In Part 3 of his We Saw You interview, Jared “Jay B.” Boyd talks about his journalism career, which began with an internship at the Jackson (Mississippi) FreePress magazine and continued with The Commercial Appeal, the The (Mobile, Alabama) Press-Register, and The Daily Memphian newspapers.
Boyd’s goal when he returned to the Bluff City was to be chosen to be in the Memphis Flyer’s 20 < 30 list within five years. “I wanted to be on that cover,” he says. “By the time I’m 30, I’ve done enough to deserve that.”
Along the way, Boyd wore many hats, including “public safety reporter” and “sitting in courts,” as well as covering music and food for newspapers.
Jared “Jay B.” Boyd tells me in Part 2 of his We Saw You interview that he wanted to rap and skateboard when he was growing up in Memphis. He has done both, while also becoming the program manager of WYXR, a DJ, a co-host of radio’s Beale Street Caravan, and a board member of BRIDGES. He was previously a reporter for The Daily Memphian.
You’ve probably seen — or heard — Jared “Jay B” Boyd somewhere. He’s the program manager for WYXR radio, but he’s also a DJ, co-host of radio’s Beale Street Caravan, and a board member of BRIDGES.
Sitting down with Boyd for the latest We Saw You interview, I asked if there was more than one Jared Boyd because “Jared Boyd” seems to be everywhere.
He responds: “I’m the only one I’ve had the pleasure of meeting.”
In part one of the four-part series, Boyd talks about his childhood growing up in Parkway Village, going to Richland Elementary School, and White Station High School. His parents, he says, “allowed me to explore my interests.”
I also learned the late Andrew Love of the Memphis Horns was his cousin — and I learned Boyd can play the viola!
Stay tuned for more installments of We Saw You with Jared Boyd.
Jackson Hendrix, Gabrielle Duffie, Nakita Spencer, Lawrence Matthews
You could call them “RiverBeatniks.” They were the more than 30,000 people who attended the inaugural RiverBeat Music Festival May 3rd, 4th, and 5th in Tom Lee Park.
Matthew Burdine and Daniel Bonds Russ Thompson and Katherine TerryEmily and Will Carter
They braved periodic raindrops and often warm temps to see and hear performers, including Stax great Carla Thomas, Al Kapone, the Wilkins Sisters, Southern Avenue, Killer Mike, and Lawrence Matthews. All some music lovers needed was a blanket and a comfortable spot to kick off their shoes and experience 50 performers on five stages.
“We scanned in over 30,000 over three days,” says RiverBeat producer Jeff Bransford. “Ten-thousand a night.”
Kristin Leach and Haggard CollinsAriyanna Beecher and Miles Robinson
How did he think RiverBeat went? “Spectacular. We couldn’t be happier. The feedback we got from both patrons and artists has been overwhelming.”
And will RiverBeat return next year? “One-hundred percent,” Bransford says. No doubt about it. “We’re already planning.”
The World Championship Hot Wing Contest and Festival was back on Riverside Drive for the first time since 2017. The festival, which was held April 20th, was on Tiger Lane for many years after leaving Riverside Drive.
A total of 3,000 people attended the 22nd annual festival, says founder Paul Gagliano. All except one year, the event has benefited the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Memphis. Not counting this year, it’s raised more than $300,000 for the charity.
Gagliano recalled that first contest: “I asked the guy that had the Poplar Lounge if he would put up the parking lot and a little money.”
Paul Gagliano, David Hunnam, Pat Hunnam, Michelle HunnamKilgore Trout, Joseph Wilson, Brennan Powers
He then went into the bar and told people his plans for a hot wing contest. They looked at Gagliano like he was crazy, but seven people took part. It was a hot wing contest, but, Gagliano says, “They were grilling deer meat and all kinds of meat.”
And, he says, “Budweiser gave me $1,000 bucks. And that was like a million right there.”
This year, 50 teams took part and competed for $10,000 prize money.
Matteo Servente and Ryan Watt (Photos: Michael Donahue)
Matteo Servente and Ryan Watt don’t care if their business takes a licking. In fact, that’s what they want.
Servente and Watt are owners of Zio Matto Gelato, which recently held its grand opening celebration at 545 South Main Street, Number 110, inside Central Station.
Julianne WattGrayson West and Santiago ArbelezArmani FeathersonFelicia Willett-Schuchardt and Clay Schuchardt
“Gelato is the best Italian treat,” Servente says. “It’s like ice cream, but better. It’s got less fat. It’s got less sugar. And it’s creamier and packs more flavor.”
They offer 14 flavors at a time, but, he adds, “We have recipes for many, many more.”
Servente, who is from Turin, Italy, founded the business. “Matto” is what his niece called him when she was little. And “Zio” is “uncle” in Italian.
Jalyn Souchek and Keith EvansonWill and Thomas McGownChristine and Carroll Todd
“We love being on South Main because it’s a neighborhood similar to Italy,” says Watt, a filmmaker, adding, “You get the gelato and take it right outside and walk down the neighborhood.”
Also, he says, “Being near the [National] Civil Rights Museum and being here at Central Station, [there’s] a mixture of tourists and locals. It’s a perfect location.”
DJs, a balloon artist, corn hole, and bowling — along with a lot of pizza and beer — welcomed guests to the new Rock’n Dough Pizza & Brewery in the Edge District.
The more than 7,000-square-foot pizza palace at 704 Madison Avenue held soft openings as well as a charity day fundraiser for LeBonheur Children’s Hospital before holding its grand opening blowout on April 13th.
Trevor Jones, Megan Williamson, Joe Cogen, Heather Corley, and Jerry CorleyDoug HollisHyo Young and Duyeol Lee
“We called it our grand opening party because it was our first major introduction to the neighborhood,” says general manager Joe Cogen.
The balloon artist and DJs were just part of the grand opening. The other attractions, which remain, include DuckPin Bowling (four-bowling lanes inside the restaurant) and corn hole. “Arcade-style basketball hoops” are slated to be installed in the future.
Wallis, Acie, and Josh SteinerAbby Herron and Braylon Pridgeon
Between 225 and 250 guests were served. People partied inside and out. “Total seating, if you include all the indoor seats and outside, is 199.”
And they drank Rock’n Dough beer, which is brewed at Hub City Brewing in Jackson, Tennessee.
James Brooks and Tristan Shreves (Photos: Michael Donahue)
Quinn Hurley did his best to get the Memphis Tattoo Festival to leave its imprint on Memphis. The event was presented by Tattoo Fest and the Explorer Tattoo Conference.
Trey and Anthony AustinMad-e Zwiebel and Caitlin CampbellTaylor Bray and Lord Gregory Emerson
“We had a little over 3,000 attendees over the weekend,” says Hurley, director of operations for the three-day event held April 5th through 7th at the Renasant Convention Center. “For a market the size of Memphis, we definitely consider the event a success. It’s hard to pin down exactly how many tattoos were done over the three days. I would expect that number to be upwards of 500.”
Josh Brooks and Adrian HoodDarby Robertson and Madelynne CaldwellAlton_Sides and Matthew Vandergrift
And, he says, “It can only grow from here — and will. The reception from Memphis-based tattoo artists, specifically, was amazing.”
Hurley’s first tattoo was the logo for the Guardians of the Galaxy. “I got it on August 5, 2014, which was the director’s birthday. And it wasn’t great, so I got it redone a couple of years later.”
Why do people want to get a tattoo? “It’s a way to express yourself. It’s literally a way to wear your heart on your sleeve.”
Tasia Fant, Kirayl Campbell, Crystal Pink at Memphis Tattoo Festival (Credit: Michael Donahue)Mason Manguno and Abby Clark at Memphis Tattoo Festival (Credit: Michael Donahue)Hunter Harlow, Harrison Mitchell, Carlos Pavon at Memphis Tattoo Festival (Credit: Michael Donahue)Grace Nicolas and Wes Elrod at Memphis Tattoo Festival (Credit: Michael Donahue)Destiny Taylor and Jordan Chapman at Memphis Tattoo Festival (Credit: Michael Donahue)Jordan McCall and Jordan Epperson at Memphis Tattoo Festival (Credit: Michael Donahue)
“It’s been great,” says Brooks chief revenue officer Jeff Rhodin. “In the first week we had more than 2,500 people.” The preview party was mind-blowing. More than 900 people attended the event honoring the American fashion designer on March 21st, the night before the exhibit opened to the public.
Daniela Griffin
Carl Bledsoe Jr.
Paul Thomas and Grace West
Thirty-six Siriano creations, including over-the-top gowns in over-the-top colors and shapes on mannequins of different sizes, are featured in the exhibit. As the news release from Brooks states, “Since launching his fashion house in New York in 2008, Siriano has become beloved for statement-making looks. … From glamorous gowns to gender-defying showstoppers, Siriano’s creations have been … worn by the world’s biggest stars, top models, pop icons, legendary divas, LGBTQIA2+ heroes, first ladies, and more.”
Greely Myatt and Ramona Sonin
Babbie Lovett
So, anybody who wants to get their mind blown has until August 4th to view the exhibit of fashions worn by Taylor Swift, Michelle Obama, Lady Gaga, and others.
Tim Vissia, Kelsi Ikeda, Taylor Whipple, and Brendan Sandefe heped kick off the 2024 Trolley Night Memphis season (Credit: Michael Donahue)
South Main Association’s Trolley Night began its 2024 season on March 29th with a taste of what’s in store for the monthly South Main district street party. Part of that taste was the free hamburgers from Earnestine & Hazel’s.
“This month was just a start of bringing everything together,” says South Main Association president Cori McCleskey. “Going forward we we will have themes as well as strategic partners.”
The Memphis Grizzlies and MATA will be the sponsors of April trolley night, which will be held April 26th. As always, Trolley Night is held the last Friday of the month. Trolleys will be decorated in Grizzlies gear “to connect with the theme.”
And, McCleskey adds, “We will have more music than we ever have had. Music will be played on the trolleys.”
Alessandra Daniele and Justin Soffer at Trolley Night (Credit: Michael Donahue)Charles Thomas at Trolley Night (Credit: Michael Donahue)Milton Howery and Kirby Boyd at Trolley Night (Credit: Michael Donahue)Erica Smith at Trolley Night (Credit: Michael Donahue)Sean Powers and Beans at Trolley Night (Credit: Michael Donahue)
South Main Association will also be activating its VIP area, next to Crave Cheesecake on South Main. The VIP area was open to the public with free Earnestine & Hazel’s hamburgers and music by DJ Tree Riehl during the March Trolley Night. “We’re still working on implementing the VIP area with new decor,” says McCleskey. “So it’s a bit welcoming. And using some lighting and, not just murals, but kind of artistic expression on the walls and grounds.”
In the future, McCleskey says, “We’ll have a different business cater each time. And there will be free beer and wine.”
To get into the VIP area, people must become a South Main Association member. “For an individual membership, it’s as low as $5 a month or $50 for the year,” says McCleskey. “And that gets you free access to the VIP area and the South Main Socials that are on the second Tuesday of the month. They always take place at some South Main hot spot.” And, she says, “New businesses are invited to speak and share the good news.”
The next South Main Social, on April 9th, will be held at Wiseacre Brewing Company at 398 South B. B. King Boulevard. The socials are from 6 to 8 p.m.-ish, McCleskey says.
The organization didn’t partner with anybody at the March Trolley Night because, McCleskey says, they wanted to “get in gear and work out the kinks. I think it was a great start, but we’re going to continue to make it bigger and better.”
Rachel Quinn, Jacob Woloshin, and Jeff Haas at Trolley Night (Credit: Michael Donahue)Alessandra Daniele, Morgan Gaines, Jon Gaines, Nikhil Yedulla, Justin Soffer at Trolley Night (Credit: Michael Donahue)Stephanie Elzey and Paul Shea at Trolley Night (Credit: Michael Donahue)Me and my buddy, D.J Tree Riehl at Trolley Night (Credit: Kathy McLallen)We Saw You
