkner. Reading stories by the Nobel Prize-winning author is a method for having a conversation with Dad, even if it’s internal, entirely private. Flem Snopes, after all, demands discussion. Furthermore, the American South’s greatest scribe helps me connect more deeply to the place where I live and the people who occupy the Mid-South, both present and past.

My January visit with Faulkner — and Dad — has me considering 2025 on a larger scale, one with current events in the mix, and beyond the Mid-South. We will inaugurate a new (though quite familiar) president on Martin Luther King Day. And it’s hard to imagine a greater contrast between two American men: the 47th president and the slain civil rights leader for whom the holiday is named. Faulkner would find such a character contrast fodder for a good tale: a latter-day Snopes taking the highest office in the land while the racial and ethical fabric of a country stretches to a ripping point. What is morality when there is profit to be made?

Reading Faulkner is hard. His plotlines are seldom linear. Characters are introduced with flashbacks and sudden trauma. I’m not sure stream of consciousness was even a thing before The Sound and the Fury. And William Faulkner does not do happy endings. The lone thread you’ll find connecting his entire canon: loss. The loss of a loved one. The loss of property or fortune. And, most poignantly, the loss of time. The fact is, we lose as we live, each passing day adding a new layer to the past we must both process and manage in tackling our next venture.

Whichever “side of the aisle” you prefer, the coming months and years will be abrasive for American life. A person driven by the attention he gains is in a position to shake the federal government in ways it’s not been shaken before. Millions adore him for this. Millions fear him for this. We may be one country, these United States, but we are living with a fissure deeper and darker than any Faulkner may have placed in Yoknapatawpha County.

And this is where we each have a role to play, each of us a character Faulkner may have dreamed up for a 21st-century version of The Hamlet, but with an entire nation as backdrop. (Shakespeare called us “players.” Imagine what the Bard would have to say about the current stage.) What kind of impact will you make on the town square? In the workplace? At the dinner table? How will you touch lives for the better? And, Faulkner would want to know, will impacting lives bring pleasure or pain? Life’s simpler for the likes of Flem, every relationship a net profit or loss. Don’t be Flem Snopes.

I visit Oxford, Mississippi, periodically. I find the grounds of Rowan Oak — Faulkner’s home — especially tranquil. I like to imagine the thinking and conversations that occurred on this lone patch of American real estate. I assure you, it wasn’t always linear, and there was plenty of loss. These days, you can even sit on a bench next to Faulkner (a bronze version) in Oxford’s town square. I’ve done so with my daughters. I’ve even worn my dad’s hat. Again, the conversations are internal, but very real. My next visit to Rowan Oak — sometime in 2025 — will include some thinking about how and why? They are challenging questions these days.

Faulkner was a young man during the Great War and an acclaimed author when Pearl Harbor was attacked in 1941. He knew hard times. They steered his writing and shaped his memorable characters. Were he to appear in 2025 America, I’m not convinced Faulkner would be any more afraid now than he was in the times that challenged his own life. This is humanity. It’s who we are. And yes, Snopes now and then.

William Faulkner accepted his Nobel Prize on December 10, 1950, and delivered a speech my father cherished, one I carry inside my own heart. “I believe that man will not merely endure: He will prevail. He is immortal, not because he alone among creatures has an inexhaustible voice, but because he has a soul, a spirit capable of compassion and sacrifice and endurance.”

These are times to endure. May the wind be at your back. 

Frank Murtaugh is the managing editor of Memphis Magazine. He writes the columns “From My Seat” and “Tiger Blue” for the Flyer.

Categories
Beyond the Arc Sports

Grizzlies Can’t Stave Off Late Rockets Rally

Jaren Jackson Jr. handles the ball against Dillon Brooks in Houston. (Credit: NBAE/Getty Images.)

It’s become the tale of these two teams this season — a tight game ending in a loss for Memphis. Monday night, the Grizzlies battled and fell short against the Houston Rockets in a 120-118 loss. The loss comes less than a week after the Rockets defeated the Grizzlies 119-115 in Memphis.

After leading by as many as 13 points, the Grizzlies could not overcome Houston’s surging offense in the fourth quarter, led by Jalen Green and Amen Thompson. Green led all scorers with 42 points, and added 3 rebounds, and 4 assists.

Turnovers plagued both teams, with Memphis committing 18 turnovers, leading to 27 points, and Houston committing 23 turnovers, leading to 31 points. They were evenly matched in the paint, scoring 48 each, and the Grizzlies had the advantage in fast break points — 29 to 19.

Houston now leads the season series 3-0, and the two teams will meet for a final time on January 30th in Memphis.

Ja Morant led the Grizzlies in scoring with 29 points, and added 3 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals.

Desmond Bane added 25 points on 9 of 13 overall shooting and 4 of 5 from beyond the arc. He added 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals. Bane scored 15 of his 25 points in the third quarter, shooting 6 of 8 overall and 2 of 2 from three-point range.

Jaren Jackson Jr. finished with 17 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block while shooting 6 of 11 overall and 1 of 3 from beyond the arc.

Jaylen Wells added 14 points and 2 steals.

Jake LaRavia contributed 12 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 steals.

Who Got Next?

The Grizzlies are headed to San Antonio for back-to-back games against the Spurs — Wednesday, January 15, at 7 PM CST and Friday, January 17, at 8:30 PM CST.

Categories
Food & Drink Hungry Memphis

FOOD NEWS BITES: Mahogany Memphis to Close in February

Mahogany Memphis in Chickasaw Oaks Mall

Mahogany Memphis in Chickasaw Oaks Mall is closing in late February, says owner Carlee McCullough.

But her other restaurant, Mahogany River Oaks, will remain open.

Mahogany Memphis is “only open for special events through February 28th,” McCullough says.

Discussing the closing, she says, “I said, ‘You know what? Let me close it and focus all my energy on River Terrace,” adding, “We were doing everything we could to drive traffic to it. But it just wasn’t there. Once we opened up River Terrace, everybody’s there.”

Mahogany Memphis, which is at 3092 Poplar Avenue Number 11, opened in November 2018. It features “upscale Southern with a dash of Creole.”

Mahogany River Terrace, which opened in October on Mud Island, features “upscale Southern with a dash of Creole, and with an emphasis on seafood.”

Categories
Film Features Film/TV

Music Video Monday: “Hollon” by GloRilla

Public transportation is a big issue in Memphis. As Flyer writer Kailyn Johnson has reported, MATA is in deep disarray. Maybe it’s time to hand things over to the real professionals. Maybe it’s time to call in GloRilla.

And why not? GloRilla has a track record of success. Her debut long player Glorious peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100. Her tour with Megan Thee Stallion was the hottest thing in stadiums not involving Taylor Swift. This weekend, she’ll make her national television debut as the musical guest on “Saturday Night Live.” She’s unstoppable.

As we see in her latest music video, “Hollon,” Glo knows how to do mass transit right. Directed by Troy Roscoe, the video shows our hero in the driver’s seat where she belongs. If riders are at first turned off by her cannabis-forward commute, they come around by the time they reach their destination, which we can only assume is Party Central. Get on the bus.

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

Categories
Beyond the Arc Sports Uncategorized

Jackson Jr. Dominates, Morant Delivers Knockout Blow in Win Over Wolves

Jaren Jackson shoots the ball during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on January 11, 2025 (Photo by: David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)

A resilient Ja Morant exemplified the age-old adage, “it’s not how you start, but how you finish.” Despite a rough shooting night, Morant came through in the clutch, hitting two crucial baskets to propel the Memphis Grizzlies to a thrilling 127-125 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday. 

In his second game back from injury, Morant’s impressive floater over the outstretched arms of Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert capped a comeback from a six-point deficit with less than five minutes remaining.

Watch the remarkable plays here: 

Morant finished the game with 12 points, five rebounds and four assists. 

Memphis snapped a six-game road losing streak against the Timberwolves, securing its first win at Target Center since May 5, 2021.

Jaren Jackson Jr.’s explosive 33-point, eight-rebound outing propelled the Grizzlies to the victory, and a 25-14 record, with the standout forward displaying a potent mix of scoring firepower and defensive acumen.

He even had a highlight play of his own to beat the shot clock. 

The 25-year-old remains a vital piece of Memphis’ core, delivering impressive averages of 22.9 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, with a significant 28.2% usage rate, this season.

Desmond Bane turned in a well-rounded effort, scoring 21 points to go along with 5 rebounds and 5 assists. He’s also found his scoring stride of late, topping 20 points in five of his last six outings following a shooting drought.

Rookie Jaylen Wells showcased his defensive expertise, holding Timberwolves’ star guard Anthony Edwards to 2-of-7 shooting as the primary defender, according to NBA.com matchups. His impressive performance drew parallels to Grizzlies legend Tony Allen, known for his suffocating defense, with Wells effectively “shutting off the water” on the opposing scorer. Wells finished with 13 points and three steals. 

The 21-year-old should definitely be in the running for the Kia NBA Rookie of the Year. He’s averaging 11.7 points and 3.5 rebounds per game. 

The Grizzlies are headed to Houston to face off against their division rivals, the Houston Rockets, in a highly anticipated rematch. The Rockets edged the Grizzlies 119-115 at FedExForum on January 9, and Memphis is eager for payback. The matchup is set for January 13 at the Toyota Center in Houston with a tipoff at 7pm CT. 

Categories
Beyond the Arc Sports

Ja Morant Makes His Return in Loss to Rockets

Ja Morant shoots the ball against the Houston Rockets. (Credit: NBAE/Getty Images.)

The Memphis Grizzlies got their star point guard back, but still lost to the Houston Rockets on Thursday, 119-115. Memphis is 0-2 against Houston this season, and with their win, the Rockets take a 1.5-game lead over the Grizzlies for the second seed in the Western Conference.

The highlight of the game was Ja Morant’s return to action after missing five games due to a right AC joint sprain he suffered against the New Orleans Pelicans on December 27th. Morant led the Grizzlies with a team-high 27 points, and added 3 rebounds, and 3 assists.

Houston dominated throughout the first quarter, led by center Alperen Sengun’s 16 points. Memphis did themselves no favors in the first, committing four turnovers that led to eight points by the Rockets. If that sounds familiar, it’s because turnovers are the Grizzlies kryptonite this season.

Tightening up their ball handling and security would have made all the difference for Memphis, as most of their 20 turnovers were unforced — resulting from bad passes and sloppy ball handling. The Rockets converted those turnovers into 31 points, while limiting their own turnovers to 13, which led to 11 points by the Grizzlies. Houston had 12 more field goal attempts than Memphis, a product of the aforementioned turnovers.

Memphis did not lie down without a fight, and they were able to claw back and gain the lead from 17 points down in the third quarter.

The game also saw the return of Santi Aldama, who had missed six games due to a left ankle sprain. Aldama led the bench with 12 points and 9 rebounds.

Former Memphis Grizzly Dillon Brooks managed to commit a technical foul in the first 30 seconds of the game. Brooks, who was drafted by the Grizzlies in 2017 and played in Memphis for his first six seasons in the league, was not much help to Houston offensively, scoring just 5 points on 2 of 15 overall shooting and 1 of 8 from beyond the arc.

Neither team shot the long ball particularly well, with Memphis shooting a dismal 31.2% (10 of 32) from three-point range and Houston shooting 38.2% (13 of 34).

One small bright spot in this matchup was the Grizzlies dominating 62-48 in the paint.

By the numbers:

Jaren Jackson Jr. had 21 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and a season-high 6 blocks.

Desmond Bane was the only other starter to score in double figures, finishing with 16 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals.

Santi Aldama led the bench, as mentioned, and Luke Kennard added 11 points and 2 assists.

Who Got Next?

The Grizzlies hit the road for the next four games, starting with Minnesota, where they will face off against Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves on Saturday night. Tip-off is at 7 PM CST.