Categories
Hungry Memphis

FOOD NEWS BITES: Belmont Grill Is NOT Closing

Hot wings at Belmont Grill

Contrary to rumors going around, Belmont Grill isn’t going anywhere.

“We’re not closing,” says Belmont owner-manager Jeff Anderson. But, he says, “We may be selling soon.”

It will remain the Belmont Grill, he says. 

And that’s all he can say right now.

But, he reiterates, they’re not closing.

The menu gives the Belmont’s history. The beloved restaurant/bar at 4970 Poplar Avenue and Mendenhall Street, with its famous hamburgers and hot wings “was constructed between 1910 and 1920 and was originally operated as a general store by Italia Bianchi and her family on what was known as Poplar Pike in the town of White Station.”

Belmont owner-manager Jeff Anderson (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Businesses on that corner included Bianchi Bros. Grocery and Louie’s Grill, which became Louie’s Bar & Grill in 1948. Then “sometime in the early ’60s the property was leased to Bob Lloyd, who turned it into the (infamous?) Sir Robert’s, where apparently half of East Memphis ate ham sandwiches, drank beer, and played shuffleboard.

“Alan Gary (who also founded Huey’s) acquired the business in 1974 and renamed it The Half Shell.” And, the story goes on, “10 years later, in 1983, The Half Shell moved to its current location on Mendenhall and the former Half Shell became The Belmont.”

Categories
Beyond the Arc Sports

Grizzlies Fall to Nuggets in Denver

Desmond Bane drives the ball against the Denver Nuggets. (Credit: NBAE/Getty Images.)

In their next-to-last game of the season, the Memphis Grizzlies were defeated 117-109 by the Denver Nuggets.

The Grizzlies’ one remaining regular-season game, at home against Dallas on Sunday, will determine whether they finish the season as the seventh or eighth seed.

Either way, they will participate in the play-in tournament.

What a far cry from earlier this year when the Grizzlies were sitting comfortably in the second seed. But their overall record hides a deeper problem: they can’t beat good teams on a consistent basis.

Their record against teams over .500 is 14-25; for teams under .500, it is 33-9. They are better than last season, but not yet good enough against the teams they will need to defeat to win a championship.

This brings us back to Friday night’s game against the Nuggets in Denver. The Grizzlies were visibly fatigued, playing on the second night of back-to-back games in one of the toughest road arenas in the league. But that doesn’t excuse blowing a 15-point lead in a must-win game. Good defense is only good if you can defend without fouling.

Memphis allowed Denver to get in the bonus early in the third quarter, giving them six more free-throw attempts. Overall, the Nuggets had 31 free throw attempts to the Grizzlies’ 19. Giving your opponent 12 more opportunities to score with the clock stopped in a game you lost by eight is … less than ideal.

The Grizzlies got beaten at their own game: The Nuggets outscored them in the paint 72-52.

The Nuggets have a perennial MVP candidate in Nikola Jokic, who made the Grizzlies pay, to the tune of 26 points, 16 rebounds, and 13 assists. Nuggets’ forward Aaron Gordon led all scorers with 33 points and 5 rebounds.

Desmond Bane led the Grizzlies with 24 points, and adding 6 rebounds, and 1 steal.

Ja Morant put up 21 points, 2 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1 steal.

Jaren Jackson Jr. added 18 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, and 2 blocks.

Luke Kennard led the second unit with 12 points, and added 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal.

Scotty Pippen Jr. added 11 points, 1 rebound, and 7 assists.

Who Got Next?

The Grizzlies will play their final game of the regular season at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday against the Dallas Mavericks at FedExForum.

Tip-off is at 2:30 PM CDT.

Categories
On the Fly We Recommend We Recommend

On the Fly: Week of 4/11/25

Stop twiddling your (green) thumbs and head to the Memphis Botanic Garden’s plant sale. (Photo: Courtesy Memphis Botanic Garden)

Plant Sales
This weekend is for the plants. Seriously, there are at least three plant sales happening this weekend, so get your green thumb out of your booty and get out there:

Lichterman Nature Center Native Plant Sale | Lichterman Nature Center, Friday-Saturday, April 11-12, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Spring Plant Sale Memphis Botanic Garden | Memphis Botanic Garden, Friday-Saturday, April 11-12, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Saturday, April 12, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Plant Sale: Dixon Garden Fair | Dixon Gallery & Gardens, Friday, April 11, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Saturday, April 12, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Shelby Forest Spring Fest
Meeman Shelby Forest State Park
Saturday, April 12, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Take part in a Mardi Gras-themed festival with music, food, arts and crafts vendors, wildlife and cultural exhibits, and more. Admission is $5 (kids 4 and under get in free). Get your tickets here. 

Cooper-Young Porchfest
Cooper-Young Historic District
Saturday, April 12, noon-5 p.m.
Now is your chance to invade your neighbors’ privacy and get up on Cooper-Young’s lawns as an eclectic mix of bands will play on residents’ front porches at this fifth-annual all-volunteer event. A full schedule and map is available here. Porchfest also coincides with the Cooper-Young Community Yard Sale, which will be held 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. That map can be found here.  

The Mid-South Korean BBQ Festival
Grind City Brewing Company
Saturday, April 12, noon-6 p.m.
Grind City Brewing Company hosts a backyard cooking competition of traditional American barbecue and Korean barbecue. General admission tickets come with entry and samples (as supplies last) and cost $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Get your tickets here. 

Shop Black Fest
Bass Pro Drive + Riverside Drive
Saturday, April 12, 2-7 p.m.
Shop from Black-owned businesses. General admission is free. 

Metal Petals + Healing Roots Exhibition & Silent Auction Reception
Evergreen Presbyterian
Saturday, April 12, 6-8 p.m.
Arts from around Memphis and the country have transformed gun parts into jewelry, sculptures, and gardening tools as part of the Metal Museum and Evergreen Presbyterian’s Guns to Gardens sage surrender program. The exhibition will open with a reception and sale of the items, with larger items staying on display for the community for one month. Proceeds from the sale will go back into the Guns to Gardens safe surrender program and to the artist participants.

Star Trek Day
Neil’s Music Room
Sunday, April 13, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Trek over to Neil’s Music Room for the 10th anniversary celebration of Shelby County Star Trek Day, where you’ll enjoy Star Trek-themed food, contests, vendors, music, and more. Special guests will Zoom in for a Q&A: Jonathan Frakes, Armin Shimerman, Kitty Swink, and Juan Carlos Coto. More info here. 

Huey’s 55th Anniversary Block Party
Huey’s (Midtown)
Sunday, April 13, 1-8 p.m.
Huey’s is turning 55, a good age. I don’t know why we don’t say that past the age of, like, 4. That’s a good age; that’s when they start … well, I don’t know much about 4-year-olds. I’m not around them that much. Maybe being a 4-year-old isn’t a good age to be, but 55, that’s something. At least, for Huey’s. They’re hosting a whole free block party with live music on Overton Park Shell’s Shell on Wheels, a kids zone, community vendors, and local food and beer options. More info here. 

Black Arts & Wine Festival
Pink Palace Museum & Mansion
Sunday, April 13, 2-6 p.m.
Shop visual art by Black creatives and sample wines and liquors from Black brands. Tickets are $50.

See a full calendar of events here. Submit events here or by emailing calendar@memphisflyer.com.

Categories
News News Blog News Feature

“Madness,” “Unconstitutional,” “A New Low” — Reactions to the Senate’s Undocumented Student Bill

Credit: CDC via Unsplash
via Tennessee Senate Democrats

Backlash to the Tennessee Senate’s passage of a bill to allow school districts to ban undocumented students from schools began as the vote was recorded Thursday — and was from sources as varied as clergy, small business, and, of course, state Democrats. One group called it “madness.”

Bills for the move were filed in early February by Tennessee House Majority Leader Rep. William Lamberth (R-Portland) and state Sen. Bo Watson (R-Hixson). 

The bill would challenge the 1982 U.S. Supreme Court Plyler v. Doe decision, which entitled all children to public education despite immigration status. That’s exactly what the bill’s sponsors said they want to do, citing the cost of public education. 

“The flood of illegal immigrants in our country has put an enormous drain on American tax dollars and resources. Our schools are the first to feel the impact,” Lamberth said in a statement to the Nashville Banner in February. “Tennessee communities should not have to suffer or pay when the federal government fails to secure our borders. Our obligation is to ensure a high-quality education for legal residents first.”

The Tennessee Small Business Alliance issued a statement Thursday condemning the bill, saying the group has “opposed the bill since its introduction” and called it “madness.” 

“This bill is bad for Tennessee’s economy, and we have warned the state legislature repeatedly that this bill is bad for business,” the group said in a statement. “If this bill becomes law, we’re going to immediately lose workers, and we’re shooting ourselves in the foot when it comes to workforce development. The sponsors of this bill, Sen. Bo Watson and Rep. William Lamberth, are playing with people’s livelihoods and threatening children.”

Faith leaders associated with the Southern Christian Coalition said the bill violates the teaching of Jesus. Group member Ellen R. Sandidge Gentry, a member of the same church Watson attends had taught words for the legislation 

‘As a conservative, and member of First Presbyterian Church, I’m unhappy that Sen. Bo Watson’s bill is associated with our church, Sandridge Gentry said in a statement. “My message for my fellow parishioner and state senator, Bo Watson is this: Coming after children who’ve done nothing wrong is a betrayal of Jesus’ teachings.

“Taking millions in sales and property taxes from undocumented families, then denying their children an education by claiming it’s “not paid for,” isn’t just bad policy — it’s unethical and unchristian.”

A group called Education for All Tennessee was created to work against the bill. It pointed to the bill’s narrow passage (19-13) as a sign that there is “weakening support for this cruel attack on children’s education.” 

“With razor-thin vote margins and growing bipartisan opposition, this bill can still be stopped,” the group said Thursday. “Tennessee families deserve better than a bill that targets kids and divides communities. 

“Every child deserves an education — no matter where they were born.”

State Democrats issued plenty of tough talk and even some tears in a news conference following the vote Thursday.  

Sen. London Lamar (D-Memphis) said the GOP are using children targeted by the bill as “political pawns.” She called the bill a “new low” for state Republicans, saying, “They didn’t send us up here to bully kids.” 

“Did you forget Jesus was an immigrant? Did you forget?” she asked. “Jesus stood with the least of these and it’s up to him to decide who is righteous and who’s not. But it on us to love everybody. It’s not for us to pick and choose who we love and who we support.” 

Sen. Raumesh Akbari (D-Memphis) said she asked Watson in committee if he’d heard from any school districts that requested the legislation. 

“He said, ‘We’ve all had those conversations — maybe not on the record — with folks from our school districts,” Akbari said. “My response was that I represent the largest school district and I have not ever heard that request.”

A House committee is set to pick up the bill on Monday. A reporter asked Rep. John Ray Clemmons (D-Nashville) what he thought about the bill’s chances to pass on the House side.  

“All I can guarantee you in the House is we’re gonna fight like hell to protect the children of Tennessee,” Clemmons said. “People of every faith believe this is a bad idea. Everybody knows this is unconstitutional. 

“We’re going to fight like hell to protect every child, to provide an education in compliance with the state Constitution, as well as the interpretation of the Constitution by the Supreme Court of the United States.” 

Categories
Food & Drink News

Memphis Flyer Podcast April 11 2025: Michael Donahue

This week on the Memphis Flyer Podcast, Michael Donahue talks about his cover story on Memphis chef Ann Barnes. Plus, dive bar revival, and does Memphis still know how to party?

Categories
CannaBeat News News Blog News Feature

Tennessee House Approves THCA Ban

Photo: Add Weed on Unsplash

Smokeable cannabis flower, especially the THC it creates when lit, took a critical step toward a ban in Tennessee after a long debate in Nashville Thursday that showed a rare divide among Republican lawmakers. 

Tennessee House members passed an amendment Thursday that would remove THCA from legal cannabis products in the state. THCA is also banned in a Senate version of the bill now traveling through the committee process. That bill, of course, could change before it passes, leaving a glimmer of hope for cannabis companies across the state that have said THCA products are among their most popular. 

The GOP divide on the issue emerged on the House floor Thursday morning. One group just didn’t like the product — the green, leafy bud now displayed on store shelves — nor the intoxicating effects it can produce. The other group of GOP lawmakers said removing the products will harm Tennessee businesses and won’t keep other intoxicating hemp products from shelves. 

Members of the non-THCA group said they felt duped by hemp advocates in Tennessee. 

“Six years ago I carried the bill that allowed us to grow hemp in this state and have many of these products,” said Representative Chris Todd (R-Madison County). “But I will tell you at that time, the [Tennessee Growers Coalition], well, I will say there were folks that deceived me and deceived our leaders and many others in this body.” 

He said the amended legislation brings the total THC level back down to .3 percent as planned originally. The amount is the federal limit, he said. As for those cannabis companies in Tennessee, “they gambled on a product that is federally illegal.”   

House Majority Leader Representative William Lamberth (R-Portland) has worked on cannabis issues in Tennessee for years. He agreed with Todd saying, “I wish we could go back in time and not have all these substances out there, but that’s not an option at this point.”

 “We were all told when we voted for hemp that it’s the nonintoxicating cousin to marijuana,” Lamberth said. “You don’t have to worry about anybody getting high. Well, that horse has left the barn. 

“What this bill does is ban THCA, that when you light it, it turns into marijuana. But that’s one product. There’s hundreds of other products out there [that will get people high].” 

The ban does put at risk Tennessee cannabis companies that have said that smokeable flower sales can sometimes total 60 percent of their total revenue. Representative Kevin Vaughan (R-Memphis) spoke loudest among the GOP to keep THCA legal in Tennessee. 

“ I have a hard time that this body has told [businesses] that this is a new commercial venture in our state, and then, two years later, we’re going to turn the lights off,” Vaughn said. “Understand that even if we take [THCA out], these stores will still be in the business of selling intoxicants.”

Representative Sabi Kumar (R-Springfield) argued that the legislature gets “carried away by the commercial advantages” of cannabis in Tennessee. He argued lives are torn apart by marijuana addiction and that was part of the reason he voted to ban THCA.

“Marijuana is playing havoc on our society,” Kumar said. “We talk about anxiety. We talk about mental health. We talk about schizophrenia and various psychological maladies. 

“Yes, we blame the internet for it, but, my friends, I submit to you that marijuana and its prevalent use is playing a role in this malady that is affecting our society for that reason.” 

The fiscal note, an expert review of the economic impact of proposed legislation, estimated the size of Tennessee’s overall cannabis market is about $120.4 million. The figure is based on a U.S. market for hemp-derived cannabis products projected at $5 billion in 2026. 

Tennessee tax collections on those products would have been $13.6 million, assuming that THCA were included. Those taxes would have been collected on what state financial experts expected to be cannabis product sales of $226.7 million over the next year. All of those numbers will change if THCA remains illegal.

Categories
News News Blog News Feature

School Board Member Apologizes for Social Media Comments

Towanna Murphy (Photo: Memphis-Shelby County Schools)

Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) Board Member Towanna Murphy has released a statement apologizing for comments that surfaced on social media.

A Facebook user by the name of Jose Salazar posted a cropped screenshot of a message sent through Messenger where Murphy said, “Baby be quiet before I have you deported.” Upon posting, Salazar tagged Murphy and asked for an explanation before “making assumptions.

Photo: Jose Salazar

Murphy then posted the full conversation between her and a person named Andrea Avalos, saying she was “unfamiliar with her” and that Avalos initiated the conversation saying, “You are an embarrassment to Memphis and to our students. Please resign from your job you stupid b*tch.”

Photo: Towanna Murphy

Avalos also said that Murphy should stop using filters on her photos.

“She was the first to display disrespect,” Murphy said in a Facebook post. “Although I regret my response, I spoke in the heat of the moment.”

The school board member further apologized to the community and her “board colleagues” for the interaction.

“While I found the initial message from the individual to be disrespectful and upsetting, my response did not represent the professionalism and respect that I know should be a standard in my service as an MSCS Board Member,” Murphy said. “It certainly was not a reflection of my true feelings or intentions towards the Latino community.”

Murphy said her comments did not reflect her understanding and concern facing the city’s immigrant and refugee communities, and reaffirmed that the schools must be “safe and welcoming environments for all students and families.”

“This interaction comes at a time when we need to support to ensure public education is available for all,” Murphy said. “I am committed to learning from this experience, rebuilding trust with our full community, and working towards my goal to lead with professionalism and compassion.”

Categories
We Recommend We Recommend

Black Arts and Wine Festival Returns to the Pink Palace

Photo: Courtesy Cynthia Daniels

Returning for the third time at the Pink Palace Museum & Mansion, the Black Arts and Wine Festival, hosted by Cynthia Daniels & Co., aims to provide guests with a unique, upscale experience that honors Black culture. “It’s truly important to celebrate Black culture. I noticed during the pandemic [that] there was this emergence of a lot of Black-owned brands coming out with their own wines and spirits,” says Cynthia Daniels, event strategist and organizer of the Black Arts and Wine Festival. “So, I thought, why not put all of those things together for people to truly experience something they [have] never seen before in Memphis?”

Guests will be able to sample over 20 different Black-owned wines produced by various celebrities like rapper E-40, R&B singer Mary J. Blige, and actress Issa Rae, known for her role on Insecure. There will also be a few bottles of wine available from the winery, Brown Estate, the first Black-owned winery in Napa Valley. Plus, local chefs will serve different styles of cuisines. “We have Shroomlicious who is a vegan chef. [Then] we have CDT Catering and More. And we [have] Jerk on the Run,” says Daniels. 

“We have vendors that are traveling from Atlanta, Nashville, and local people in Memphis that will be selling handmade goods,” adds Daniels. And there will be artwork for sale from over 30 local Memphis artists.  Tickets for the festival are on sale now for $50. The Black Arts and Wine Festival, will be this Sunday, April 13th, from 2 to 6 p.m. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit cdcoevents.ticketleap.com/bawf25.

Categories
Beyond the Arc Sports

Grizzlies Go Wire-to-Wire in Charlotte

Ja Morant dunks the ball against the Charlotte Hornets. (Credit: NBAE/Getty Images.)

The Memphis Grizzlies grabbed their third win in a row Tuesday night against the Charlotte Hornets, coming away with a 124-100 victory.

The playoff race in the Western Conference is extremely tight, and final seeding won’t be determined until all the regular season games have been played.

The Grizzlies have fallen from the second seed, where they spent most of the season before the all-star break, to the seventh seed with this win.

There are four teams, including Memphis, with a 47-32 record: the Denver Nuggets, the Los Angeles Clippers, and the Golden State Warriors.

The teams in seventh through tenth place at the end of the season will compete in the So-Fi Play-In Tournament to determine who ultimately takes the seventh and eighth seeds in the actual playoffs.

The Grizzlies took ownership of the game in the first quarter, outscoring the Hornets 33-18, and set the tone for the rest of the game. Memphis forced Charlotte into giving up 13 points off 7 turnovers in the opening stanza.

Turnovers again had a huge impact on a Grizzlies game, but this time in Memphis’ favor, as they cored 25 points off the Hornets’ 15 turnovers while only giving up 16 points off their own 14 turnovers.

The second quarter was marked by one of the scariest moments I have seen in a game. Rookie Jaylen Wells was driving to the basket for a dunk when he was crashed into from behind by Charlotte guard KJ Simpson, knocking him to the ground and forcing him to land on his head and neck.

Wells was immediately surrounded by medical personnel from both teams and was taken away via stretcher and transported to a nearby hospital.

Per league policy, the game was delayed for roughly 25 minutes until another ambulance and paramedic crew arrived on site.

Simpson was ejected from the game for a flagrant foul, penalty 2, which is described as unnecessary and excessive contact committed by a player against an opponent.

It was later announced that Wells had a broken wrist and would miss the remainder of the season. Prior to this injury, he played in every game this season and has been invaluable for this Memphis team.

The Grizzlies continued to dominate for the rest of the game, led by their big three of Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Desmond Bane.

They led by as many as 29 points and outscored the Hornets 61-56 in the second half.

By The Numbers:

Ja Morant led all scorers with 28 points, and added 5 rebounds, 8 assists, and 1 block.

Desmond Bane scored 19 points, plus 5 rebounds, and 3 assists.

Zach Edey put up 17 points, grabbed 19 rebounds, and had 3 steals and 1 block.

Edey has had 40 rebounds in the past two games, a feat only achieved by a rookie one other time in league history: Shaquille O’Neal.

Jaren Jackson Jr. finished the night with 14 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2 steals.

Santi Aldama led the bench with 11 points, adding 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals.

Scotty Pippen Jr. put up 10 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block.

Who Got Next?

The Grizzlies are returning home on Thursday to face the Minnesota Timberwolves. The game is a must-win for the Grizzlies as they fight for playoff position. Tip-off is at 8:30 PM CDT.

Categories
News News Blog News Feature

Health and Housing Expo To Address Disparities Among Black Residents

Photo Credit: Shelby County Tennessee Alumnae Chapter

The Shelby County Tennessee Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated are maximizing their efforts to improve health and housing outcomes for residents in the city by hosting a Health and Housing Expo on Saturday, April 12.

“It’s our mission to reach as many as we can in our community to deal with all the different issues that are concerning our Black and brown individuals,” Lai Brooks, the chapter’s second vice president and chair of Program Planning and Development said. “Health is one of the main issues [in Memphis], and our housing economic crisis.”

Information from The Benjamin L. Hooks Institute for Social Change at the University of Memphis showed that African Americans make up a majority of the city’s population. A large portion of these individuals have “chronic diseases” such as hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease.

Along with chronic diseases, the institute found “mental health disparities” among Black residents to be “equally concerning” with systemic racism and other societal inequities further complicating the issues.

“Black Americans are less likely than our white counterparts to seek services for mental health,’  Brooks said. “We want to have those mental health providers there — available to talk about signs and symptoms of different mental health disorders. To be physically healthy, your mental health has to also be intact.”

Brooks said the expo will bring health care professionals to the community in an accessible way. Residents will see what health options are available for them whether they have insurance or not. Some resources include the Baptist Women’s Health Center mammography bus, blood pressure and glucose screenings, and HIV testing.

“It is quite important for us to bring those services and resources to the community to be able to show it is okay to tap into these resources,” Brooks said. “Some may not have health insurance and they’re thinking ‘oh I’m not going to be able to seek care,’ but there are free services out there that you can tap into to have wellbeing for your physical and mental health.”

Janet Bedford-Haynes, the chapter’s Economic Development chair, said the expo also seeks to address the city’s home ownership gap.

“It is a fact that the Black homeownership rate is significantly lower than that of white residents,” Bedford said. 

She cited information from the U.S. Census Bureau that found a significant gap between Black and white homeownership. 

“Our goal is to help bridge that wealth gap by providing resources, connecting the community to industry partners, and really advocating for home ownership in this area,” Bedford said. “It is so important we have representation. Having that representation creates a foundation of trust. Sometimes lack of information may prevent someone from seeking those needs when it comes to health or home ownership.”

Lenders will be available to talk about credit, finances, and the steps to homeownership in a relatable way. Bedford said the chapter hopes this will build confidence for Black residents seeking home ownership.

The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Ed Rice Community Center located at 2935 North Watkins Street.