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Shop ’Til You Drop in the 901

9906 Candle Co. (Photo: Courtesy 9906 Candle Co.)

Dear Santa, 

We, the writers of the Memphis Flyer, promise we’ve been good boys and girls. Really good. We only made fun of The Commercial Appeal once this year — just one time — well, one time this month. Sure, we misspelled Gannett while we were at it. Maybe that was karma; maybe that was you, Santa. But we’ve been good. We started showing up to meetings, occasionally on time. We’ve learned about spell-check — who knew that existed? We even got on Bluesky. We’re keeping up. 

Oh, Santa, we only have a few things on our list this year, and we put them all in our gift guide for our readers. We’re sure they’d like some things from our list, too. They like to support local businesses. So you don’t mind that we put it all in print, do you? And that we tell our readers to also get their gifts for their loved ones from these shops and makers? We can only write so much; being so good these days has made us so tired. So, yes, Santa, your letter and our gift guide will have to pull double-duty. Take it or leave it. And, readers, please do take it; don’t leave it.

Flashback

Millett and Gene Vance describe their well-known emporium on Central Avenue as a “vintage department store,” and that’s a very good description. They should know. The couple opened Flashback in 1984, just in time for Christmas that year. Forty years later, they’re still at it. Describing the kaleidoscope of merchandise inside is a challenge because there’s just so much of it. It’s a world-class vault of collectibles — everything you could imagine, and much you couldn’t begin to. You’ll find clothes from several eras, hats of all kinds, kitchenware and glassware, posters and paintings, groovy new mobiles, funky furniture, fun-house mirrors, and even a giant mounted swordfish. Go in and poke around. There’s probably something at Flashback for everyone on your gift list, no matter your budget. Get funky.  — Bruce VanWyngarden
2304 Central Avenue, (901) 272-2304, flashbackmemphis.com 

9906 Candle Co.

Candles and fragrances are key to setting the perfect vibes. Whether you’re trying to curate the ultimate homey experience or looking to mimic the ambience of that luxurious getaway you find yourself slipping back to, scents can help you achieve that goal. This holiday season, instead of setting an alarm to stand in line at a mass-market retailer, consider supporting a local Black-owned business that specializes in hand-poured, coconut soy candles and skin-safe room and linen fragrance mists.

9906 Candle Co. is a Memphis-based brand founded by Denise Weary. Weary’s brand is driven by “the philosophy of providing luxurious yet affordable home fragrance.” The founder goes on to say that her products reflect her commitment to simplicity and elegance with her minimalistic and charming packaging.

“Are you ready to treat your nose, treat your space? We’re out here changing atmospheres,” the company asserts.

Some of the “best smellers” include the Coco and Cedar candle with scents of jasmine, vanilla, coconut, and sandalwood, and the Sweet Stones mist with notes of citrus, cranberry, champagne, musk, praline, and caramel. Other scents include Lure, Floral Cacti, and Mandarin Escape.

You can purchase an item directly from the website at 9906candleco.com, or you can shop a local pop-up this holiday season, such as the Lightfoot Farm Market in Millington on Saturday, December 7th, or the Holiday Market at the Memphis Farmers Market on Saturday, December 14th. — Kailynn Johnson
9906candleco.com

River City Records (Photo: Chris McCoy)

River City Records

The vinyl records boom shows no sign of slowing down. This year, the hot records are all by women artists, says Chris Braswell, owner of River City Records. “A lot of the new pop artists are women, like Olivia Rodrigo, Taylor Swift, Lana Del Rey, Sabrina Carpenter, [Charli XCX] Brat, and Chappell Roan. She was on Saturday Night Live three weeks ago, I believe. I didn’t see it, but I had several people come in Sunday saying, ‘Did you see Chappell Roan last night?’”

Now entering its fourth year of operation at 101 S. Main, River City Records has a huge selection of music, and the equipment to play it on. “Our turntables have been really popular,” says Braswell. “People are still getting turntables for Christmas, and we’ve got several to choose from.” 

If you don’t know what to get, don’t despair. “People sometimes don’t know the right album to buy for somebody, or if they’ve already got that particular album of a certain artist. Gift cards are really popular here, so they can stroll through the store and decide what record they want.” 

River City Records’ Dave Anderson says there’s even more to choose from. “We’ve got vintage T-shirts, and then we’ve got our own brand, and other studios. Our T-shirts are really popular.”

Braswell says to be on the lookout for specials this holiday season. “We’re gonna have a big $2 record sale. We’ll have 12 to 14 crates of $2 records. That’s a good way for people to add to their collection on the cheap.” — Chris McCoy
101 South Main, (901) 359-5597, rivercityrecordshop.com

Memphis Arts Collective Holiday Market (Photo: Alex Greene)

Memphis Arts Collective Holiday Market

Feeling a little disgruntled with the standard corporate online shopping options, I decided to gift locally made art to friends and family this holiday season. And as soon as I stumbled upon their unassuming holiday-only storefront in Gattas Plaza, near the Knowledge Tree, I knew I’d found the right place. Through those double doors, a world of color opened up like I’d landed in Oz, as I surveyed the booths of nearly three dozen craftspeople and their wares, with all manner of pottery, glass, jewelry, metal, fabric and fiber, mixed media, and photography on display before me. What’s more, the vibe was pleasant and welcoming, perhaps because of a kind built-in camaraderie among members of the Memphis Arts Collective, organizer of the holiday market.

Cat Snyder, a glass sculptor who’s selling her work there, as well as helping to produce the event, was just as enthused about the other members’ handiwork as her own. “Oh, you’ll love Brian Maness’ stained glass over there! And there’s an incredible potter next to him,” she exclaimed. I was drawn in by both the conviviality and the vivid artwork, from objets d’art to paintings to prints to hats to cards, all fresh out of the artists’ studios, looking for the perfect wall, shelf, or wardrobe to call home. — Alex Greene
Gattas Plaza, 4998 Summer Avenue, through December 24th, Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. | Sunday, noon-5 p.m. | closed Thanksgiving Day | Christmas Eve, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. | silent auction to benefit Miracle League of Memphis, memphisartscollective.com/holiday-artist-market

Photo: Courtesy Hound Dog Apparel | Facebooks

Hound Dog Apparel

You’ve seen someone wearing that bright yellow T-shirt from the old Buccaneer Lounge and thought you’d been out-Memphised.

It must be the best thrift store find of all time, you thought. But it looks so new. How did …? But you push the question away before allowing yourself to truly consider the person might be a time traveler. 

While not a traveler, per se, Rachel Ford does have a time machine. Her Hound Dog Apparel can transport Memphians back to an age when lemongrass tofu flowed freely from Pho Binh, browsing at Bookstar was an option, and birthdays were made for Celebration Station.

The small, locally owned and operated clothing company specializes in reproductions and reimaginings of some of your favorite bygone Memphis establishments stretching all the way back to the ’70s. If you’ve spent any time in Memphis over the last few decades you’re sure to find a solid dose of nostalgia browsing through their tees. 

Hound Dog is not a one-trick pony, though. (Though, you can find a design from The Pony, iykyk.) There’s a Barbie/barbecue mash-up you never knew you needed. There’s also plenty of Grizz and Tigers shirts to make you stand out in the crowd. Only the truly enlightened Memphian will grasp the timely nostalgia of Hound Dog’s “Knuc-ee’s” tee. *chef’s kiss*   

Hound Dog can be found at most major festivals around town — just look for the booth with the giant crowd around it. But if you can’t make it to town, place your order by December 5th to ensure it’s on time for the holidays. — Toby Sells
hounddogapparel.com

Jimmy Crosthwait’s clocks and chimes (Photo: Michael Donahue)

Jimmy Crosthwait’s Clocks and Chimes

Give people more time for the holidays. As in a Zen clock made by Jimmy Crosthwait.

The puppeteer, artist, and musician (who co-founded Mudboy and the Neutrons and now plays with Sons of Mudboy) is again offering his Zen clocks and Zen chimes as well as his candlestick sculptures at WinterArts. He also will be featuring new pieces which he calls “Karmic Wheels.” 

“The Wheel of Karma is a Hindu and Buddhist concept of just life and rebirth and death and rebirth,” Crosthwait says. “How you live this life will determine your status in the next life. … I’m taking a certain artistic license when I design these.”

The wooden pieces are about 21 inches across, he says. “And have, for the most part, ceramic centers with spokes radiating out to the rim.”

The spokes are metal wires onto which Crosthwait threads beads. Some of the pieces, which are stained, have appliqués around them. Others are etched into the wood around the hub with a laser printer. “Some are cut out of a Masonite-like material,” he says. “And I will glue that to the wood and stain it.”

Crosthwait, whose clocks have no hands or moving parts, says the pieces essentially look like clocks. They’re round and they have a pendulum. But there are no hands. 

This year, Crosthwait’s clocks are a little bit different. “I was mostly putting them on serving trays, platters. And I would have pendulums hanging down that were usually some sort of metal or tinsel. This year, I’m doing, essentially, a lot of wooden pieces that have either appliqué on the rims or are etched with the laser printer. Just carved into the wooden circles.”

Some feature spoons containing “a little ceramic orb to complement the ceramic centers of the clock.” — Michael Donahue
WinterArts, The Shops of Saddle Creek, 7509 Poplar Avenue, Germantown, November 30th-December 24th, winterarts.org

Five in One Social Club (Photo: Abigail Morici)

Five in One Social Club

For those who like to get crafty — whether the gifter or the giftee — Five in One Social Club is the place to go. For starters, it’s full of stationery, crafting supplies, embroidery kits, felting kits, and locally made goods from Memphis-y T-shirts to Baby Creep’s creepy baby vases, all of which have great gifting potential. 

But the shop also offers a whole calendar of craft workshops, including Stained Glass Ornaments on December 10th and Woodburning Ornaments on December 28th. Now, the options with these workshops and gift-giving are endless, kinda. You can a) make something in one of these workshops to give to your recipient (throwback to childhood DIYs you gave to your parents; these will look better though, hopefully, depending on your skill level); b) you can bring your fellow crafty giftee to a workshop with you (quality time = the gift a lifetime, as long as your presence isn’t god awful); or c) you can get your loved one a Five in One Social Club gift card to choose a workshop they can attend with someone whose company they actually enjoy any day of the year — well, mostly, there’s a calendar and all. 

Five in One Social Club is also featured in the Women-Owned Passport, through which shoppers who visit certain women-owned businesses can collect stamps and receive a special offer with purchase between now and December 31st. If you collect stamps from every shop, you’ll be entered for a chance to win one of three prizes valued at over $300. The best part? You’ll be supporting women-owned businesses! There are 17 businesses participating, but I’ve reached my word limit, so … I can’t list them all. Sorry! I recommend you Google “Women-Owned Passport Memphis” or follow this link here. Happy shopping! — Abigail Morici
2575 Summer Avenue, (901) 308-2104, fiveinonesocialclub.com

Pile of Threads (Photo: Courtesy Pile of Threads)

Pile of Threads 

Everyone loves a bit of embroidery to add just the right amount of pizzazz to any garment, and Pile of Threads does it best. With recycled, hand-dyed, neon-embroidered totes proclaiming “I Love Memphis Women” and cheeky “F Around & Find Out” baseball caps, Pile of Threads has something for just about anyone. Especially because you can also get customized work. That includes monograms, lettering, pet portraits, pennants, custom patches, small designs, embroidered jeans, wall art — just about anything you can think of. All you have to do is fill out the form provided on pileofthreads.com and allow three to four weeks for owner Whit Washington — the self-proclaimed “Stitch Bitch in Charge” — to work her magic on her 100-year-old embroidery machine. 

Washington also has items available for purchase at Stock & Belle and Falling into Place. And she’ll be hosting a pop-up shop during WYXR’s Raised by Sound Fest’s after-party on December 7th, with vintage goodies on hand for you to get embroidered — or you can bring your own. Items should be 100% cotton, non-stretch material like denim or canvas. Prices begin at $30 for this service. Sounds like the perfect stitchuation. — AM
pileofthreads.com, Stock & Belle, 387 South Main | Falling Into Place, 2613 Broad Avenue | Raised by Sound Fest’s After Party, Crosstown Concourse, 1350 Concourse, Saturday, December 7, 9-11 p.m. 

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Music Music Features Uncategorized

Iron Mic Coalition

Mac, Derelick, and Duke of the Iron Mic Coalition, performing at the Undugu Hip Hop Festival. (Photos: Courtesy IMC)

Memphis is known for its world-class rappers; trap is the new “Memphis Sound.” But while we might hear BlocBoy JB shout out, “901 Shelby Drive, look alive, look alive,” on the radio, there’s a cohort of lesser known but very active hip-hop artists among us who live and breathe such lyrics, depicting life in our place and time like no others. Does any recent rhyme capture the feeling of living under the weight of this city’s history like: “I rap Memphop, I rap the deep quadrant/I come from the marshes, the shady tree garages/The torn-down projects, the cotton on the barges”?

Some readers will instantly recognize that as a line from “Maybap Music” by Iron Mic Coalition (IMC), as a devoted following has developed around the group over the past 20 years. If you know, you know. Part of that comes down to IMC’s undeniable grounding in this region. That comes across both lyrically and musically, as on 2014’s “Home,” driven by a minor key soul blues sample, with the lyrics: “A stranger in his own land, a Delta blues homeland … Crossroads demon summit, now the blues man cometh with the truth boom bappin’ hell on ’em.” 

Jason Da Hater, Duke, Milk, and Mac of the Iron Mic Coalition (Photo courtesy IMC)

Indeed, IMC’s music over the years has been full of Southern soul and blues, (or even the tweaked voice of Billie Holiday singing “Gloomy Sunday” on “Crown”). Case in point: the hard-hitting blues guitar lick on their best-known single, “Memphop,” done many years before Al Kapone began experimenting with his own style of blues-infused rap. Clearly, IMC is fully rooted down, devoting a whole track (not just one line of a hit single) to the “901 Area Code” on their 2005 debut.  

Skipping back and forth across the decades is par for the course with IMC’s music, as the collective of DJs and MCs have been remarkably true to their vision and consistent in their output for 20 years, across three releases whose titles speak to their shared coherence: The 1st Edition (2005), The 2nd Edition (2008), and The 3rd Edition (2014). These artists have always been playing the long game, as should be clear this Friday, November 29th, at the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, where the IMC will make a rare appearance to celebrate their 20th anniversary, revisiting their debut album in full and hinting at what a fourth work-in-progress might hold in store. 

The Memphis Flyer, it should be noted, has been with IMC for the whole ride, starting with Chris Herrington’s 2004 survey of Memphis hip-hop, but as I speak now with IMC member Quinn McGowan, aka The Mighty Quinn, there’s one thing he’d like to clear up about how the group’s been described here in the past. “The popular misnomer was always we were like the Wu-Tang [Clan] of the South, but actually a more accurate description would have been the Native Tongues of the South, right? Because we were always a group of groups. Native Tongues was the Jungle Brothers, Black Sheep, De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, Queen Latifah — all those folks kind of wrapped up in a loose association.” The same affiliation of like-minded groups coalesced in Memphis “because we were all doing shows together, right? And we were carving out what would become Memphop, throwing our own kind of shows, with b-boys [breakdancers] and the artists out front. We were adhering to the four elements.”

Those would be the four elements of hip-hop — DJing, MCing, breakdancing, and graffiti art — and the IMC members’ adherence to them as a way of life might explain the collective’s longevity, despite having never blown up coast to coast. Through the decades, the core group of groups, including Fyte Club (General MacArthur, The Mighty Quinn), M.O.S. (Duke, Derelick, and Milk [aka Yasin Allah]), Kontrast (Jason Da Hater, EMPEE, and DJ Capital A), and Fathom 9 (aka Avenging Wind), have continued as a tightly knit cohort, despite Fathom 9’s untimely passing in November of 2014.

“There have always been eight MCs and our DJ Capital A,” says McGowan, before noting the involvement of another stealth participant of sorts. “My son was always a secret 10th member. I drew a future projection of him as a silhouette inside of the eye in the Iron Mic borders.” That was back when McGowan was helping craft the visuals for the fledgling group. McGowan’s son, then very young, uttered the first line of the first IMC release. An upcoming album now in the works will echo that when Eillo, as McGowan’s son is known, now a key player and artist in his own right with the Unapologetic collective, will join the IMC. “Eillo is finishing a verse at the end of the project for the point of the symmetry, right?” says McGowan. “He starts out The 1st Edition. So we wanted to make sure to have him, you know, get his lyricism on to close out The 4th Edition.”  

In keeping with the four elements of hip-hop, expect a visual element at Friday’s show as well. McGowan’s other creative outlet is his visual art, including a line of comics called Wildfire, published by his own Legends Press. “My approach to comics is very much rooted to my approach to hip-hop. There’s this lineage of comic books in hip-hop that goes back to Rappin’ Max Robot.” It’s all been part of living the hip-hop life for McGowan, staying true to his vision and offering commentary on the state of the world. (It’s no accident that IMC opened for knowledge rapper KRS-One back in the day). “My band of brothers are a group of men that I have a great deal of respect for, and we try to live the values that we espouse,” says McGowan. And part of that involves embracing the unabashedly local “Memphop” tag, a term McGowan coined when the group began.

“There’s always going to be a culture of hip-hop or Memphop in Memphis. Hip-hop has its own very distinct expression here, even in the ways that we execute those four elements. Our graffiti is different. We have not only have b-boys; we’ve got jookin, right? You can still hear a Southern twang, so to speak. Memphop is bigger than us. So we want to do something that’s dedicated to that. And this thing at Stax is about our own placement in that.” 

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News News Feature

Handing Down Your Home to an Heir

Photo: Jakub Żerdzicki | Unsplash

A home is one of the most valuable and complex assets to hand down. It can be an incredibly emotional experience and may be difficult to find common ground. Thoughtful planning can ensure your home is passed along according to your wishes. A well-constructed plan can minimize the risk of legal, financial, and tax complexities. If you’re proactive, your heirs can have clarity and a clear course of action for when the time comes. 

1. Start planning early.

Start early and discuss your intentions with family members and heirs. Understand their wishes and ensure your decisions align with their hopes for the future. 

2. Understand the potential tax consequences. 

Transferring property to an heir can trigger various tax consequences, including estate taxes, gift taxes, and/or capital gains taxes. Work with an estate planning attorney or tax professional to implement a tax-efficient transfer strategy. 

3. Explore different transfer options: 

Joint ownership — If you plan on living in the home until you pass away, you may wish to add your heir’s name to the property’s title as a joint owner. This ensures that the joint owner receives full ownership rights to the home without restrictions after one’s passing.

If a spouse is listed as the co-owner of the home, the value transferred to the spouse is exempt from estate and gift taxes as they benefit from the unlimited marital deduction. The surviving spouse would inherit your ownership interest of the home and become the sole owner.

When a non-spouse co-owner is listed: 

• The value transferred is considered a gift and must be reported for gift tax purposes, meaning it counts toward your lifetime exemption amount. 

• Lifetime gifts to non-spouse heirs are subject to the carryover of cost basis, which may be equal to the original cost of the home (excluding improvements). This means they may be subject to higher taxes due on the future sale of the property because they’ll likely not be eligible for a step-up in cost basis at the time of your death. 

• As a co-owner, your heir assumes ownership of a portion of the home’s value. Should they experience financial difficulties, initiate divorce proceedings, or incur debt issues, this could put your home at risk of a lien or other legal action. Further, you would need the permission of your co-owner to take out a new mortgage, refinance the existing mortgage or sell the home in the future.

Will — A traditional will allows you to name an heir as the beneficiary of your home. A testamentary trust setup can provide more control over how your home is managed and used. Having a will alone doesn’t prevent your assets from going through probate. And a will is a public document, so anyone can see who inherited assets. 

Revocable trust — A revocable trust allows you, as “grantor” or “trustee,” to maintain control over your home while specifying how and when it will pass to your heirs. Following your death, the trust enables your home to be quickly and privately transferred to your heir while bypassing the probate process. This approach allows you to retain full control and use of your home during your lifetime and a seamless transition after you pass away. 

Qualified personal residence trust (QPRT) — A QPRT can help you transfer your home’s ownership at a reduced gift tax rate. Here, the home is transferred to a trust, but as the owner, you maintain the right to live there for the QPRT’s duration. At the end of the trust, the house is transferred to the designated beneficiary, and you no longer have an official right to live there (however, it’s common to negotiate a lease with the beneficiary).

For this strategy to be most effective, the original owner must outlive the terms of the trust. If you die before the trust ends, the value of your home will be included in your taxable estate. 

4. Evaluate financial readiness. 

Make sure your heir is financially prepared for homeownership and the commitments associated with the property. Passing down a home can mean additional financial responsibilities, including property taxes, home insurance, maintenance costs, and mortgage payments. 

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, including investments, taxes, estate planning, and risk management. For more information or to request a free, no-obligation consultation, visit CreativePlanning.com.

Categories
Sports Tiger Blue

Maui Magic for the Memphis Tigers

Penny Hardaway (photo by Wes Hale)

Penny Hardaway’s seventh season as coach of the Memphis Tigers began with a bang(!) Monday in Maui. A roster that’s all but entirely new battled the second-ranked Connecticut Huskies into overtime and, thanks to nine points (six free throws) from someone named P.J. Carter, upset the two-time defending national champions, 99-97. Wait, you say, Memphis entered the game with four wins in four games. Began?

The nature of college basketball in 2024 is, in a word, flux. Players come and go with the frequency of fickle middle-school crushes. Last year’s Tiger star, David Jones, played one season in blue and gray (and won the American Athletic Conference scoring title). The Tigers’ star in 2022-23, Kendric Davis, played one season in blue and gray (and won the American Athletic Conference scoring title). These were veteran players that Hardaway essentially borrowed for a one-winter run. Cutting to the present, the 2024-25 Tigers are measuring the star power of their new roster, knowing full well most of the players we see in uniform in Maui will not be here twelve months from now. And those first four games didn’t tell us much, other than this group plays better after halftime than before.

Then came the opening game of the Maui Invitational. A team that struggled after the tip in its first four contests hit 56 percent of its shots (and five of ten three-point attempts) in going toe to toe with the mighty Huskies, the score knotted, 40 each, at halftime. Those twenty minutes would have been a win for Memphis, coming so early in the season against such a formidable foe. But the Tigers played even better (that developing trend) after the break. They again hit five of ten long-distance shots, matched UConn in rebounding, and led by 13 points with under five minutes to play. But the Huskies played like the champions they are, tying the game on a nothing-but-net three-pointer by Solo Ball with a second left on the clock. Those 40 minutes would have been a win for Memphis.

But the Tigers played even better in overtime, and without their primary scoring threat, P.J. Haggerty, who fouled out late in regulation. Enter P.J. Carter. The Atlanta native is playing his fifth college season. He spent two years at Campbell University (4.3 minutes per game), a year at Georgia Highlands College, and last season at UTSA, where he started 10 games and averaged 9.5 points per game. With six clutch free throws and a three pointer in the overtime period on Monday, Carter is now a Memphis Tiger for life. That’s how big the Tigers’ Hawaiian punch felt at the final buzzer.

Hardaway needs this team to get to the NCAA tournament . . . and win a couple of games in the Big Dance. Year Seven is long enough to wait for the hometown legend to return some glory to a long-proud program. Honestly, Hardaway has produced more national controversies as coach of the Tigers than he has NCAA tournament victories (one). And this is why the upset of UConn felt like a beginning. (For some perspective, the last time Memphis beat the second-ranked team in the country was an upset of Louisville at the Mid-South Coliseum on March 2, 1972, four months before Hardaway’s first birthday.) A team most of us didn’t know two weeks ago now has familiar faces (Tyrese Hunter!) who seem capable of beating, yes, anybody in the country.

It would be nice if Memphis beats Michigan State on Tuesday and goes on to win the Maui Invitational. But even with a loss to the Spartans, the 2024-25 Tigers have created a permanent memory: Remember Maui! That is exceedingly hard in modern college basketball, and next to impossible without a lengthy tournament run in March. A new season, a new roster, and, it appears, a new life for coach Penny Hardaway. Many journey to the islands to make a dream come true. Perhaps these Tigers’ truth is creating new dreams. 

Categories
Beyond the Arc Sports Uncategorized

Ja Is Back! Morant’s Return Sparks Grizzlies

Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) dunks the ball against the Portland Trail Blazers during the first half at FedExForum on Nov 25, 2024. (Wes Hale Photo)

After an eight-game injury absence, the Memphis Grizzlies saw an instant benefit from Ja Morant’s return. In the Grizzlies’ 123-98 rout of the Portland Trail Blazers, Monday night, Morant had an outstanding game, scoring 22 points and dishing out 11 assists.

After the win, Morant reflected on his return, saying, “I felt good, I played good.”

Several highlight-reel plays demonstrated that Morant’s return to the lineup was a smooth one. He showed great team chemistry by setting up Jaren Jackson Jr. for an alley-oop and dishing a behind-the-back pass to Brandon Clarke.

And we can’t forget his out-of-nowhere dunk. 

Before his injury, Morant was becoming the go-to offensive catalyst for the Grizzlies, with averages of 20.6 points, 9.1 assists, and 5.0 rebounds per game. With his return, the team’s energy and dynamic seemed to be revitalized, leading to an increase in offensive speed. His exceptional playmaking skills not only elevate his own game but also create opportunities for teammates to excel.

The win over the Blazers propelled Memphis from seventh to fifth place in the wild, wild Western Conference standings.

The Grizzlies extended their winning streak to three games, matching their longest streak of the season. They’ve also won four of their last five games, showcasing their growing momentum.

Morant’s influence on the game was a testament to his return to form. “Just attacking my return process,” Morant said after the game. “The ramp up. Making sure I’m in rhythm when I’m out there.”

Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins praised Morant’s return. “He works his tail off, throughout the return-to-play process,” said Jenkins. “He loves this game. He misses being out there. I think I said it to someone before the game – his engagement, even when he’s out, you all don’t get to see the work that he’s putting in.”

Jenkins added: “This past week was some of the best work I’d seen from him … His engagement with his teammates, his voice in the locker room, film sessions, and on the sidelines — he was chomping at the bit to get out there. He and I were talking on the side saying, ‘What’s this going to look like in two weeks from now?’ We were talking two weeks ago about the things he was doing well, what he can correct, what he can get better at, where the team’s head space is at, what we have to do better just as a team … He was translating that to the guys throughout the game. He was just locked in the last three-ish weeks.”

“He loves the game — he put in the work,” Jenkins said. “And this is no shock — the impact he made with the pace of play. I thought he did a phenomenal job on [Anfernee] Simons defensively. He held him to five points. His point of attack defensively definitely set a tone for us as well tonight.”

Jackson Jr. powered through a slow start to post 21 points, with 12 coming in the 4th quarter, while shooting 66.7% from the field. 

The 25-year-old big man emphasized the importance of versatility, saying that a player can’t rely on just one skill. Instead, being effective requires a mix of different abilities, such as posting up, driving, and shooting from outside. This versatility also allows for more energy and activity on defense.

“It felt more like a playoff atmosphere, I was loving it,” said Jackson Jr. on the energy inside FedExForum. 

Santi Aldama secured a career-high 17 rebounds and 13 points (6-12 FG, 1-1 3P), marking his sixth double-double of the season. Aldama has achieved three double-doubles in his last four games.

With their two-time All-Star back in the lineup, the Grizzlies are well-positioned to make a playoff push. However, to make a deep playoff run, Morant’s health is crucial. After navigating earlier season challenges with injuries and inconsistencies, the team’s success hinges on Morant’s ability to stay healthy.

Next Up

The Grizzlies will host the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday, November 27, at FedExForum. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 PM CST. To make the game even more appealing, the first 3,000 fans in attendance will receive a City Edition Scarf.

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News News Blog News Feature

TDOT Provides Updates on Cleanup Efforts To City Council

Photo by Bernd 📷 Dittrich on Unsplash

City Council members are concerned about routine maintenance schedules, trash collection, road repairs, and landscaping in Memphis. They asked the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) about establishing a timeline for cleanup efforts as well as employment outreach during today’s transportation committee meeting. 

They mentioned that points of concern were Madison Avenue, I-40, and South Parkway, due to the “significant amounts of trash that accumulates in these areas. Councilwoman Jana Swearengen-Washington also asked about additional resources and partnerships that the city can implement to help in cleanup efforts.

Swearengen-Washington commended the work that had been done around the airport, saying that it’s looking better, but they need “long-term planning to maintain these areas consistently.”

Katie McGinnis, TDOT District 49 Manager, said since they last met with the council they have set up initiatives to clear out vegetation so that trash and debris doesn’t get trapped.  McGinnis added that most of their efforts are geared towards asphalt and potholes. TDOT’s railroad permitting has not gone through for a resurfacing plan for I-240.

“We’re constantly having to send out  forces to patch those repeatedly over and over again in lieu of having that resurfacing project,” McGinnis said. “That’s why you’re seeing a lot of the larger debris. We don’t have that time, so we handle the safety sensitive objects first which would be the paved surfaces — anything that could cause an accident. That’s where the lack is.” 

Officials said they are tackling sections of pavement and working to restore them, but noted they are still prepping for winter weather so they can meet onligations. They said last year’s winter storm “killed” their TDOT maintenance budget resulting in a “reduction in what they were capable of doing.”

Councilwoman Rhonda Logan inquired about graffiti and how they’re monitoring it.

McGinnis mentioned they were able to capture a 15-year-old who was known for spray painting “spicy” on the I-240 corridor with the help of the Memphis Police Department. They said they had noticed a significant decrease in graffiti, but they themselves  do not look into catching graffiti artists.

Council members also offered solutions for the department’s staffing issues, asking if their  outreach could extend to juveniles to help clean the city.

“Is there a program where they can get out here and clean this mess up and give them some accountability and responsibility? They’re terrorizing the city,” councilwoman Yolanda Cooper-Sutton remarked.

TDOT said they haven’t opened their hiring process for transportation workers as they are still filling in positions from reorganizing the agency. While they recognized the highway adoption program, they said they also work with the Department of Corrections to occasionally get crews to help with litter and light landscaping. 

Cody Joyner, TDOT’s team lead for Shelby County, explained that the department of corrections had experienced staffing issues, meaning they didn’t have enough officers to send over with inmates. Joyner said when they do have enough, they are typically staging them in places with “a lot of litter” such as Elvis Presley Boulevard and Lamar Avenue.

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State Budget Flags On Business Tax Breaks

State Capitol (Photo: Tennessee State Government)

Tennessee’s State Funding Board approved conservative growth rates Thursday as revenue flags in the wake of a major business tax reduction.

The board, which is made up of the state’s three constitutional officers and finance commissioner, set a growth rate in general fund revenue of 1 percent to 2 percent and total tax growth at 1.25 percent to 2.15 percent for fiscal 2025-26.

With this year’s overall budget at $52.8 billion, the board maintained the total growth rate projection for fiscal 2024-25 at negative-1.68 percent to negative-1.34 percent. The board was forced to roll back projections at mid-year because of weak revenue.

Economic experts told the board earlier this month that the economy is in good shape but that growth is slowing after double-digit revenue two years ago. The state also is facing a $1.9 billion business tax reduction over several years after lawmakers approved a request by Gov. Bill Lee to eliminate the property portion of the state’s franchise and excise taxes. That came on the heels of a business tax break the previous year.

Tennessee lawmakers still at odds over business tax cut as session enters final days

The Department of Revenue has processed nearly $900 million in rebates this year, and more are expected.

Tennessee’s growth rate usually lies between 3.5 percent to 5 percent, but staff expected revenue to slow down and built in a cushion over the past two years, Budget Director David Thurman said.

In recent budget hearings, state departments and agencies requested more than $4.2 billion in funding increases for fiscal 2025-26 to deal with inflation and improvements in state services. But the revenue forecast isn’t expected to come close to matching that figure, even with federal funds covering some of the costs.

The weak budget outlook could affect lawmakers’ decisions on providing funds to flood-ravage counties in East Tennessee and the governor’s proposed private-school voucher program, which was not approved this year but has $144 million in unused funds in the budget.

Tennessee Lookout is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Tennessee Lookout maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Holly McCall for questions: info@tennesseelookout.com. Follow Tennessee Lookout on Facebook and X.

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“Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” to Be Celebrated As Tennessee’s Official Holiday Song

The holiday classic “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” is now the official Holiday Song of Tennessee and its singer is set to be recognized next week. 

The song was officially designated as a state song earlier this year, with legislation filed in December 2023 by Rep. Jason Powell (D-Nashville). The bill was signed into law by Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee in April. The song’s performer, Brenda Lee, a longtime Nashvillian, is set to receive a proclamation on the designation next week. 

The song was recorded in the heart of Nashville’s Music Row at Quonset Hut Studio and produced by Owen Bradly. It was written by Johnny Marks, who seemingly had no connection to Tennessee. He specialized in Christmas songs, although he was Jewish and did not celebrate Christmas, according to Wikipedia. Marks wrote “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “A Holly Jolly Christmas,” “Silver and Gold,” and many others.

Lee is the first woman inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Country Music Hall of Fame. She was 13 when she recorded “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” in 1958.

When Powell filed the legislation last year, the song had just topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for the very first time, 65 years after its initial release.  That’s the longest stretch ever between a record release and it’s hitting No 1. “Rockin’” remained at No. 1 for three weeks.  

Lee also became the oldest female ever to hit No. 1 on the chart.  She also now holds the record for the longest gap between an artist’s first and most recent week at No. 1 on the Hot 100.  Her first No. 1 single was “I’m Sorry” in 1960.

“Brenda Lee is a music icon and a true Tennessee treasure,” Powell said in a statement. “‘Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree’ has spread holiday joy throughout the world for decades and we are proud her No. 1 song was made in Nashville.  I am thrilled that my legislation made the beloved ‘Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree’ by Brenda Lee the first official holiday song of Tennessee.”

Brenda Lee will receive the proclamation in a ceremony at the Tennessee State Capitol on Monday, December 2nd. 

Tennessee has 10 official state songs, including “Rocky Top,” “A Tennessee Bicentennial Rap: 1796-1996,” and “Smoky Mountain Rain.” Steve Earle’s “Copperhead Road” was made an official state song this year. However, until now, Tennessee has had no official state holiday song.

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Music Video Monday: “Lelia” by Marcella Simien

Last Saturday night, Marcella Simien debuted her new album To Bend to the Will of a Dream That’s Being Fulfilled with a unique show at Off The Wall Arts. Sculptor and Off The Wall proprietor Yvonne Bobo created a cylinder of screens, and Infinity Stairs‘ Graham Burks created immersive video to wrap around the performer. The resulting combination of music and video projection mapping were striking.

Marcella Simien sings at Off The Wall Arts while wrapped in Graham Burks’ video projection. (Photo by Chris McCoy)

Simien’s new album is a departure from her usual “swamp soul” sound, incorporating experimental electronic textures and vintage instruments. The first music video from the album takes a completely different tack. It’s a hybrid music video and documentary short by Memphis filmmakers Joshua Cannon and Brody Kuhar. The team traveled down to Louisiana to introduce us to Marcella’s family, including the song’s namesake, her great-grandmother Lelia Manuel Simien. It’s a beautiful, life-affirming work which will cause you to reflect on your family roots as we head into the Thanksgiving holiday.

If you would like to see your music video featured on Music Video Monday, email cmccoy@memphisflyer.com.

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Scotty Pippen Jr. Leads Grizzlies to Victory Over the Bulls

Jaylen Wells shoots the ball against the Chicago Bulls. (Credit: NBAE/Getty Images)

The Memphis Grizzlies took on the Chicago Bulls and came away with a resounding 142-131 victory in Chicago Saturday night. It was the second meeting between the two teams this season, and the away team won both games.

The Grizzlies closed the first quarter with an eight-point lead and never let up on the Bulls, leading by as many as 22 points.

Memphis did a much better job in this game of limiting turnovers (14) and getting points off turnovers (14), which has been an ongoing struggle this season. The Grizzlies are ranked last in the league with 18.29 turnovers per game.

Third quarters have been anathema to the Grizzlies this season, but Saturday night, they scored a season-best 45 points in the third period.  

It was a great offensive night for the Grizzlies, with eight out of 10 players scoring in double figures. The team ended the night shooting 57% from the field and 45% from beyond the arc.

Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic carried the Bulls on offense, putting up 29 and 26 points, respectively.

But Chicago had no answer for Scotty Pippen Jr., who finished the night with a career-high 30 points on 13 of 16 overall shooting and three of six from beyond the arc, to go along with 10 assists. Pippen has assumed the starting point guard role in the absence of Ja Morant, a role he handled with ease against the Bulls.

Rookie Jaylen Wells put up a career-high 26 points, and added four rebounds, and six assists. Wells shot ten of 14 from the field and six of 10 from three-point range. Wells is ranked second among rookies in points per game with 12.5.

Jaren Jackson Jr. closed out with 23 points, four rebounds, four assists, and two blocks, while shooting seven of 15 overall and three of seven from beyond the arc.

Desmond Bane added 13 points, seven rebounds, and two assists, and Brandon Clarke put up 12 points, eight rebounds, and two assists.

Jay Huff was the leading scorer off the bench with 14 points — shooting five-of-six from the field and a perfect three-of-three from three-point range. He added five rebounds.

Santi Aldama added 10 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists, and Luke Kennard put up 10 points, four rebounds, and two assists.

Who Got Next?

The Grizzlies return to Memphis to kick off a four-game homestand Monday night against the Portland Trailblazers. Tip-off is at 7 PM CST.