James Newman of Village People plays a prospective father in "Mamma Mia" at the Orpheum. (Photo: Courtesy of the Orpheum)
James Newman dressed Western in his first stage role as “Little Jake” in Annie Get Your Gun. He was 14.
“I probably had cowboy boots,” he says. “Some kind of hat, like a floppy little kid’s cowboy hat. My first musical I was a cowboy.”
Fast-forward several decades and Newman was a cowboy again. Except his cowboy boots had rhinestones on them. In 2013, he took over the part of the Cowboy in Village People. “I only had one pair of chaps. Cow print cowhide chaps. I had all kinds of jeans. It’s a disco cowboy, right?”
Newman wears another big hat when he’s on stage in the musical Mamma Mia, which is now showing at the Orpheum. He plays writer Bill Austin, one of the three men who could be the father of Sophie, played by Alisa Melendez, in this delightful show that runs through July 28th.
Newman describes his character as “commitment phobic.” Austin doesn’t like to settle down. He just wanted to have a fling with Donna (Christine Sherrill), not become the father of her child. “He’s very lighthearted. He’s got the least amount of angst of the three dads.”
So, it’s shocking news when Austin learns he could be Sophie’s father. Austin “never put down roots,” but he “likes this child.”
Newman is enjoying the role. “It’s always nice to play a joyful character,” he says. “It makes your life lighter.”
The Mamma Mia cast takes a bow on opening night at the Orpheum. (Photo: Michael Donahue)
A native of Birmingham, Alabama, Newman remembers “as a child of four always trying to get attention from two working parents.”
And, he says, “Like every little kid, I wanted to be a movie star.”
So, performing in a play was perfect for him. “It fit my personality 100 percent.”
The Little Jake role seemed to be custom-made for Newman, who was “so little” and had a “very high voice” in high school.
He sang “Doin’ What Comes Naturally” in the musical, which was apropos because singing and acting apparently came naturally to Newman. He wanted to pursue theater, but, he says, “I lived in Alabama. It was all about sports.”
His dad attended his shows. His mom went to most of them, but she “didn’t understand why you would start singing in the middle of a show.”
Newman, whose teacher inspired him to continue acting, moved to New York after he graduated from college when he was 22. He began appearing in Off-Broadway plays before moving to Broadway. His repertoire now includes Hands on a Hardbody; Curtains; Minnelli on Minnelli; Tommy; Kiss Me, Kate; and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
Newman, who wasn’t the original Cowboy in Village People, describes his experience playing Cowboy as “very joyful. People come to the show already loving it.”
Newman has been enjoying the ride. Like, he says, when acclaimed actress Helen Mirren came up to him and said, “Excuse me. Can I get a picture with you?”
James Newman as the Cowboy in Village People (Photo: Courtesy of James Newman)
A Black-owned golf brand is looking not only to expose more Memphians to golf, but to build more relationships on the links.
Eastside Golf is bringing its Community Golf Day back to Memphis on July 26th at Overton Park 9 Golf Course. The free-to-play event is being held with the help of Bridgestone Tires and Paradies Lagardère.
Tee times are from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., and are available on a first come, first serve basis. Those interested can reserve a spot on the Eastside Golf website.
“Eastside Golf’s Community Golf Days are focused on diversifying the sport and bringing fans and players together at local courses to experience the fun of golf without the financial barriers commonly found in the game,” the company said in a statement.
The lifestyle golf brand was co-founded by Olajuwon Ajanaku and Earl Cooper, and has been worn by people such as NFL player Patrick Mahomes and former President Barack Obama.
Ajanaku said that some of his formative experiences came from golf, since he started playing when he was 6 years old. He continued golfing through high school and college and eventually went pro.
He went on to say that golf is something that is usually associated with wealth and income, which comes with its own sphere of influence that can be transferred to other players.
“Me being out there, there was nothing but positive influence,” Ajanaku said. “There were account executives, entrepreneurs, doctors, lawyers, judges — people that had 9-to-5’s — hardworking people.”
While this was one of his earliest assessments of the game, Ajanaku said that golf is for everybody, and his brand is looking to make it accessible to everyone. In fact, their upcoming campaign touts the saying, “Everyone’s game,” because the company believes the sport should be just that.
These sentiments came together to bring Community Golf Day. Ajanaku said a day like this serves a wide variety of people such as those who can’t afford the gear since at the event people will be able to get free rentals and a push cart.
Ajanaku’s father grew up in South Memphis, and he said being able to give back to the place where his father is from is not only an honor but opens the door for more people to be exposed to the sport, especially those who may not have the opportunity otherwise.
Not only will players be able to access equipment, but Ajanaku said Eastside Golf’s partners have employees and relationships with people who are scouting for talent and potential interns.
“We’ve invited people from banks, celebrities, so many different people,” he said. “It’s good to now mesh this world and use it through golf because golf puts people on an equal playing field.”
Community Golf Day not only provides free golfing for the city, but it also offers exposure to a golfing brand and lifestyle that more people can identify with.
“This is everyone’s game,” Ajanaku said. “If non-tradition is for you, then Eastside Golf is for you. If [the] culture of any sport is for you, then Eastside Golf is for you.”
The event is for first-time golfers, high schoolers looking to practice their game, longtime players looking for a free round of golf — basically anyone who’s interested.
“As long as we continue to inspire more people to pick up the golf club, then we’re doing it right,” Ajanaku said.
One of the greatest freedoms of retirement is the ability to live wherever you want. But your choice can have a big impact on your lifestyle and budget, so it’s important to choose wisely. Here are six considerations as you decide on a locale.
1. Cost of living
The amount you pay for daily living expenses can vary between different cities and states. By choosing a location with a more affordable cost of living, you may be able to do more in retirement, such as travel, pursue hobbies, and purchase a nicer home. Be sure to consider expenses beyond just housing, utilities, and transportation. You’ll also want to consider food and groceries, entertainment, and recreational activities.
2. Healthcare availability
During early retirement years, you may not need to worry much about healthcare. However, as you age, it may become more likely that you need access to quality healthcare and, potentially, long-term care. Consider the quality and availability of healthcare and evaluate the availability of good doctors, hospitals, senior living facilities, and long-term care facilities.
3. Taxes
The amount you pay in taxes can have a big impact on the lifestyle you’re able to afford, which is why it’s important to consider how much of your retirement income may go toward paying Uncle Sam. Evaluate the impact of the following taxes as you consider your retirement location:
• State income taxes: Different states impose different tax rates on retirement income.
• State tax on Social Security benefits: There are nine states that tax Social Security benefits (Colorado, Connecticut, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Utah, and Vermont). Regardless of where you live, up to 85 percent of your Social Security income may be subject to federal income tax.
• Taxes on retirement plan distributions: Assets held in tax-deferred accounts, such as traditional IRAs and 401(k)s, are subject to federal ordinary income taxes when withdrawn in retirement. However, some states don’t tax these distributions, which can help lower your tax exposure.
• Pension income: Some states differentiate between public and private pensions and may tax only public pensions. Other states tax both, and some states tax neither. Again, the amount of state tax you pay on this retirement income source can have a big impact on your lifestyle.
• Capital gains: Long-term capital gains are subject to more-favorable federal tax rates than ordinary income. However, many states don’t differentiate between earned income and capital gains, which means, depending on where you live, you may face significant tax liabilities on your investment income.
• Estate taxes: In 2024, the federal government allows individuals to pass on up to $13.61 million without any federal estate tax ($27.22 million for married couples filing jointly). However, depending on where you live, your estate may be subject to state taxes.
• Property taxes: Property tax rates vary significantly from state to state, and even between counties. Depending on which state you live in, you may be eligible for a property tax exemption (which can add up to big savings over time).
4. Leisure activities
How do you envision spending your free time once you retire? If you’re an avid golfer, it’s probably important to live in a location with ample golf courses and a moderate climate. If you hope to hit the slopes on a regular basis, mountains and snow are likely essential. While finding an affordable location is important, it’s just as vital that it meets your lifestyle needs.
5. Climate
If you’ve ever felt the impact of seasonal affective disorder, you know how big an impact a location’s climate can have on your mental health. Once you’re retired, you may have fewer responsibilities to occupy your time, which can give you more freedom to enjoy the outdoors. Be sure to choose a location with a climate you enjoy.
6. Family and friends
Some retirees choose to move closer to their kids and grandkids, while others prefer the social aspects of an active adult community. Choosing a location with an adequate amount of social interaction can help you avoid loneliness and isolation in your retirement years.
Gene Gard, CFA, CFP, CFT-I, is a Partner and Private Wealth Manager with Creative Planning. Creative Planning is one of the nation’s largest Registered Investment Advisory firms providing comprehensive wealth management services to ensure all elements of a client’s financial life are working together. For more information or to request a free, no-obligation consultation, visit CreativePlanning.com.
When I arranged to interview Dywane “MonoNeon” Thomas Jr., the Bluff City’s hardest working bass virtuoso since Duck Dunn, and an auteur in his own right, the plan was to talk about his latest album. “Okay,” I thought, “I’ll give it a listen,” and pulled up the latest release on Bandcamp: MonoNeon on Synthesizer. It’s fantastic! A tour de force of thick Moog sounds, chock-full of inventive harmonies and sonic textures that Tomita himself would envy. There was only one problem: We weren’t supposed to be talking about that new album; it was the other one, due to drop on July 26th, the one featuring both George Clinton and Mavis Staples. “Okay,” I thought, “that new album.”
It’s hard to keep up with such a prolific artist. Since 2010, he’s created at a furious pace, from his trademark YouTube videos wherein his bass mimics found spoken word clips, to one-off singles (like 2016’s “Ruff Enuff,” produced by Prince), to full-on albums — 29 of them, if you count EPs. And if some of those have a real “I built this in my bedroom” quality, the production standards and arrangements have steadily, inexorably evolved over the years.
Which brings us to Quilted Stereo, album number 30. It’s the ultimate expression of MonoNeon’s ongoing evolution and sophistication so far, without sacrificing any of his unpredictability and inventiveness. And several of the tracks have been out there already, including “Quilted,” his single featuring George Clinton.
As none other than IMAKEMADBEATS noted on social media when the track was released in March, “MonoNeon not only just dropped a song with goated funk legend George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic, the whole song is MEMPHIS AF. The hook is literally ‘LOOK AT ME MANE.’ C’mon, bruh. Mane really brought George Clinton to US. THAT’S LEGENDARY. AF. People are really out here putting on for Memphis in innovative ways … both the mainstream and the alternative.”
When I caught up with MonoNeon last week, fresh off a European tour, he spoke of his working relationship with Clinton as a very organic, low-key phenomenon. “I met George two years ago, when I sat in with him at some music festival. And although our relationship is pretty new, I go down to Tallahassee a lot, to hang with him and his family. It wasn’t forced, it just happened in a casual fashion. He’s a pretty chill person.”
The song itself is a perfectly Clinton-esque ode to flying your sartorial freak flag high, even if that means wearing suits made of multicolored quilts. It’s a sentiment that Mr. “Get Dressed” himself can obviously relate to. And yet, as MonoNeon relates, the song, co-written with his longtime producer Davy Nathan and the rapper Wax, was practically an afterthought.
As he explains, the tune is “about my whole aesthetic right now that I’m on, with my quilted clothes. And it came about when I was doing one of my videos, where I’m just acting up, you know, talking about how clean I am. A friend of Davy’s said, ‘That could be a song!’ His name is Wax; he’s a rapper. And we started writing the lyrics. My idea was to get George to do an intro for it and to feature him on the song.”
Nathan, as it turns out, is a key player in the MonoNeon universe. His home studio in Los Angeles is where MonoNeon does most of his recording these days, but their understanding goes deeper than your typical producer-artist relationship. “I usually always write my own songs,” says MonoNeon, “but when it comes to writing songs with other people, I usually go to him. He’s one of my best friends and a mentor, and I trust him with my vision. He understands me; he understands my little quirkiness. He’s really been helping me, seeing how he works and his way of writing — just being around him has really inspired me.”
Nathan also played a major role in MonoNeon’s collaboration with Mavis Staples on the song “Full Circle.” The title was apt, given the ties between the Staples family and MonoNeon’s own father. “I always wanted to do a song with Mavis, because I grew up listening to her, and she reminded me of my grandma, but also because my dad [Dywane Thomas Sr.] played bass with her and her father Pops Staples. So I’ve always been so in love with Mavis and her singing.
“Before this album, I told Davy, ‘I want to do a song with Mavis.’ I wasn’t sure if he was going to happen or not, but I told Davy, ‘Man, I’m going to let you have this, and I’m going to let you write a song, and hopefully me and Mavis can sing on it.’ So he sent me the song ‘Full Circle,’ and it was great. They sent it to Mavis and she loved it. She even told me that she prayed and prayed about it. And so it came to be. When we met in Chicago to record her vocals, I walked in the room and got butterflies.”
The song, with its doo-wop-ish vocal bass riff evoking some gospel funk of the last century, is a stylistic home run, but that’s just one selection from an album as eclectic as any MonoNeon’s made. There’s the sing-along jam with Clinton, but also the chugging New Wave pop of “Church of Your Heart,” the jungle beat rap of “Segreghetto,” and what may just be the sparkling sizzler of the summer, “Jelly Roll,” full of glossy synth warbles and bass stabs, its video overflowing with extras seemingly right out of the Crystal Palace roller-skating scene of some years ago. Memphis AF.
It all has MonoNeon excited to be touring with new material, which he’ll soon be doing across the U.S. next month, culminating in his appearance at the Overton Park Shell on August 30th, followed by more European dates in the fall and winter. “I’m happy to be back home, but I’m ready to go back out,” he says. “I just want to be on stage and just continue evolving and continue to leave my little stamp down here before I get up out of this world. That’s all that matters to me.”
The iconic Midtown nightspot will introduce its own beer at a launch party on July 25th.
“It’s the Hi Tone ‘Band Beer,’” says owner Brian “Skinny” McCabe. “It’s kind of a light American lager. It’s 4.5 ABV. And it’s crushable, crisp, and clean.”
The beer, which is made at Meddlesome Brewing Company, sports a picture of a guitar amp, the Hi Tone building, and its logo. The can is black. “All the bands we have play at our place are black T-shirt connoisseurs. Just like myself.”
Asked why he wanted his own beer, McCabe says, “I’ve been to a lot of other places that have beers and stuff geared towards their tradition and just different styles. Like Huey’s has their own beer. I was like, ‘Man, I really want our own beer that differentiates, kind of celebrates, what it is we do with the live action music scene.’
Caprese pizza and Band Beer (Photo: Michael Donahue)
“We have bands every single night of the week. And I wanted to get a beer going that was easily approachable. It just looks cool to have a beer specifically for the bands. That we can offer at a discount.”
He wanted the beer to be “laid-back,” McCabe says. “We want it to be approachable and still have some alcohol in it. We don’t want something that’s going to bog you down. You’ve got to play a show. Drink a couple of beers when you get off the road.”
Customers also can buy the beer, but the price will be marked up, McCabe says.
The first three cases — 72 beers — will be free at the launch party, which will be from 7 to 10 p.m. No cover charge.
McCabe came up with the idea for the Hi Tone beer five years ago. He revisited it when he was looking through some notes he made on his phone.
Meddlesome was the perfect place to brew the beer. People who work at the brewery visit and even play shows at the Hi Tone, McCabe says. Also, Meddlesome is “very music-driven and just full of music heads,” he says. The brewery hosts its own music events, including the annual Heavy Meddle Fest, which features metal bands.
He asked Chris Hamlett, a Meddlesome brewer who plays Hi Tone solo gigs as well as with Mike Hewlett & the Racket band, who he needed to talk to about making a beer.
McCabe is pleased with the result. “From what I tasted and the beer packaging, I think we’re going to sell a lot of it.”
He doesn’t want to stop at one type of beer. “I’d love to incorporate some other styles in there as well.”
The beer has to match the type of music played at Hi Tone. “As long as it aligns with what we’re doing, I think there’s unlimited possibilities,” says McCabe, who is already thinking about an “indie rock IPA.”
With beer, you want pizza. Right? Hi Tone makes cheese, pepperoni, sausage, and caprese pizzas. The caprese includes dried basil, mozzarella cheese, and sliced tomatoes. You can order one to share or get a personal pizza all for yourself.
The nightspot also offers “Take & Bake” pizzas for takeout. “We make them in house and we wrap them in plastic wrap and freeze them. And give you instructions on the box and a special sauce we put on them. And you’re out the door.”
Their New York-style pizzas have a “cracker crust,” McCabe says. “I love a super-duper thin crust.”
They use a rich mozzarella cheese on their pizzas. “The kicker is, we use this garlic butter sauce. We drizzle it in a spiral all the way around it.”
McCabe is already making plans for Hi Tone’s 25th anniversary celebration, which will be held October 4th, 5th, and 6th. “Given a move or two and the occasional pandemic, there’s no better time than now to celebrate 25 years of the Hi Tone.”
The festival will include performances by Lucero, Dead Soldiers, Star & Micey, Pezz, Subteens, HEELS, new heavy metal bands, and a “super secret announcement.”
Hi Tone began at 1911 Poplar Avenue. McCabe took over in 2014 after Hi Tone moved to 412-414 Cleveland Street. In 2020, it moved to its current address at 282-284 Cleveland Street.
It was called “Hi-Tone Cafe,” McCabe says. “I just call it Hi Tone. No dash.”
But, he says, “It’s ‘Hi Tone Cafe’ or ‘Hi Tone.’ Just don’t call it ‘High Tone.’ I hate that.”
Daisy Edgar-Jones and
Glen Powell chase storms and each other in Twisters. (Photo: Courtesy Universal Pictures)
Legend has it that when James Cameron, fresh off of the success of The Terminator, made his pitch to 20th Century Fox executives that his next film should be a sequel to Ridley Scott’s Alien, he simply wrote the name of the film on a whiteboard and added an “s.” Then he put a line through the “s,” so that it read Alien$. The execs immediately greenlit Aliens, which went on to earn the 2024 equivalent of half a billion dollars at the box office.
One wonders if that story was on the mind of Joseph Kosinski when he went to Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment to pitch his idea for a sequel to the 1996 disaster film Twister. Simply adding the “s” did get the film greelit, but Kosinski himself didn’t get the directing gig. That went to Lee Isaac Chung, whose last film, Minari, was an Oscar-nominated story about Korean immigrants trying to make it as farmers in Arkansas. (Don’t feel bad for Kosinski. He directed Top Gun: Maverickinstead.)
Unfortunately, I’m here to tell you that Twisters is no Aliens. Cameron expanded the original idea of “haunted house movie in space” into a knock-down, drag-out sci-fi action picture. Twisters just does the same thing as Twister, only with more tornadoes.
But more tornadoes are better, right? Not if you’re from Oklahoma, like Kate Carter (Daisy Edgar-Jones), the wunderkind meteorologist turned storm-chaser. She’s seen twisters devastate Tornado Alley too many times. Now, with her friend Javi Rivera (Anthony Ramos) and a group of like-minded grad schoolers in tow, she’s trying out a radical, new theory. Kate doesn’t just want to chase tornadoes; she wants to destroy tornadoes. Her plan is to launch barrels full of sodium polyacrylate — the moisture absorbing chemical used in diapers — directly into a tornado. The chemical onslaught will absorb the swirling water vapor which fuels the tornado, causing the funnel cloud to fall apart, and allowing the storm-chasers to live happily ever after. Unfortunately for both her dissertation and the continued health of her fellow storm-chasers, the tornado she chooses for a test turns out to be an F5 monster, but she only brought enough diaper goo to tame an F1.
Five years later, Kate’s got a steady job as an NOAA weather forecaster, based in New York City. Javi shows up at her office with a proposition. He’s working for Storm Par, a company that’s using military-grade antimissile radar to scan active tornadoes, which they hope will greatly improve forecasts for their private clients. After initially refusing the call to adventure like any good Hero’s Journey protagonist, she agrees to get back in the storm-chasing game. Back in Oklahoma for the kind of “once in a generation” tornado outbreak which happens every year nowadays, she meets Tyler Owens (Glen Powell, Hangman from Top Gun: Maverick), a storm-chaser with a thriving YouTube channel, a tricked-out truck, and a gang of plucky misfits. Since Kate is on the Heroine’s Journey, she’s got two guys to choose from. Will it be her nerdy old friend Javi or the hunky “cowboy meteorologist”? And how many more will have to die before both teams realize Kate’s anti-tornado tech was on the right track?
The answers to Twisters pressing questions are: 1. It doesn’t matter, and 2. Lots of people who also don’t matter. Sure, Powell’s jawline is so strong Tom Cruise could land an F-18 on it, but when it comes to romantic tension, Twisters is totally flaccid. Even though the tornado outbreak flattens farms houses, rodeos, and, in a nod to The Blob, a sold-out movie theater, this disaster movie is bloodless. Chung is a good director of actors, and Edgar-Jones, Powell, and Ramos give it their best shot, but they can’t seem to elevate the action into something I cared about, even when the bad guys are revealed to be disaster capitalist chuds of the We Buy Houses variety. Part of the problem is that Twisters is so repetitive. The opening scene with Kate and company fleeing from an F5 crackles, but it soon becomes evident that the intro emptied Chung’s trick bag. Twisters isn’t a bad film, per se; the Marvel era has produced much worse pablum than this. But it does commit the summer blockbuster’s worst possible sin: It’s just plain dull.
District 30 state Senator Sara Kyle (Photo: Jackson Baker)
The historic congressional district of Memphis, currently and for many years designated as Tennessee’s 9th, has generally been one of long incumbencies.
The seat’s current inhabitant Steve Cohen, a Democrat and a longtime member of the state Senate, won it in 2006, after Harold Ford Jr., who had succeeded his father in the seat, had let go of it to seek an open U.S. Senate seat.
The two Fords, both Democrats, had served the 9th for a total of 32 years, beginning in 1974 when Ford Sr. pried it loose in what was then regarded as an upset, from Dan Kuykendall, the only Republican ever to hold the seat, at least in modern times.
Kuykendall had won the seat in 1966, defeating liberal Democrat George Grider, who in 1964 had won a Democratic primary race against Cliff Davis, a longtime member of the old Crump political machine who had held the Memphis seat for a full quarter century.
From an historical perspective, the relatively brief Grider/Kuykendall period, during which Republicans had, both locally and statewide, enjoyed a resurgence, was the only real time of rapid flux in the district’s — which is to say, the city’s — voting habits.
Before then, Memphis and the 9th had voted the traditional Southern Democratic party line. And, after that, with the Fords’ advent, that line bore the imprimatur of the growing political dominance of African Americans.
Cohen, white and Jewish, won the seat in 2006, taking advantage of a split among a dozen-odd Black primary opponents, and he has held it ever since — successfully taking on a series of name Black primary opponents and defeating them all, one-on-one, usually with ease.
He would seem clearly on that record to have represented his majority-Black district faithfully.
Cohen’s main current primary challenger is no slouch. Lawyer Corey Strong is a former Democratic Party chair with a background in education and military affairs (U.S. Naval Academy, two tours of Afghanistan).
Faced with Cohen’s enduring popularity and his million-dollar war chest, Strong has done the best he can, chiding Cohen for his often antic behavior and claiming the incumbent has not helped to keep the city’s infrastructure current (despite an impressive record of securing grants and Cohen’s recent announcement of $400 million for a new I-55 bridge).
Senate candidate Gloria Johnson (Photo: Jackson Baker)
Other races of note on the August 1st ballot:
• A free-for-all in the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate, with Knoxville state Rep. Gloria Johnson (she of the “Tennessee Three”) vying with Memphian Marquita Bradshaw and others for the right to take on Republican incumbent Marsha Blackburn in November
• Another brisk competition in the Democratic 8th District congressional primary, with Sarah Freeman, Leonard Perkins, Lawrence A. Pivnick, Lynnette P. Williams, and Brenda Woods, competing for a November shot against GOP incumbent David Kustoff
• A Democratic primary challenge to District 30 state Senator Sara Kyle from Erika Stotts Pearson
• A primary challenge to District 84 Democratic state Rep. Joe Towns from Vernell Williams
• A primary challenge to District 86 state Rep. Justin J. Pearson (he of the “Tennessee Three”) by David Page
• A Democratic primary challenge to District 93 state Rep. G.A. Hardaway from Lashanta Rudd
• A hot race in the Democratic primary for the open District 96 state House seat involving contestants Eric Dunn, Telisa Franklin, Gabby Salinas, Orrden Williams, and David Winston
• A Republican Party challenge to District 97 state Rep. John Gillespie from Christina Oppenhuizen
• A general election race for General Sessions Court clerk between Democrat Tami Sawyer and Republican Lisa Arnold
Shelby County Republican chairman Cary Vaughn with General Sessions clerk candidate Lisa Arnold (Photo: Jackson Baker)
Along with other offices to be decided this year, five of the nine seats on the Memphis-Shelby County School Board are on the August ballot. Candidates are:
• District 2: Ernest Gillespie III, Althea Greene (incumbent), and Natalie McKinney
• District 3: Jesse Jeff, Stephanie Love (incumbent), Ozell Pace Jr., and Angela Rogers
• District 4: James Q. Bacchus, Alvin Crook, Eric Harris, Tamarques Porter, and Anecia Washington
• District 5: Mauricio Calvo (incumbent), Audrey Elion, and Sable Otey
• District 7: Chavez G. Donelson, Danielle Huggins, Frank William Johnson (incumbent), Towanna C. Murphy, and Jason Sharif
Saturday of this week will see the end of early voting for the August 1st Shelby County general election and the state and federal primary elections.
As a reminder, Monday through Friday, early voting locations are open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with the exception of the Shelby County Election Commission site which is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Weekend times for all sites are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 27th.
Early voting sites (in Memphis except where otherwise indicated) are:
• Abundant Grace Fellowship Church, 1574 E. Shelby Drive
• Anointed Temple of Praise, 3939 Riverdale Road
• Arlington Safe Room, 11842 Otto Lane, Arlington
• Baker Community Center, 7942 Church Road, Millington
• Briarwood Community Church, 1900 N. Germantown Parkway
• Collierville Church of Christ, 575 Shelton Drive, Collierville
• Compassion Church, 3505 S. Houston Levee Road
• Dave Wells Community Center, 915 Chelsea Avenue
• Ed Rice Community Center, 2935 N. Watkins Street
• Gaisman Community Center, 4223 Macon Road
• Glenview Community Center, 1141 S. Barksdale Street
• Greater Lewis St. Baptist Church, 152 E. Parkway N.
• Greater Middle Baptist Church, 4982 Knight Arnold Road
• Harmony Church, 6740 St. Elmo Road, Bartlett
• I.H. Clubhouse, 4523 Canada Road, Lakeland
• Mississippi Boulevard Church Family Life Center, 70 N. Bellevue Boulevard
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Aries singer-songwriter Lady Gaga has written many songs, both for herself and other artists. She has famously declared that some of her most successful songs took her just 10 minutes to compose. They include “Just Dance,” “Poker Face,” and “Born This Way.” According to my interpretation of the astrological omens, you could be rising to Lady Gaga levels of creativity in your own sphere during the coming weeks. And I won’t be surprised if your imaginative innovations flow with expeditious clarity, like Gaga at her most efficient.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): During the winter, some animals hibernate. They enter a state of dormancy, slowing their metabolism, breathing, and heart rate. Other animals enter a similar state during the summer, conserving energy when the weather is hot and dry. It’s called estivation. According to my analysis of the astrological omens, many of you Tauruses would benefit from a modified version of estivation in the next couple of weeks. You’re in prime time to recharge your energy through deep relaxation and rest.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): The English word “amphibian” is derived from the Greek term amphibios, which means “living a double life.” The original meaning of the English word was “combining two qualities; having two modes of life,” though eventually it came to be used primarily to describe animals that function well on both land and in water. You Geminis are of course the most amphibious of all the astrological tribes. You can feel at home in a variety of situations. This may sometimes stir up confusion, but I see it as one of your greatest potential strengths. In the coming weeks, I hope you enjoy it to the maximum. It should serve you well. Wield it to take advantage of the sweet perks of versatility.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): I dreamed that a young elephant appeared on the back deck of my house and stuck its trunk through the open sliding glass door. I got up from my chair and gently pushed the animal away, then closed the door. But after I woke up, I was sorry I had done that in my dream. What was I afraid of? The elephant posed no danger — and may have been a good omen. In some cultures, elephants in dreams and visions are symbols of good luck, vitality, long life, and the removal of obstacles. So here’s what I did. I dropped into a deep meditative state and reimagined the dream. This time, I welcomed the creature into my home. I gave her the name Beatrice. We wrestled playfully and had fun playing with a red rubber ball. Amazingly, later that day, a certain obstacle in my actual waking life magically disappeared. The moral of the story, my fellow Cancerian: Welcome the elephant.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Some bamboo species grow very quickly — as much as 36 inches per day. I suspect your capacity to burgeon and blossom will display a similar vigor in the coming weeks. You may be surprised at how dramatic your development is. I’m hoping, of course, that you will be acutely focused on channeling your fertility in positive ways. Don’t feed an urge to recklessly gamble, for instance. Don’t pursue connections with influences that are no damn good for you. Instead, decide right now what areas of your life you want to be the beneficiaries of your growth spurt. Choose the beauty and power you will encourage to ripen.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): For months, we heard and saw crows pecking on the roof of our rental house. Why? Were they grubbing for food? It was mildly annoying, but seemingly no big deal. Then one night, their small, regular acts of mayhem climaxed in an unexpected event. Rain began to fall around 8 p.m. It was constant, though not heavy. At 9, the ceilings in five rooms began to leak. By 10:30, our house was flooded. We managed to rescue most of our precious items, but the house was damaged. We had to find a new place to live. I don’t expect anything nearly this drastic to befall you, dear Virgo. But I do encourage you to check to see if any small problem is gradually growing bigger. Now is a favorable time to intervene and forestall an unfavorable development.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Two Scottish veterinarians researched the health of rhesus monkeys that are compelled by human handlers to dance on the streets of Islamabad, Pakistan. When I first learned about this, my response was, “Wow! Don’t those doctors have anything better to do? That is the most obscure research I have ever heard of.” But later, I decided I admired the doctors because they were motivated primarily by compassion. They found the monkeys were under severe stress, and they publicized the fact as a public service. Their work will ultimately lead to better treatment of the monkeys. In accordance with astrological omens, Libra, I advise you to seek out comparable ways to express altruism in the coming weeks. By engaging in noble and idealistic acts, you will attract good fortune into your sphere both for yourself and others.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Do you place any limits on how deep and expansive you allow your yearnings to be? Are you ever worried that maybe you desire too much and are at risk of asking for too much? If you answered yes to those questions, Scorpio, I will give you a temporary license to rebel against your wariness. In accordance with astrological rhythms, I authorize you to experiment with feeling the biggest, strongest, wildest longings you have ever felt. Please note that I am not advising you to immediately go out and actually express those longings to the hilt. For now, I’d like you to simply have the experience of entertaining their full intensity. This will be a healing experience.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You will never guess the identity of the strongest animal on the planet. It’s not the gorilla, tiger, or elephant. It’s the dung beetle, which can lug loads that weigh 1,141 times as much as it does. The equivalent for you would be to pull six double-decker buses crammed with people. I’m happy to inform you that although you won’t be able to accomplish that feat in the coming weeks, your emotional and spiritual strength will be formidable. You may be surprised at how robust and mighty you are. What do you plan to do with all that power?
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): By age 35, you have already shed over 50 pounds of skin. The flesh that covers you is in a constant state of renewal. In the coming weeks, I expect your rate of regeneration to be even higher than usual — not only in regard to your skin, but everything else in your life, as well. Here’s a proviso: Renewal and regeneration are always preceded by withering or dwindling. To enjoy the thrill of revitalization, you must allow the loss of what was once vital but is no longer.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Among people who go hiking a lot, “death march” is a term that refers to a long trudge through boring scenery in bad weather. Let’s use this as a metaphor for your life. I believe you have recently finished your own metaphorical version of a “death march.” Any minute now, you will begin a far more enjoyable series of experiences. Get ready for an entertaining meander through interesting terrains in fine weather. Be alert for unpredictable encounters with inspiration and education.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Alex Larenty gives massages to lions at the Lion Park near Johannesburg, South Africa. They especially love foot rubs. Even Jamu, king of the local beasts, rolls onto his back so Larenty can get a good angle while caressing and kneading his paws. I bring this to your attention, Pisces, because it’s a good metaphor for the unique power you will have in the coming days: a knack for dealing successfully with wild influences and elemental powers through the magic of kindness, affection, and service.
Editor’s note: This is part four in a five-part series focusing on immigrant contributions to our nationand city.
Thirty-one years ago, Manuel Rivera Martínez, from Morelia, made the difficult decision to follow his father to California. He was 15. Morelia, the capital of the state of Michoacán in Central Mexico, is a lovely colonial city that has been ravaged, recently, by gang-related violence.
Martínez grew up in a house with seven siblings and developed his entrepreneurial skills from his mother. “My mother, who recently passed, would sell menudo [a traditional tripe soup] and quesadillas out of our house to earn a little extra money,” he says.
When Martínez followed his father to California a few years after his dad left, he hoped that an opportunity for an education awaited him. Instead, father and son worked in Pomona for a company that repaired and resold wood pallets. Then Martínez moved to Merced County and worked on a dairy farm. He worked for Gallo picking grapes and made about $180 or $190 per week. “People worked 12-hour shifts — 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and then 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.,” he says. “Hard work, and people worked constantly, there were few breaks in the fields, even for water.”
From California, Martínez moved to the Pacific Northwest and worked in restaurants. He eventually made it to Memphis and found employment in a Japanese restaurant where he met his wife Lisha. Initially, they were just friends, and he did not pursue a romantic relationship because he knew inside that he had “no chance.” When he finally asked her out, she said yes! Years later, they’re raising two children: Preston, who attends Dexter elementary, and Mia, their 2-year-old daughter.
Martínez landed in Memphis about 16 years ago and is proprietor of the popular taqueria Maciel’s. The business started Downtown on South Main; now, Martínez has a restaurant on South Cooper, a newly opened location in Bartlett, and plans are underway for another on Summer Avenue. “Memphis is a welcoming city,” he says. “We have issues, but I want people to see the bright side, and if you love what you do, Memphis has the potential to let you do it.”
Martínez illustrates this by reminding us of a tragic event at his Downtown restaurant. “In July 2017, the roof caved in while patrons were dining, and I was ready to shutter the business, but the Downtown community came together and held a fundraiser.” No one was seriously injured and approximately $8,000 was raised. “This money allowed me to pay my employees for three months” while the restaurant was rebuilt, he says. The generosity and kindness of the Memphis community gave Martínez strength, encouraging him to stay in business.
After Maciel’s reopened, Martínez developed a deep love for this community and the neighbors who literally saved his business. He works 12- or 14-hour days to keep the business moving along. And he explains the origins of the name Maciel’s: “It’s my father’s name, Manuel, but they misspelled it on his birth certificate as “Maciel” and it sort of stuck. But we’ve kept the name; in fact, my 9-year-old boy is named Preston Maciel Rivera.”
He credits Lisha, who he refers to as his best friend and most trusted advisor, with pushing him to open the first restaurant. Many advised him against trying to open a business because he had only $40,000 in savings for start-up capital. “In fact, one real estate professional told me to open a food truck,” he says. Martínez wasn’t offended by the off-hand comment; rather, he saw it as a challenge.
While walking down Main Street, Martínez and Lisha saw a “restaurant for sale” sign. They were able to “buy all the equipment from a pizza restaurant that occupied the space.” The landlord was excited about a family starting a business in the location. The stars aligned, or as Martínez says, “I believe we all have a destiny. That there is a book with something written for each of us and that it is designed for you. You have to be sure not to miss the signals. This place was there for me.”
Martínez seems likely to stay put here in Memphis. “People come here because they find what they like to do and you should always follow your passions.” Neither Martínez nor his father, who now lives in Mexico, were able to continue their formal education. “I want my kids to be able to attend college or start their own business or combine the two.”
For Martínez, the ideal business is one where everyone working makes a decent amount of money and only works one job. Because of this ethos, many of his employees have been with him since he started nine years ago.
“Everyone needs to be treated with dignity, no matter what job they have,” says the man who has worked his way up to ownership of a successful restaurant enterprise here. “I’m really fortunate that I chose Memphis, which is a long way from Morelia, Mexico, but this is a great place to raise a family and run a business.”
Bryce W. Ashby is an attorney at Donati Law, PLLC. Michael J. LaRosa is an associate professor of history at Rhodes College.
