You’re the best around. Nothing’s ever gonna keep you down! But Joe Esposito’s words (lyrics) of wisdom don’t simply belong to that plucky karate kid. Memphians have been feeling a little down this month, for many reasons. Some of the haters emerged with hysterics and hot takes, slinging insults at the city and everything it stood for, and the hurt was real. But it’s important to remember that much of the screaming and moaning is done by people who might possibly be too online, constantly regurgitating their opinions on Twitter or who knows where else. For there are two sides to every coin. Following tragedy, there was also an outpouring of reaffirmation. Passionate declarations of love for our city, from many of the locals who work here, live here, and fight every day here to continue improving Memphis. The reaction was, quite simply, the best.
But on a more tangible level, how do you even quantify “the best”? Everyone has their likes, their appeals, their interests, and sometimes it’s the intangibles that make something stand out to an individual. There’s no right answer, but what we can do is aggregate the mood of our city to gauge the flavor of the year, or see who has laid down a marker for long-term excellence in their field.
There’s an intrinsic value to releasing our quite hefty “Best of Memphis” issue every year. Who better to judge our favorite everything in the city than its citizens, and our readers? I remember arriving in Memphis more than a decade ago as a wee college freshman, complete with too-long bangs and some questionable plaid fashion choices, and looking for something to do off-campus. Where can I go to eat? Where can I hang out? The Google results threw out all the familiar names, of course: the Huey’s, the Rendezvous, and then the tourist traps and all the usual big-name establishments that frequently grab headlines and dollars. Tripadvisor and Thrillist lists are a decent starting point for newcomers, I guess, but they have a distinctly impersonal feel to them. And they can’t provide solutions to those hyperlocal problems either.
Other questions arose, too, like “How do I fix this dent that someone put in my car?” or “My friend tried to give himself a mohawk, is there a professional who can fix this?” If there’s a question to be asked, the Best of Memphis list can provide an answer, or at least point you toward someone who can help fix what could be a distinctly Memphis problem. There are some familiar faces to be found in the pages ahead, of course, but keep an eye out for new faces, too. (There’s nothing wrong with listening to the greatest hits, but sometimes you need a change of pace.) The Best of Memphis list is a receptacle of local knowledge and tastes built up over decades of lived experience by you, our readers. And honestly, the number of grand things about Memphis is too great to count. If you missed last week’s cover story, “370 Great Things About Memphis,” go check it out. It’s the perfect prologue to Best of Memphis, a curated list of some of our staff’s favorite things about the city. Nothing wrong with a double dip on positivity, right?
But again, it only scratches the surface of what Memphis has to offer. We could all use some love after this month, so why not show some to the great winners listed on the following pages? I’m sure the artists, the businesses, the restaurants, the creatives, and everyone else who earned a top-3 spot would appreciate it. And in celebratory fashion, the Best of Memphis party is finally returning after a multi-year, Covid-induced hiatus, where many can eat, drink, and be merry. There are still plenty of issues left to fix in our city, and it’s going to take a lot of work. But it’s clear that those invested in it are ready to put in the hard hours and are up for the challenge. So Memphians, don’t believe the loudest voices on the internet when they decry us (and when they do, deliver unto them a proverbial LaRusso crane kick). You’re all the best.
The Memphis Flyer is now seeking candidates for its editor position. Send your resume to hr@contemporary-media.com.
