Author: Julia Baker

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Celebrate 901 Day at Exposure

CREDIT: New Memphis

Since 2016, New Memphis has hosted Exposure in conjunction with 901 Day and to carry along its mission of seeing to the prosperity and success of the city through growth, exposure, and support of local businesses, talent, government, communities, and education.

This year’s Exposure event, which falls three days before September 1st, celebrates the Bluff City while connecting longtime Memphians and newcomers alike to more than 175 local businesses and organizations.

“The event is kind of twofold,” says Anna Thompson, marketing communications manager for New Memphis. “If you’re a lifelong Memphian, you might not know all that Memphis has to offer because we’re moving, changing, and evolving every year. So we help to reignite Memphians’ love of their city. The second part of that is if you’re a newcomer, we want to ‘expose’ you to all of what Memphis has to offer, which is why it’s called Exposure.”

New Memphis

Expose yourself to good times.

Organizations representing categories like arts and culture, community, volunteer opportunities, fitness and outdoors, and social and entertainment will be set up in FedExForum’s concourse, with interactive activities like Southern Reins Center for Equine Therapy’s pool-noodle horse races and Memphis Escape Rooms’ 10-minute escape room challenge.

The Beale Street Flippers, Goldperms, and Opera Memphis are just a few of the performers providing entertainment on the two stages in the plaza and on the concourse.

Other events and offerings include giveaways to the first 200 attendees, celebrity bicentennial games, New Memphis T-shirts for sale, and a scavenger hunt with prizes like tablets and Explore Bike Share memberships.

For more information, visit exposurememphis.com.

Exposure, FedExForum, Thursday, August 29th, 6-8 p.m., free.

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Beat the Train: U of M Pedestrian Bridge Opens

CREDIT: Trey Clark/University of Memphis

Last Wednesday, University of Memphis’ new Hunter Harrison Memorial Bridge opened to the public, allowing students to cross over the railroad tracks that divide the campus between Walker and Southern Avenues.

“This bridge is a huge accomplishment, especially for the students, because for decades, they’ve been having to go across the railroad tracks to get from the south part of campus to the main part of the campus,” says Connie Thiemonge, assistant director of alumni relations at the University of Memphis. “We’re always concerned for student safety. And this has been years negotiating with the railroad companies and making sure that we can make this happen to keep the students safe.”

Construction on the bridge (and a new parking garage and amphitheater) began in May 2018 and wrapped up this month, right on track with the original projected deadline and just in time for the fall 2019 semester.

Trey Clark/University of Memphis

Like a bridge over busy train tracks

Trey Clark/University of Memphis

“We’ve been getting some fantastic responses from our alumni and friends on social media,” Thiemonge says. “Our alums can remember having to cross those tracks and ‘beat the train’ to get to class. Now that situation won’t be a problem. So we’re very excited to be able to offer this to our students.”

To celebrate, the University of Memphis Alumni Association hosts a bridge lighting in the new UofM Alumni Mall Amphitheatre this Friday. Open to the public, this event features performances by Mighty Sound of the South, Memphis Second Line Jazz Band, the Spirit Squad, and Pouncer.

“Pouncer is going to have a special guest push the magic button and bring the lights up,” says Thiemonge.

Guests are welcome to bring lawn chairs and blankets, and food and drink will be available for purchase.

Hunter Harrison Memorial Bridge Lighting, University of Memphis, Friday, August 30th, 7-9 p.m., free.

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Memphis Pets of the Week (8/27-9/2)

Each week, the Flyer will feature adoptable dogs and cats from Memphis Animal Services. All photos are credited to Memphis Pets Alive. More pictures and more information can be found on the Memphis Pets Alive Facebook page.
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Gong Meditation at Delta Groove

CREDIT: Laura Lee Madigan

Gong meditation is a form of sound therapy, dating as far back as 16,000 B.C., that uses a series of vibrations and sounds to induce a relaxed state in the listener.

Aaron Glazer, who leads this Thursday’s gong bath at Delta Groove Yoga, says benefits are subjective and vary from person to person.

“It can range from a very relaxing experience to completely allowing the mind to let go,” he says. “So what happens is the vibrations of the gong are not linear, and it’s not really something that the mind is used to following and keeping track of. So it forces you to let go. And it allows the intelligence of the body to be able to heal, whether you have a certain intention or if you leave it open-ended for whatever needs to happen in the body. And it’s just kind of trusting in the processes that are able to happen when we get out of our own way.”

Laura Lee Madigan

Looking for a way to quiet the mind? Try this — bang a gong, get it on, and a bang a gong.

To help guide users through meditation, Glazer uses mallets with varying levels of softness to create different soundscapes that can simulate whale sounds, deep space, or angels singing.

“The gong sounds from the front of the room, but sometimes you can’t even really tell where the sound is coming from,” Glazer says.

When asked if this effect was to disorient the listener, Glazer replies, “I think ‘reorient’ would be a better word for it.”

Gong Bath with Aaron Glazer, Delta Groove Yoga, Thursday, August 22nd, 8:30-9:30 p.m., $20.

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Midnight Yard Sale at the Hi Tone

CREDIT: Charles Nardi

The Hi Tone hosts its second Midnight Yard Sale this Friday, with items like art, vintage clothing, video game systems, and sound equipment for sale by independent sellers.

“I’ve always kept this in my back pocket in case a show canceled,” says Brian “Skinny” McCabe, owner of the Hi Tone. “Both of the shows I had scheduled in the big and small rooms canceled on the same day. It was really weird, but the first Midnight Yard Sale we threw a year and a half ago was a success, so I knew I had to do another one.”

Midnight Yard Sale is perfect for sellers who may not have the space to host their own yard sales and for buyers whose schedules don’t align with typical yard sale time slots.

Charles Nardi

Hi Tone

“We don’t close till 3 a.m. every night. So trying to get up on a Saturday morning at a reasonable hour and go to a yard sale can be kind of taxing,” says McCabe. “So I just had the idea. What if we just threw a late-night yard sale for restaurant employees and others who don’t get off work until 9 p.m. or later? Then they can just come yard sale-ing inside the Hi Tone after that and enjoy food and drinks while they’re at it.”

Slots for vendor booths filled up quickly, and the public will be able to browse stalls within the venue’s small room, big room, and lounge and inside OOTHOON’S (adjacent to the Hi Tone).

Many of the items that do not sell will be donated to the Union Mission.

Midnight Yard Sale, The Hi Tone and OOTHOON’S, Friday, August 23rd, 11:55 p.m., free.

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Memphis Pets of the Week (8/20/19-8/26/19)

Each week, the Flyer will feature adoptable dogs and cats from Memphis Animal Services. All photos are credited to Memphis Pets Alive. More pictures and more information can be found on the Memphis Pets Alive Facebook page.

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Always on My Mind

CREDIT: Elvis Presley Enterprises

Elvis Presley’s former residence, Graceland, has always been a popular destination for fans of the King.

“Even before his death, Elvis fans would always flock to Memphis hoping for a chance to see him leaving the Graceland mansion or to see him driving around on Elvis Presley Boulevard,” says Christian Ross, Graceland’s PR specialist. “The year after he passed in August of 1977, his fans continued to line up outside of his mansion, but this time, it was to honor his memory.”

Elvis Presley Enterprises

Candlelight Vigil

Fans gathered around the mansion, holding candles and leaving floral arrangements, cards, and other tokens of appreciation, to pay their respects to the dearly departed. Since this initial (and unofficial) ceremony more than 40 years ago, fans have continued to rally annually to celebrate his life. The Candlelight Vigil, which is now an official commemoration and which has become a time-honored tradition, attracts thousands of fans from all over the world who exhibit a strong sense of comradery.

“It’s heartwarming to see all of the relationships and friendships that have been built because of a shared love for Elvis and his music,” Ross says. “It’s also been an opportunity for families to bond and create new memories for children who might not have otherwise been exposed to Elvis. It keeps his memory and his legacy alive for these new generations.”

Anyone interested in joining the commemoration is encouraged to arrive early to allow for road blockages and traffic. Anyone who is not able to make it may access a live stream of the vigil by visiting graceland.com.

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Across the Continuum

CREDIT: Jamie Harmon

Jenny Davis, project coordinator for Crosstown Arts and originator of Continuum Music Festival, hopes to bring together artists who come from different creative worlds.

“The mission of Continuum is essentially as the name of the festival suggests,” says Davis. “We’re trying to present music that’s kind of across the continuum of musical genres — artists and groups ranging in genres like classical, jazz, and opera.”

One of the performing acts, Blueshift Ensemble, for which Davis is director and a flutist, has a unique collaboration in store. The classical chamber group will perform scores written by ICEBERG New Music, a group of composers from New York who are dedicated to widening the possibilities of music. “This year, we’re also bringing in Cities Aviv, a local rapper who is going to be singing and taking the role of MC during our compositions,” Davis says.

Jamie Harmon

Strings and things

Other performances within Crosstown Concourse’s numerous venues, like the Green Room and Crosstown Theater, include “As One,” a chamber opera created by Laura Kaminsky, Mark Campbell, and Kimberly Reed (presented by Opera Memphis); Project Logic with MonoNeon, Vernon Reid, and Daru Jones; and Duet for Theremin and Lap Steel.

Ultimately, Davis says, “I hope there’s something for everyone — something that they might be familiar with or want to come and check out. And while they’re there, they might hear these other groups they’re not familiar with.”

To see the full lineup and get tickets, visit crosstownarts.org.

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Memphis Pets of the Week (August 13-19)

Each week, the Flyer will feature adoptable dogs and cats from Memphis Animal Services. All photos are credited to Memphis Pets Alive. More pictures and more information can be found on the Memphis Pets Alive Facebook page.

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Peace, Love, & Streetdog

CREDIT: Streetdog Foundation

Streetdog Foundation (SDF), a local nonprofit pup rescue organization dedicated to keeping at-risk and endangered dogs off the streets, celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. And to ring in a new decade of saving canines, SDF hosts Peace, Love, & Streetdog at Loflin Yard this Saturday.

“At any given time, we have between 60 and 75 dogs available for adoption,” says Laura Lines, media coordinator for the foundation. Around 10 of these puppers will come to represent the many dogs looking for homes.

“Volunteers will be available to talk about and answer questions about the dogs,” Lines says. “We will have a multimedia slideshow to show the rest of the dogs available for adoption and all the other dogs who have been adopted through Streetdog.”

Streetdog Foundation

It’s a dog’s life, and it can be ruff.

With a donation of $15, guests will receive a tie-dye pint glass, which can be filled with any specialty drink. Guests will also be able to participate in activities including a best dog collar contest, silent auction, and raffle. Prizes include a tour and tasting at Old Dominick Distillery, pet grooming products basket, Hollywood Feed gift basket, and artwork. A large anniversary cake for everyone to share serves as icing on the cake.

Since the foundation’s opening in 2009, more than 1,200 dogs have been rescued, and to keep the mission going, they’re always looking for volunteers, adopters, and foster parents.

For more information, visit their website at streetdogfoundation.com or find them on Facebook.