Author: Julia Baker

Categories
We Recommend We Recommend

In Memory: Día de los Muertos Parade & Festival this Saturday

CREDIT: Kevin Reed

Cazateatro Bilingual Theater Group and the Brooks Museum will host a celebration for the community’s deceased loved ones during their Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) parade and festival this Saturday, November 2nd.

Día de los Muertos celebrations, originating from Mexico, have extended to the U.S. And people like Monica Sanchez, assistant director and co-founder of Cazateatro, want people to know that, no matter one’s heritage, anyone is welcome to celebrate and honor their dearly departed on this day.

Kevin Reed

Día de los Muertos parade

“The more you know about your neighbors, the stronger your community will be,” says Sanchez.

The parade, which kicks off at the Tower Courtyard at Overton Square, will feature a number of floats by local organizations like Comunidades Unidas en Una Voz (or United Communities in One Voice), Memphis Police Department, Latino Memphis, and more.

“One of the floats is going to look like a cemetery, where people can leave ofrendas [or offerings] for their loved ones,” she says.

The Memphis Police Department will honor fallen officers, and Comunidades Unidas will pay their respects to migrants who died this year. Attendees are also encouraged to bring photos of their loved ones.

The parade fleet will head toward Brooks for a fiesta, where attendees can get sugar skull face paintings, do crafts, shop with art vendors, enjoy live music and dance performances, and learn more about the holiday from helpful guides dressed as Las Catrinas.

“If you don’t understand what is going on, our Catrinas — ladies with humongous and beautiful dresses with their faces painted as sugar skulls — will be giving cards with information about the meaning of Día de los Muertos and the meaning of a La Catrina,” says Sanchez.

Día de los Muertos Parade and Festival, Overton Square and Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, Saturday, November 2nd, 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., free.

Categories
We Recommend We Recommend

Naughty Nightmares Burlesque this Weekend

CREDIT: Madison Hurley

Memphis Burlesque Productions, formerly Sock It To Me Productions, will be hosting its annual sexy Halloween show this Saturday at Club Spectrum.

At Naughty Nightmares! A Haunted House of Burlesque, Lady Doo Moi and friends will provide a one-of-a-kind experience.

As guests arrive, they’ll see a special surprise: a “resurrection” of a piece of Club Spectrum’s predecessor, Club 616. After that, guests will walk through a spider tunnel maze in the lounge side, which will allow them to explore “five rooms of naughty terror,” which may or may not contain gothic dolls, contortionists from Queer Circus Girl Productions, and more.

Madison Hurley

Lady Doo Moi’s Naughty Nightmares

On the live side, the real magic happens. Eleven entertainers performing double sets, some including fire and aerial performances, will take on the personae of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, werewolves, ghosts, and more.

Doo Moi says she’s “dusting off her boots” and bringing back an award-winning Pink Floyd-inspired The Wall performance that’s guaranteed to be a “creepy, fun, cool act.”

She’s been doing a lot of “hunting and gathering” to provide this sexy, interactive experience. And, she says, she derives a great deal of inspiration for this from helping her mother build haunted houses every year as a child.

“As a kid growing up watching, learning, helping, and being a character in the haunted house for pretty much every year of my childhood that I can remember, it’s part of the creativity I’ve got instilled in my brain, and to do this is like a dream come true for me,” she says.
Naughty Nightmares! A Haunted House of Burlesque, Club Spectrum, Saturday, October 26th, 8:30-11:59 p.m., $20 for general admission, $30 for a single VIP seat.

Categories
We Recommend We Recommend

Spaceface Halloween at Crosstown Theater

CREDIT: Erika Mugglin

Spaceface is bringing its annual Spaceface Halloween concert to Crosstown Theater this weekend, and Jake Ingalls, singer and guitarist for the psychedelic rock band, promises an epic party.

Spaceface, known for its visually appealing backdrops, will be turning the theater into a Stranger Things-themed upside-down Snowball Dance (season 2, episode 9, for reference).

“Our goal with every show is, from the get-go, for people to walk in and see a completely different place than the one that they’ve been in before,” says Ingalls.
Erika Mugglin

To further set the scene, Spaceface will be dressing up like Stranger Things characters.

“I’ll be dressing up like Steve,” he says. “I’ve already got my Scoops Ahoy outfit.”

The other band members will dress like Hopper (Eric, singer), Eleven (Matt, guitar), Billy (Griffin, bass), Dustin (Peter, keys) and Barb (Big Red, drums).

For the first half of the show, Spaceface will be accompanied by the UpsideDown Ensemble (a 10-piece ensemble from Memphis Symphony Orchestra), two or three extra horn players from Louise Page’s band, and some Demogorgons.

“My friend Natalie is flying down from Grand Rapids,” says Ingalls. “She’s made a lot of props for us before, and she’s made an actual Demogorgon costume that she’ll be doing wacky stuff with.”

Ingalls says this show will double as a single release party for retrofuture tune “Panoramic View,” which will be dropping the day before along with a music video.

“For people who’ve been seeing us from the beginning, it’s actually one of our first songs from our first show that we played at Poplar Lounge back in 2012,” says Ingalls. “We sort of just let it fall by the wayside for some reason.”
Spaceface Halloween with The UpsideDown Ensemble, Crosstown Theatre (right behind the Central Atrium?), Saturday, October 26th, 7-11:30 p.m., $10 in advance, $15 at the door.

Categories
We Recommend We Recommend

Rally to Raise Awareness of Period Poverty this Weekend

CREDIT: Ainsley Feeney

Period., Inc. and its local chapter Period at 901 Memphis will host a rally this Saturday to address the issue of period poverty and advocate for making menstrual products accessible for all and ending the tampon tax.

For Ainsley Feeney, 16-year-old leader of Period at 901 Memphis, it all started when she saw a YouTube video talking about how homeless women often have to improvise and use cardboard and trash to take care of their periods.

Ainsley Feeney

Ainsley Feeney (front) with her crew at the bake sale that made their donation of the period packs possible.

“It was kind of a gut punch to me because that was never something I thought of before,” she says. “I’ve always been privileged to have access to menstrual products.”

A month or two after her realization, she found out about Period, Inc. and jumped at the chance to start a local chapter. She started with a bake sale and donation drive, putting together 120 period packs to be donated to the Shelby County Crime Victims and Rape Crisis Center.

Now, Feeney wants others to be aware of and join the cause.

“We have access to toilet paper,” she says. “I use the example that if public bathrooms didn’t supply toilet paper, there would be riots in the streets. But why is it any different with menstrual products?”

Tennessee is one of 35 states that charge tax for what should be considered an essential, untaxed item, and with 46 percent of low-income women having to choose between period products and meals, Feeney thinks it’s certainly time for a change.

“We’re not going to stop until every single menstruator has access to menstrual products and can feel confident and clean on their period,” says Feeney.

Tennessee National Period Day Rally, Overton Park, Saturday, October 19th, 2-4 p.m., free.

Categories
We Recommend We Recommend

Paranormal Pop-Up: The Parting at Evergreen Theatre

CREDIT: Lost In Found

This Thursday through Saturday, local theater group Lost in Found invites the public to Evergreen Theatre to explore their Paranormal Popup, a visually appealing and immersive experience that will put guests through past tragedies that occurred at the theater while encountering the “macabre and menacing inhabitants” that lurk throughout the building.

According to legend, a mysterious sinkhole developed at the location following the New Madrid earthquakes of 1811, bringing about strange apparitions and creatures. Although the glitzy and glamorous Ritz movie theater was built on top of the sinkhole, that did not stop the inhabitants from haunting and tormenting anyone in their way.

Lost In Found

The Parting brings theatrical terror to the Evergreen Theatre.

“Whatever’s coming out from the sinkhole in the basement, we’re not sure what it is,” says Julia Hinson, a staff member of Lost in Found.

Guests will be able to investigate these strange beings while walking throughout different areas of the theater and seeing different stories of events that took place.

“In one of the dressing rooms, you’ll see an actress from the 1980s as she’s about to go on stage, and she’s having some struggles,” says Hinson.

She didn’t want to give too much of the story away, however, so people will have to go and see for themselves.

Lost in Found’s mission is to bring a unique approach to performance while highlighting the beauty of history.

“Our biggest goal is to look around Memphis for spaces that need some life or want some life,” says Hinson. “We are interested in highlighting Memphis history, even if it has a little twist to it, just to get people involved in their city and creating community.”

The Parting, Evergreen Theatre, Thursday, October 17th, through Saturday, October 19th, showings at 7 p.m., 8 p.m., 9 p.m., 10 p.m., $30.

Categories
We Recommend We Recommend

Pink Palace Crafts Fair Returns this Weekend

CREDIT: Pink Palace Museum

More than 200 craftspeople offering pottery, glasswork, jewelry, and more will flock to Audubon Park this weekend to take part in the 47th annual Pink Palace Crafts Fair.

“Pink Palace Crafts Fair has been a time-honored tradition for nearly 50 years,” says Linda Foster, co-chairman of the event. “It’s been going on for quite a while, and we’ve even got some people working with us at the crafts fair who were involved with the first one.”

This year, the fair continues its tradition of honoring “the very best” in crafts and art by showcasing one-of-a-kind arts and crafts, as well as live musical acts, food, and beverages.

Pink Palace Museum

Pink Palace Crafts Fair

Juried and demonstrating craftsmen will be available to show the public how their items were made.

“This is a big hit with the kids,” says Foster. “They get to see the crafts made in action, and they realize that things don’t just come from the store.”

A number of performing and musical acts will take the stage over the course of three days, including Ukulele Flash Mob, Mystic River Dance, and Memphissippi Sounds.

A culinary tent will provide a range of grub from fudge to soup, and food trucks will serve their fare, as well.

The event is hosted by Friends of the Pink Palace, a group of volunteers dedicated to fund-raising for the museum.

“We serve over 30,000 county school children every year,” says Foster. “We’re excited that we can continue to provide educational experiences for these children.”

Pink Palace Crafts Fair, Audubon Park, Friday, October 11th through Sunday, October 13th, $5-10 for one day, $17 for two-day pass.

Categories
We Recommend We Recommend

Beer for the Wiesn at Crosstoberfest Saturday

CREDIT: Crosstown Brewing Co.

Can’t make it to Munich for Oktoberfest but still want to celebrate? Don’t fret. You’ll be able to sample German-style beers at Crosstown Brewing Co.’s second annual Crosstoberfest.

“It’s probably the best opportunity to get the full-on German Oktoberfest experience, but in Memphis,” says Clark Ortkiese, owner of Crosstown Brewing.

While this one-day celebration isn’t as long as Germany’s official multiple-day beer-drinking holiday, guests will feel like they’re in Germany, with authentic decor, stein-hoisting competition, bratwurst-eating competition, live German music, and more. All of this with their seasonal Crosstoberfest festbier or the summer seasonal German pilsner, Terraplane, in hand makes for a prime in-town Oktoberfest getaway.

Crosstown Brewing Co.

Raise a stein at Crosstoberfest.

A craft beer tent will offer free samples of Crosstown Brewing’s German beers and other brews, and beer representatives will be available to answer questions.

“Bell’s Brewery [from Michigan] will also be there offering some of their wares, like a brown ale and their Oktoberfest beer,” says Ortkiese.

To soak up all of the tasty brews in your system, an array of food trucks and booths, such as Flying Saucer and New Wing Order, will be on-site.

“And one of our neighbors, Next Door American Eatery, will be here,” says Ortkiese. “They’re good friends of ours, and we love hanging out with them.”

Crosstoberfest is open to the whole family, with live performances by Mighty Souls Polka Band (with Sean Murphy of the Mighty Souls Brass Band) and DJ Oompahstar, shopping, and a multitude of children’s activities, like face painting, pumpkin decorating, and an Art-Toberfest crafts area for coloring and painting.

The best part?

“This event is free to attend,” says Ortkiese. “That’s been a big part of the things that happen at Crosstown Concourse that we love.”

Crosstoberfest, Crosstown Brewing Co., Saturday, October 12th, 11 a.m.- 7 p.m., free.

Categories
We Recommend We Recommend

Space Jazz: Michal Menert at Growlers

CREDIT: Jason MacLeod

Michal Menert, a Polish-American electronic music producer known for his experimentation with nu jazz, hip-hop, and trip-hop sounds and for his collaborations with fellow electronic artist Pretty Lights and Grateful Dead and Dead & Company percussionist Mickey Hart, makes his way to Growlers to perform a solo DJ set.

Although he’s not specifically promoting it, his latest album Slow Coast III, released in March, features a range of experimental techniques and instruments, such as the taishōgoto (a Japanese stringed instrument).

Jason MacLeod

Michal Menert

“A long time ago, we realized we’ll never have a perfectly tuned and precise studio at home, so instead of making things sound perfect and sterile, we started to purposely pursue terrible sounding things that we could refine into interesting tunes,” says Menert. “I feel lucky that I’ve been able to do things on my own terms, without having to cater to trends.”

The album, a third installment of Menert’s Slow Coast series, was inspired by his love for fantasy and for the Northern California coast.

“This installment of Slow Coast was inspired by a hazy fantasy realm I was imagining while piecing it together,” he says. “I pictured dark skies, a sorcerer returning from exile, and a world of destructive chaos desperate for magic. All of these things play out in my mind with the rocky coasts and giant redwood forests around me serving as backgrounds, even though the narrative isn’t necessarily apparent in the music itself.”

Between finding the right balance between touring and recording, Menert is looking forward to his performance in Memphis.

“One of my favorite people, Brock from Zoogma, is from there, and he’s definitely shown me a hell of a good time with great people in Memphis,” he says.

Michal Menert with Defcon Engaged, Maverick 1990, and Cel Shade at Growlers, Thursday, October 3rd, 9 p.m.-1 a.m., $15/advance, $20/door.

Categories
We Recommend We Recommend

Go With the Flow: World Hoop Day Celebration at Paint Memphis

CREDIT: Grind City Flow Festival

Ellen Phillips twirled her LED hula hoop around the dance floor at the new Black Lodge on Cleveland during Cooper-Young Fest weekend, spinning out custom patterns like cartoon slices of pizza and Mario Kart mushrooms.

I approached her and asked where she got such a stunning hula hoop. She handed me her hoop and replied, “Here, do you want to play with it?”

A novice at best, I spun the hoop around my waist for a moment, wishing I’d known more hoop tricks.

Grind City Flow Festival

It’s all in the hips.

As it turns out, Phillips is a professional hooper and a leader of Grind City Flow Festival, a team of instructors dedicated to providing the Memphis community with flow arts workshops. The group has organized a series of hoop instruction and choreography classes for attendees at Paint Memphis, an annual one-day festival committed to bringing artists together for a collaborative mural project.

“So someone comes in, learns to waist hoop, learns to hoop juggle, does a little fun paint hooping,” she says. “We’ll drill holes in some of the hoops and put paint inside them, and hoopers will just spin the hoop around their waist, and they’ll be creating art.”

Phillips and her colleague, Hallie Star, will also lead a flash mob choreography workshop, teaching basic tricks and moves to students, who will use what they’ve learned to perform alongside Mighty Souls Brass Band at the festival.

“Everyone’s invited to come out,” she says. “It doesn’t matter what gender or size you are. Hooping is good for everyone. And we’re excited to be hosting the first official World Hoop Day celebration in Memphis.”

World Hoop Day celebration at Paint Memphis 2019, Historic Lamar Theatre, 1688-1730 Lamar Ave., Saturday, October 5th, 2-10 p.m., free.

Categories
We Recommend We Recommend

Tim and Eric’s David Liebe Hart Peforms at CANVAS

CREDIT: Jessica Pohl

David Liebe Hart, musician, puppeteer, and actor known for his bizarre puppetry and voice characterizations on Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Good Job!, hosts the Carnival for a Cause FunRazor at CANVAS of Memphis this weekend.

At this fund-raising event, Hart will bewilder and entertain the audience with songs about extraterrestrials, trains, and ghosts, with the help of partner-in-crime Jonah Mociun’s electronic beats and Hart’s puppet sidekicks.

“I do a mixture of electronic music, country western, and rock-and-roll,” says Hart. “I’ve experimented with lots of genres. The only music I just can’t get into is rap music because it’s sending out negativity of violence and disrespect for women, disrespect for the law, and killing each other. I just can’t go there.”

Jessica Pohl

David Liebe Hart

But, as it turns out, Hart’s main sidekick puppet, Chip the Black Boy, raps.

“That’s Jonah’s doing,” says Hart. “He’s got my puppet being bad. Chip used to be on a puppet show on The Junior Christian Science Bible Lesson Program, but now he’s made to become an evil rap guy.”

Hart credits many notable artists as his influences, such as Jim Henson, a renowned puppeteer known for his work on Sesame Street and The Muppets.

“Jim Henson was my Sunday school teacher in the Christian Science Church,” says Hart.

In between musical numbers, Hart will share stories of his alleged alien abduction, relationship troubles, and whatever else comes to mind.

Hart says that not only will the performance help to raise funds for P.A.S.S. Forward Liberty, Memphis Arts Movement, and Pigtopia, but also the audience’s energy. “Music raises the vibrations of people to be happy and gives them energy to enjoy life,” he says. “Comedy does the same, and so does acting.”

Carnival for a Cause FunRazor, CANVAS of Memphis, Thursday, September 26th, 2 p.m.-12:30 a.m., $10 G.A., $30 VIP.