Category: We Saw You

WE SAW YOU: Crafts & Drafts

Post author By Michael Donahue
Post date November 20, 2024

Justyn Ward, Larry King, Daverix Cleaves, Zykel Pirtle (Photos: Michael Donahue)

About 4,000 to 5,000 people attended this year’s Crafts & Drafts, which was held November 9th at Crosstown Concourse and hosted by the Memphis Flyer and Crosstown Arts.

**Sage, Sheila, and**
**Rogers Sanders**

And, this year, the event was held completely inside, instead of half outside and half in.

“First time we’ve ever done it completely indoors because of the weather,” says event manager Molly Willmott. “It was a roaring success.”

**Max McClusky, Rain Wright, and Olive Stevens**

About 85 curated artists, makers, and crafters took part in the event.

As for the drafts, Willmott says, “We partner with Eagle Distributing. They give us a list of the most interesting and creative beers on tap at this moment. They do this for each of these events.”

The brews include some local and some regional, Willmott says.

“The whole point of the event is to showcase the best local and Mid-South artists and makers and give them a venue to promote themselves and showcase their wares. And still stay true to the Memphis Flyer’s mission, which is to make Memphis a better place to live. Elevating and sharing people doing great things.”

Tags Crafts & Drafts, Crosstown Arts, Crosstown Concourse, We Saw You

We Recommend We Saw You

WE SAW YOU: 901 Hot Wing Festival

Post author By Michael Donahue
Post date November 13, 2024

Stewart Guenther recently had people in tears. And it wasn’t because of a funny joke he told.

**Ashton Catlett and**
**Harper Timmerman**

Guenther, who participated in the 901 Hot Wing Festival, let people try the wings he cooked using a wing sauce made from the Carolina Reaper pepper. That pepper, one of the hottest in the world, is only surpassed, according to a Google search, by one known as Pepper X.

Guenther’s team, Whiskey & Swine, was among the 15 teams participating in the event, which was held November 2nd at Grind City Brewing Company. “We mostly compete in barbecue contests, in which chicken is one of the categories,” he says. “We do chicken, but it’s always chicken thighs. We’ve never turned in wings for competition except at this event.”

Grind City owner Hopper Seely created a new brew — Cranberry Beret —for the occasion. “It’s a cranberry seltzer, but it uses real cranberry juice,” Seely says.

Cranberry Beret is available in the tap room, he adds.

Tags 901 Hot Wing Festival, Grind City Brewing Company, We Saw You

We Recommend We Saw You

WE SAW YOU: Monogram Foods’ Meat Me in Memphis

Post author By Michael Donahue
Post date November 6, 2024

Lori and Jeffrey Goldberg and Jeff Morris and Dawn Gallagher (Photos: Michael Donahue)

“Meat” rhymes with “eat,” so that’s apropos for the “Meat Me in Memphis” gala. Everyone was encouraged to eat.

The gala is the annual fundraiser for the Monogram Foods Loves Kids Foundation.

Monogram founders Karl Schledwitz and Wes Jackson, and their wives Gail and Suzanne, were at the food tasting event, which was held October 21st at the Renasant Center.

**Karl and Gail Schledwitz and**
**Suzanne Jackson with her husband Wes**

About 700 attended the gala, which, in addition to cuisine from 12 food stations, featured music by Sound Fuzion from University of Memphis and both live and silent auctions.

“We believe this year’s Monogram Loves Kids Gala raised the most money from one event in the history of Memphis,” Schledwitz says. “Over $1.1 million.

**Belinda and Calvin Anderson and B.J. Worthy**

“This was our 14th year and each year it keeps getting bigger and better. And this year was no exception. It was phenomenal.”

Tags Meat Me in Memphis, Monogram Foods

We Recommend We Saw You

WE SAW YOU: RiverArtsFest

Post author By Michael Donahue
Post date October 30, 2024

Erika Pittman and Beth Wilson (Photos: Michael Donahue)

Danny Barlow recently attended his first RiverArtsFest, which was held October 19th and 20th on Riverside Drive.

“We kind of stumbled on it,” says Barlow, who attended with Kendra Hall. “We were Downtown doing a picnic and were looking for food.”

**Vicki Phillips and**
**Vincent Price**

He was impressed with a man out of California who made watches. “I want to get connected with him. I want to get a couple of watches made.”

Around 165 artists markets were featured at this year’s event, which marked the 18th anniversary of RiverArtsFest, says founder and longtime board member Chuck Mitchell.

**Josh and Lyndsey Hammond and**
**Harold Graeter**

He had great feedback from the artists. “All of them are thrilled with their experience here,” Mitchell says. “Hopefully, they sell a lot of artwork, but they’re always happy with how we treat them, load them in, and provide lunch for them in our hospitality tent.”

**Jack Isley, Jonah Green, Kim Eubank,**
**and Stefan Hochhuber**

**Chris Norwood, Teresa Spencer,**
**Winston Norwood**

And, he says, “We’re really trying to make it great for the artists to share a great experience in Memphis. And all love being in Memphis and being Downtown.”

Artists also head to Beale Street “and other areas after the festival closes each day.”

Tags Chuck Mitchell, Mid-South Artists, RiverArtsFest

We Recommend We Saw You

WE SAW YOU: Zoo Rendezvous

Post author By Michael Donahue
Post date October 2, 2024
No Comments on WE SAW YOU: Zoo Rendezvous

Patrick Morris, Kimberly Morris, Brenda Morris, and Herman Morris (Photos: Michael Donahue)

People still wore animal print outfits to the Zoo Rendezvous, but pink definitely was the color of choice at the Memphis Zoo fundraiser.

“Barbie” was the theme of this year’s event, which was held September 7th and drew more than 3,000 people.

**Maddie Caldwell and**
**Andrew Geraci**

People were invited “to dress as their own Barbie,” says Erica Kelsey, Memphis Zoo special events and corporate sponsorship manager. They were encouraged to express themselves “in Barbie form.”

The event featured 50 restaurants, 15 food trucks, 17 specialty bars, and five full bars.

Paula & Raiford’s Disco was a new addition. The downtown hotspot replaced Blind Bear, which had been a staple at the event until it recently closed. When thinking of what would be a good replacement for Blind Bear, Kelsey thought, “The party is at Raiford’s.”

“It was a great addition to the Zoo Rendezvous this year,” Kelsey says. She says owner Paula Raiford told her, “I’m locked in for years to come.”

What makes the Zoo Rendezvous so special? “I think Memphians have a special love in their heart for the zoo. Everyone wants to support the zoo in some capacity.”

Tags Memphis Zoo, We Saw You, Zoo Rendezvous