Erling Jensen, Jo Anne Fusco, and Jimmy Gentry; (inset) David Krog (Photos: Michael Donahue)
Most people don’t want to return to sheltering in place, keeping their distance, and other things associated with the dark days of the pandemic. But Jo Anne Fusco found one thing from her lockdown days to be pretty cool: her virtual dinner she put together for a Thrive Memphis fundraiser in 2020. Now, she’s reviving it.
“April in Paris, A Virtual Dinner” will be held at 6:30 p.m., April 18th, via Zoom, says Fusco, Thrive’s executive director. The three-course meal will be crafted by chefs Erling Jensen of Erling Jensen: The Restaurant, David Krog of Dory, and Jimmy Gentry of The Lobbyist. So, you get three noted Memphis chefs preparing a dinner you can eat in your pajamas while sipping wine in the comfort of your home.
In other words: a virtual white tablecloth dinner experience.
Thrive Memphis, a nonprofit that provides recreational and social activities for people with intellectual disabilities, is known for food events, thanks to Fusco. She held chili contests for years when the organization was known as “The Exceptional Foundation of West Tennessee.”
Fusco later held farm-to-table dinners at the home of Brad and Dina Martin, Millstone Market, and Avon Acres. Jensen, Gentry, and chef Zach Thomason took part in dinners.
“I had the food donated. But we had to pay the staff. That wasn’t a problem, but we had to rent everything, rent dishes. We had to get wine glasses and silverware. … We made a lot of money, but it ate up a lot of our profits.”
Then Covid happened. “I got this idea: ‘Why don’t we do it virtual?’”
The four-course dinner was held in December 2020 and called “Home for the Holidays.” “We had a beautiful dinner. We packaged it in bags that James Davis donated. And we had the courses: the salad, the rolls, the butter, the entrees.”
Guests picked up the pre-cooked and packaged meals at Dory. “They just had to be heated. Some of the meat was on the rare side; if you wanted it more done, you cooked it a little longer.”
People then turned on Zoom and listened to Krog and Gentry discuss how they prepared each course. A sommelier talked about the wines.
Fusco came up with the theme for this virtual dinner. Since they already had the April date, Fusco said, “Oh, my God. Paris in April. Let’s do a French dinner.”
That also was a good excuse to put “Ooh la la!” on the invitations.
Krog is making salad Nicoise. “I haven’t had an opportunity to make this in a long time,” he says. “I felt it was a classic beginning to this meal.”
The salad is made with arugula, green beans, Nicoise olives, shallots, fingerling potatoes, lemon, olive oil, and hard-cooked egg, Krog says. He’s also making chocolate truffles and his Parker House rolls.
Jensen is making his classic beef bourguignon, which, he says, includes “beef, carrots, shallots, onions, celery, bay leaf, thyme, and red wine.”
For the dessert, Gentry is making Roquefort ganache tarts with tonka bean anglaise. The tarts include heavy cream, vanilla beans, white chocolate, trimoline, butter, dark rum, and cheese. “The anglaise is made the same way except we steep tonka beans in it,” says Gentry, who describes the dessert as “rich, decadent, not overly sweet.”
Taking part in the virtual dinner is easy, Fusco says. “We send out the Zoom link and you just follow.”
The last time they did the dinner “some followed, some watched it and turned off the volume” because they were with guests.
Dinners are to be picked up between 2 and 4 p.m. that afternoon at Dory at 716 West Brookhaven Circle. Zoom begins at 6:30 p.m.
Fusco, who hopes to make the virtual dinner an annual Thrive fundraiser, enjoys the camaraderie. She was in the kitchen with the chefs at the last Zoom dinner, which was in the kitchen at her home, where she held a dinner party.
But, she says, “The dinner is fun and it’s nice to have wonderful donors, but the money really goes to the kids. It doesn’t go to anything else. It goes to our participants.”
For more information on taking part in “April in Paris, A Virtual Dinner,” go to thrivemem.org.
You might have missed the first-ever Florida Man Games in St. Augustine on Feb. 24, but it’s never too early to plan for next year. United Press International reported that hundreds of people paid $55 each for a ticket to watch Floridians compete in a mullet contest and a “Florida sumo” event where competitors tried to spill each other’s beers. Other events included a pork butt eating contest, a race that simulated stealing a bike, and an “evading arrest obstacle course.” One winning team walked away with the $5,000 prize. “We understand that Florida is weird,” said Pete Melfi, organizer of the event. “We embrace it.” [United Press International, 2/26/2024]
News You Can Use
Legend says that if the seven ravens who protect the Tower of London (six, plus one spare, as decreed by King Charles II) ever leave the landmark, the tower will crumble and the Kingdom of England will fall. So it’s no surprise that the tower has a ravenmaster, and 56-year-old Michael “Barney” Chandler has just been installed in the job, the Associated Press reported. Chandler is a former Royal Marine who said, “We don’t know if [the prophecy is] true or not, because we’ve never let the number drop below six — and it’s not going to happen while I’m here.” As the sixth holder of the post, Chandler will be in charge of four other Beefeaters who look after the ravens. “You never know what they’re going to do,” he said. “They’re all totally different, personality-wise.” His favorite is Poppy, who hops up to him to accept a treat of a dead mouse now and again. Spoiler alert: The birds’ feathers are trimmed so they can’t fly away. [AP, 3/1/2024]
Leap Day Fun
• In Rye, New Hampshire, Lillian Edin celebrated her 25th birthday — although she is 100 years old. “I feel 25, until I start trying to walk,” Edin said, according to WMUR-TV. “I can’t believe I’ve lived this age. I really can’t.” She was feted with lunch and cupcakes. [WMUR, 2/29/2024]
• A brother and sister who were both born on Leap Day four years apart are getting to celebrate the unusual birthday for the first time. Omri Demchak, 8, and his sister, Scout, 4, celebrated with more than 50 people at the coffee shop their parents own in Brooklyn, New York. Most years, the family celebrate Omri’s birthday on Feb. 28 and Scout’s on March 1. Mom Lindsay Demchak said neither of the leap kids was due on the special day. “It was truly serendipitous,” she told the New York Post. [NY Post, 2/29/2024]
• Issue 12 of France’s La Bougie du Sapeur (The Sapper’s Candle) has hit the newsstands, the BBC reported — which is kind of a big deal because it is printed only on Feb. 29, every four years. The first edition was in 1980. Editor Jean d’Indy said the 20-page tabloid is “put out by a few pals. We meet in a bar and toss around ideas over drinks. We have a lot of fun, and if the reader does, too, that’s the icing on the cake.” It has a print run of 200,000, costs about 5 euros, and is not available online. [BBC, 2/28/2024]
That’sSporting
The 2024 Iditarod race in Alaska got off to a messy start, Sporting News reported on March 7. On the first day, musher Jesse Holmes went mano-a-mano with a moose that became aggressive toward his dogs on the trail. Holmes punched the moose in the nose and went on his way. Soon after, Dallas Seavey and his dogs came upon a moose — it’s not clear whether it was the same one — that was “threatening and belligerent.” When the moose got entangled with his dogs, Seavey dispensed with the heroics and shot it. As per the Iditarod’s rules, Seavey then stopped for about 10 minutes to field-dress the moose, but he was later assessed a two-hour penalty at the next checkpoint because “the animal was not sufficiently gutted by the musher.” A third musher, Wally Robinson, ran across the moose carcass in the dark, on a trail curving through woods. Race Marshal Warren Palfrey confirmed that “we are making sure that every attempt is made to utilize and salvage the moose meat.” So there’s that. [Sporting News, 3/7/2024]
Clothing Optional
Looking for something light and airy to do at the end of April? Set your GPS for Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and the Crafton Ingram Lanes, where Balls Out Bowling will return on April 28, according to WTRF-TV. The Pittsburgh Area Naturalists are hosting the event, which requires nudity (except women are allowed to wear bottoms). Participants must be 18 or older, and sexual activity is not permitted; harassment will result in being ejected from the bowling alley. And leave your cellphone at home; no photos or videos allowed. You won’t have anywhere to carry it anyway! [WTRF, 3/4/2024]
It’s time for another intentional tween/teen-friendly Memphis weekend! Keep in mind, my kids are 15, 12, 12, and 10 years old. This weekend will really be focused on fun things to do with the kids as well as enjoying some adult libations. Because who wants to be an adult all the time? Enjoy Memphis!
Muggin Coffeehouse
Okay, it’s Thursday, and this has been the Wednesday-est Thursday ever! FYI: Wednesdays and I haven’t gotten along for a few years now. Humpday just drags so slowly and the most ridiculous things always happen on a Wednesday. And that’s how this Thursday was acting. But whenever I feel irritated by having to be an adult, I make sure I take some time to nurture my inner child. So when I heard that the new Uptown Muggin location had game night on Thursday, I was super excited. Hubby conducted the Pick Up Kids from School Tour, which consisted of one elementary school, one middle school, and one high school. I finished up a few emails at work and popped over to Muggin! Hubby and I ordered lattes and the kids ordered every pastry possible and frappes. We played chess (I won), Connect Four (I lost), and Jenga, which was also used to create a domino effect. It was such a good time. All of my kids had smiles on their faces. Hubby and I were able to steal a few proud-parent glances at each other from across the cafe. Everyone was happy. All we were missing was more teenagers and teen parents to talk to!
Grind City Brewing Company
Saturday is fun day! Hubby and I woke up feeling 10 years younger. Because this doesn’t happen often, we wanted to take advantage of this new found youth and do the things we used to do in college. Drink beer and play outdoor sports. While the kids can’t enjoy a cold brewski, they can enjoy some sunshine, Arbo’s cheese dip and chips, and soda. So we packed up the Frisbee and yard darts and headed to Grind City Brewery.
The weather was beautiful and the view was absolutely stunning. After grabbing a few cold beers, we hit the open fields. The kids and I enjoyed leisurely throwing the Frisbee and playing yard darts. But then a gentleman approached us and taught us how to play real Frisbee. Well, the horse poop hit the fan (figuratively). Feeling 10 years younger, and invincible due to the beer, I wasn’t about to be outdone by some ragged teenagers. We played hard. I caught a few Frisbees. My son ripped his pants. Grass-stains became the norm. Someone whined because they were losing, and my beer buzz wore off. As we rehydrated and finished off the last of the Arbo’s cheese dip, we high-fived each other for time well spent.
Burgers for kidsBeers at Crosstown Brewery for adults
Farm Burger and Crosstown Brewery
It’s Sunday and all I want to do is chill and read my book. My body aches and my knees are creaking. I’m seriously feeling every millisecond of my age! But as I bask in the soft sunlight peeking in through my bedroom windows, a child knocks on my door. “Mom, have you checked the family Google calendar? I added Farm Burger to it last night. You should have gotten the email, too!” As I lazily close my e-book about Murder Bots, I check my Gmail account. And sure enough, there’s a calendar notification. I ponder. Weigh the pros and cons. Look at the start time of the event. (It’s mid-afternoon.) And I select “Yes.” I hear the kids give shouts of praise through the door and I can only imagine the fist bumps and high-fives they are giving each other.
Later in the afternoon, with my book tucked in my purse, I park at the Crosstown Concourse. The kids announce that they want burgers. So I announced to no one in particular, that I want beer. They will head to Farm Burger, and I will go to Crosstown Brewery. We talk about stranger danger and the importance of sticking together and finding the nearest adult in authority if trouble arises. I also tell them exactly where I will be and remind them to actually answer the phone if I call or text. Soon, we separate. I receive a text from them full of smiles and a table full of food. Great! I continue sipping my stout beer and reading Murder and Mamon. I received another text stating that they’re going to check out the art gallery. Perfect! I continue with my leisure activity. Then I receive a phone call. “Mom, I don’t remember how to use this circular music player?” Huh? Oh, they mean a record player. Yeah, I have work to do!
Patricia Lockhart is a native Memphian who loves to read, write, cook, and eat. Her days are filled with laughter with her four kids and charming husband. By day, she’s a school librarian and writer, but by night … she’s asleep. @realworkwife @memphisismyboyfriend
Monday, April 8th, brings us a special celestial event — a total solar eclipse, and one that will be visible in the United States. Some outlets are calling it the Great North American Eclipse because it is the only total solar eclipse in the 21st century that will be visible throughout the United States, Mexico, and Canada. This will also be the last total solar eclipse that can be seen from the contiguous United States until August 23, 2044. Many people are taking trips to be in the path of totality, which Memphis is just outside of. Eclipses of any kind are interesting events to watch, but they also have special spiritual meanings.
A solar eclipse is often thought of as a time of transformation. The movement of the moon between the Earth and the sun is something that does not happen often and spiritually is thought to catalyze change. The energy of a solar eclipse is believed to accelerate events, bringing to the surface issues that have been simmering and demanding attention and action.
Part of the eclipse’s properties of transformation come from the fact that the usual cycle and movement of the planets is somewhat disrupted. The obscuring of the sun’s light can symbolize a break in routine. Disruptions are often unwanted and sometimes unpleasant, but they are necessary for growth. If you are familiar with tarot, this total solar eclipse might make you think of the Tower card with its disruptions and truth coming to light.
In astrology, a solar eclipse is sometimes viewed as a powerful time for new beginnings. The eclipse is seen as a doorway to significant life changes, offering opportunities to reset, rethink, and start fresh. The blocking of the sun, a symbol of light and clarity, invites introspection and encourages individuals to look inward, reassess their paths, and make substantial changes.
Venus, the planet of love, along with the sun and moon, helps usher in incredibly positive energies during this eclipse. The April 8th total solar eclipse occurs in the sign of Aries, with the asteroid Chiron in Aries as well. Aries is the sign of fresh starts, leadership, innovation, and courage. As such, you can expect this eclipse to have a particularly strong impact on those areas of your personal life.
Chiron symbolizes the “wounded healer,” exposing our deep pain, how we address that pain, and how our own healing powers have the ability to help others. Chiron symbolizes the strength of vulnerability, encouraging us to embrace the dark and thorny spaces of our past and take action. With Chiron in action, this eclipse is also about healing your relationship with yourself. Now is the time to recover from old wounds and explore new opportunities. Luckily, the April 8th eclipse should have an empowering effect in this regard. You could feel like you can take charge of your life in ways you didn’t previously think possible.
A solar eclipse is considered a powerful time for setting new intentions and manifesting goals. The energy of an eclipse can amplify your thoughts and intentions, making it an ideal time to focus on what you truly desire.
This total solar eclipse is also a great time to reflect and release those things that no longer serve you. The darkness of the solar eclipse encourages introspection. It’s a time to pause and reflect on one’s life direction, contemplate deep desires, and acknowledge aspects of life that may need transformation. Meditation or mindfulness practices during this time can lead to deep insights and heightened self-awareness. It is a moment to ponder life’s big questions, reassess your life path, and gain clarity on your personal and spiritual journey. You can use this time to consciously release these old aspects of your life. This could involve a physical decluttering of your space, a symbolic letting go of past grievances, or a commitment to change unhelpful thought patterns.
Even if you aren’t interested in the spiritual meaning of this eclipse, it is a wondrous event to behold and I encourage you to make the most of it.
Emily Guenther is a co-owner of The Broom Closet metaphysical shop. She is a Memphis native, professional tarot reader, ordained Pagan clergy, and dog mom.
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Aries author Eric G. Wilson claims, “Darker emotional states — doubt, confusion, alienation, despair — inspire a deeper and more durable experience of the sacred than contentment does.” I disagree. I know for a fact that an exquisite embrace of life’s holiness is equally possible through luminous joy and boisterous triumph and exultant breakthroughs. Propagandists of the supposed potency of misery are stuck in a habit of mind that’s endemic to the part of civilization that’s rotting and dying. In any case, Aries, I’m pleased to tell you that in the coming weeks, you will have abundant opportunities to glide into sacred awareness on the strength of your lust for life and joie de vivre.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Will humans succeed in halting the decimation of the environment? Will we neutralize the power of fundamentalism as it fights to quash our imaginations and limit our freedoms? Will we outflank and outlast the authoritarians that threaten democracy? Sorry I’m asking you to think about sad realities. But now is an excellent time for you to ponder the world we are creating for our descendants — and resolve to do something in loving service to the future. Meditate on the riddle from Lewis Carroll’s book Through the Looking Glass: “It’s a poor sort of memory that only works backwards.”
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): The genius polymath Galileo Galilei (1564–1642) contributed much treasure to science and engineering. One encyclopedia sums up his legacy: “He was the father of observational astronomy, modern-era classical physics, the scientific method, and modern science.” Unfortunately, many of Galileo’s ideas conflicted with the teachings of Catholicism. The church fathers hounded him for years, even arresting him and putting him on trial. The Vatican eventually apologized, though not until 350 years after Galileo died. I expect that you, too, will generate many new approaches and possibilities in the coming months, Gemini — not Galileo level, of course, but still: sufficiently unprecedented to rouse the resistance of conventional wisdom. I suspect you won’t have to wait long to be vindicated, however.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): Now would be a perfect time to prove your love. How? You might begin by being extra considerate, sensitive, sweet, and tender. I hope you will add sublime, scintillating touches, too. Maybe you will tell your beloved allies beautiful truths about themselves — revelations that make them feel deeply understood and appreciated. Maybe you will give them gifts or blessings they have wanted for a long time but never managed to get for themselves. It’s possible you will serenade them with their favorite songs, or write a poem or story about them, or buy them a symbol that inspires their spiritual quest. To climax all your kindness, perhaps you will describe the ways they have changed your life for the better.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Leo naturalist and ornithologist William Henry Hudson (1841–1922) said, “I am not a lover of lawns. Rather would I see daisies in their thousands, ground ivy, hawkweed, and dandelions with splendid flowers and fairy down, than the too-well-tended lawn.” I encourage you to adopt his attitude toward everything in your life for the next few weeks. Always opt for unruly beauty over tidy regimentation. Choose lush vitality over pruned efficiency. Blend your fate with influences that exult in creative expressiveness, genial fertility, and deep feelings. (PS: Cultural critic Michael Pollan says, “A lawn is nature under totalitarian rule.”)
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): I praise and celebrate you for your skills at helping other people access their resources and activate their potentials. I hope you are rewarded well for your gorgeous service. If you are not, please figure out how to correct the problem in the coming months. If you are feeling extra bold, consider these two additional assignments: 1. Upgrade your skills at helping yourself access your own resources and activate your own potential. 2. Be forthright and straightforward in asking the people you help to help you.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): I don’t regard a solar eclipse as a bad omen. On the contrary, I believe it may purge and cleanse stale old karma. On some occasions, I have seen it flush away emotional debts and debris that have been accumulating for years. So how shall we interpret the total solar eclipse that will electrify your astrological house of intimate togetherness in the coming days? I think it’s a favorable time to be brave and daring as you upgrade your best relationships. What habits and patterns are you ready to reinvent and reconfigure? What new approaches are you willing to experiment with?
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): At your best, you Scorpios are not invasive manipulators. Rather, you are catalysts. You are instigators of transformation, resurrectors of dead energy, awakeners of numb minds. The people you influence may not be aware that they long to draw on your influence. They may think you are somehow imposing it on them, when, in fact, you are simply being your genuine, intense self, and they are reaching out to absorb your unruly healing. In the coming weeks, please keep in mind what I’ve said here.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): In my astrological opinion, it’s prime time for you to shower big wild favors on your beautiful self. Get the fun underway with a period of rigorous self-care: a physical check-up, perhaps, and visits with the dentist, therapist, hairstylist, and acupuncturist. Try new healing agents and seek precise magic that enhances and uplifts your energy. I trust you will also call on luxurious indulgences like a massage, a psychic reading, gourmet meals, an emotionally potent movie, exciting new music, and long, slow love-making. Anything else, Sagittarius? Make a list and carry out these tasks with the same verve and determination you would give to any important task.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): The coming days will be a favorable time for you to wrestle with an angel or play chess with a devil. You will have extraordinary power in any showdown or collaboration with spiritual forces. Your practical intelligence will serve you well in encounters with nonrational enigmas and supernatural riddles. Here’s a hot tip: Never assume that any being, human or divine, is holier or wiser than you. You will have a special knack for finding compassionate solutions to address even the knottiest dilemmas.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Your featured organ of the month is your nose. This may sound beyond the scope of predictable possibilities, but I’m serious: You will make robust decisions and discriminating choices if you get your sniffer fully involved. So I advise you to favor and explore whatever smells good. Cultivate a nuanced appreciation for what aromas can reveal. If there’s a hint of a stink or an odd tang, go elsewhere. The saying “follow your nose” is especially applicable. (PS: I recommend you take steps to expose yourself to a wide array of scents that energize you and boost your mood.)
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): When is the best time to ask for a raise or an increase in benefits? Can astrology reveal favorable periods for being aggressive about getting more of what you want? In the system I use, the time that’s 30 to 60 days after your birthday is most likely to generate good results. Another phase is 210 to 240 days after your birthday. Keep in mind that these estimates may be partly fanciful and playful and mythical. But then in my philosophy, fanciful and playful and mythical actions have an honored place. Self-fulfilling prophecies are more likely to be fulfilled if you regard them as fun experiments rather than serious, literal rules.
It is generally understood that one of the rationales for naming former Mayor Jim Strickland the new dean at the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law was his demonstrated success in having raised significant sums of money — both from the business community during his mayoral campaigns — $1 million at max — and for helping to pry loose from state government some $350 million for local athletic facilities.
Indeed, Strickland’s fundraising prowess was so notable as to make him an obvious prospect for the role of institutional rainmaker. That’s the time-honored term for an individual blessed with unusual ability to attract investments and contributions from others by dint of their persona, their history, or their contacts, or through a combination of all three.
In 2006, Harold Ford Jr. missed becoming U.S. senator from Tennessee by a relative handful of votes, but the former congressman’s residual clout as a looming national figure was sufficient to land him on Wall Street, where he flourished as a rainmaker for more than one big-time brokerage.
So Strickland’s ability to attract big funding is, all by itself, a huge plus, right? Not everybody thinks so. Among those who don’t is activist Cardell Orrin, currently executive director at Stand for Children Tennessee and former chief information officer at LeMoyne–Owen College.
In a Facebook post written in the wake of Stricklands’ hiring, Orrin mused:
“Imagine if former Mayor Wharton, or better yet Mayor Herenton (even more fun), had given millions of dollars to LeMoyne-Owen College during their tenure. This part is easy … They actually did do this, but to help save the college’s existence, not just for pet projects like tennis courts.
“Now, it gets a bit more difficult … Imagine if either mayor had donated all that money to LeMoyne-Owen College, and then, in the final hours of their administration, rushed a decision to gift a stadium worth hundreds of millions of dollars to the college? …
“Imagine if, within just three months of leaving office, one of these former mayors had secured a leading job at LeMoyne-Owen College, with some yet to be disclosed salary. Can you imagine the reaction from the media and the conservative crowd to even the mere consideration of such a position, let alone actually receiving it?
“Try to envision the newspaper headlines and articles covering this hypothetical. Would some enterprising investigative reporter be opening up a file and making FOIA requests? Would they just basically reprint the college’s press release?
“Whew, it must be nice to live in the world of imaginings …!”
Whew, indeed! Known as a longtime critic of Strickland, Orrin, along with some other like-minded foes of the former mayor, has begun raising this issue and imagining it to be a prima facie scandal. What it amounts to is a suggestion that Strickland bought his job, which, in this reckoning, is not just a reward but an out-and-out payoff!
The fact is that the University of Memphis law school, once renowned for the quality of its teaching and, especially, for the high percentage of its graduates able to pass the state bar and achieve thriving, socially useful careers in the larger community, is widely perceived as having begun to lag in those important regards.
Arguably, what it needs now is a shot in the arm from an administrator known for personal success and for an ability to attract substantial support from the social eco-structure which the university both lives in and is charged with serving.
What it may need is a rainmaker. And a two-term local mayor with prodigious fundraising skills and demonstrated connections both to the local business community and to the state government in Nashville clearly fit the bill for those at the university whose duty was to make the pick.
Credit is due both to those critics like Orrin whose imagination suggests caution in viewing such a choice and to those members of the law faculty — a not insubstantial number — who wanted a more traditional choice, perhaps from within university ranks
But the die has been cast. And optimism should be the motto of the moment.
You might recognize Theresa Caputo because of her big personality and bigger hair, but you’re most likely to recognize her for her ability to communicate with the dead with a sixth sense she calls Spirit. She is, after all, the Long Island Medium, star of the eponymous TLC series and now the star of her new Lifetime series Raising Spirits. While most of us have interacted with Caputo via our screens, Memphians will now get a chance to see her live and maybe have their own reading done at “Theresa Caputo Live: The Experience.”
Ahead of the show, the Flyer asked Caputo about her work and about the live show. See some of her answers below.
Memphis Flyer: Why did you decide to bring your work to a live audience?
Theresa Caputo: The live experience is amazing and why I do them is because there’s something about being in a room with thousands of people and witnessing healing — it’s something truly special.
How is “Live: The Experience” different from private readings, or even your TV show?
The live experience sometimes I think is more intense because you have thousands of people in a theater, and you’re listening to these healing messages and a lot of them you’ll be able to relate to and people will say all the time, … ‘I personally didn’t get read but what I witnessed was life-changing, and then I realized that there were so many other people in that theater that night that truly needed to hear from their loved ones more than I did.’ That just shows how powerful the experience truly is.
How would you describe what you do? How does Spirit work in this experience?
I have the ability to communicate with people that have died, to be able to deliver messages of faith, hope, and peace. What happens is, I give a little speech on how I read and communicate with the souls of the departed, and once I start sensing and feeling signs and symbols from Spirit, I allow them to guide me around the space and I will just randomly stop in front of someone and start saying things that mean absolutely nothing to me but life-changing to the person I’m standing in front of. I never know who’s gonna get read or what Spirit is going to have me say. I think that’s the most amazing thing about the experience.
(Photo: Adams Travel Photography)
What do you hope people will gain from the show, especially those who might not get a reading?
I want people to know that there truly is an afterlife, that our departed loved ones are still with us, just in a different way. I want people to know that all those things that go on around them that they might think are odd or weird or might just remind them of their loved one that has died, to know that that it is their soul reminding them that they are still with them just in a different way, and living life through their eyes, this is a soul bond that can never and will never be broken.
What made you want to be a medium? I’m sure there are critics and skeptics out there, so what keeps you going?
I use my gift for healing purposes. When I found out that I had this ability to connect with everyone’s loved ones, not only mine, and that unfortunately people are left with burdens and guilts that do not give them the ability to heal, I put my gift in God’s hands and said if this is my soul journey, then I want to be able to deliver messages to help people heal and move on with their life with as much happiness and joy as they possibly can after the loss of their loved one and that is why I do what I do.
Is Spirit stronger in some places than others, like from city to city?
Honestly, you know there are stronger souls in some places than others. I think it has to do with the history of the city that I might be in but mostly it has to do with how well the soul can communicate and also how open we are to receiving these messages from our departed loved ones.
Is there any moment, so far, from the “Live: The Experience” tour that has stood out to you?
Every moment in a live experience stands out because it’s changing someone’s life in a positive way, but the things that really stick with me are when family members aren’t speaking to one another and they didn’t even know that they were going to be at the show and they’re seated rows apart from each other, and then the families are reunited. Those are the moments that really stand out because it really shows that what I do is so much more than communicating with people that have died. It restores people’s faith in themselves, relationships, and really gives them the gift and permission to embrace life.
Grind City Music Festival (Photo: Courtesy Grind City Brewing Company)
Hello there, spring! We’ve been sorely missing you, and thank goodness you’re here because that means it’s time for the Flyer’s “Spring Fairs & Festivals” issue. From April all the way through the summer, you won’t want to miss any of these events.
APRIL
Cooper Young Night Out Restaurants, bars, retail, and service businesses will stay open late to offer live music, discounts on food and drink, sidewalk sales, trivia games, shuffleboard, and more. Cooper-Young, first Thursday of the month
First Fridays on Broad Shop from your favorite Broad Avenue businesses after hours, and enjoy discounts and special activities, often with a theme. Broad Ave. Arts District, first Friday of the month
South Main Trolley Night The longest-running street festival in the city has returned this spring for its 24th season. Catch it on the last Friday of every month through September. South Main, last Friday of the month
Grind City Music Festival Are you a little bit country? A little bit rock-and-roll? Well, this two-day festival of Americana, alternative country, and rock-and-roll music will hit that sweet spot. Grind City Brewing Co., April 5-6
Memphis Tattoo Festival Some tattoos aren’t meant to be seen, but at the Memphis Tattoo Festival you’re gonna see them all, whether or not you like it. The three-day tattoo spectacle will have live tattooing from over 200 of the world’s best artists, plus merchandise, tattoo contests, and art-making. Renasant Convention Center, April 5-7
Bookstock (Photo: Courtesy Memphis Public Libraries)
Bookstock This fest is one for the books. Literally. Bookstock is the largest annual local authors festival in Memphis. Expect local author exhibits, cultural performances, book giveaways, keynote speakers (this year’s are Avery Cunningham and Sidney Thompson), and so much more. Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library, April 6
Delta Groove Yoga Festival (Photo: Courtesy Delta Groove Yoga)
Delta Groove Yoga Festival It’s not that big of a stretch to say that this festival is for posers — yoga posers, of course. The day will feature lots of — you guessed it — yoga, plus live music. Overton Square, April 6
Central to the Arts Festival For this artsy fest, the University of Memphis campus along Central Avenue will be filled with live performances, film showings, fashion shows, and interactive arts booths. University of Memphis, April 6
Art in the Loop (Photo: Courtesy Art in the Loop)
Art in the Loop Let me loop you in on this arts festival in East Memphis. It’s got an artists market, it’s got live music, it’s got food trucks, and it’s got demonstrations. What doesn’t it have? Beats me. Ridgeway Loop Road, April 12-14
Mid-South Poets & Writers Festival This literary-focused two-day extravaganza will have a neighborhood barbecue, workshops, mixers, showcases, and more. Various locations, April 13-14
Terry Bean at Juke Joint Festival (Photo: Lou Bopp)
Juke Joint Festival Be a juke joint hero, with stars in your eyes, at this fest that’ll keep on rockin’ (just can’t stop) with more than 100 blues performances and real-deal juke joints. Clarksdale, MS, April 13
Shelby Forest Spring Fest This year’s Shelby Forest Spring Fest goes back to the wildest decade — the ’70s — for the wildlife-forward day that has live music, food, arts and crafts vendors, wildlife and cultural exhibits, and more. It’s gonna be a hoot. Meeman Shelby Forest, April 13
Bluff City Fest This music fest presented by the University of Memphis Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music will bring some of the best music in Memphis: rap, contemporary rock and pop, blues, jazz, and classic rock. The Bluff, April 17
The Memphis Uke-N-Roll Jamboree, a ukulele festival put on by the Memphis Ukulele Flash Mob. Festival was at the convention center on April 24, 2022. (Photo: Karen Pulfer Focht)
Ukulele Festival Uke can expect all things ukulele at this festival — open mics, workshops, sing-alongs, vendors, and more. Tickets must be purchased ahead of time at memphisukenroll.com. Renasant Convention Center, April 18-21
Africa in April Africa in April has chosen to salute the Republic of Gambia for its family-friendly festival, filled with live performances, food and merchandise vendors, and the International Diversity Parade. Robert R. Church Park, April 19-21
Good Vibes Comedy Festival The vibes will be just right, good even, when Memphis’ largest comedy festival brings you talent from all over the country to participate in podcasts, roast battles, themed shows, and stand-up comedy. The 2024 headliners are Renard Hirsch, Jayson Acevedo, Hannah Belmont, and Night Classy podcast’s Kat Barnhart and Hayley Madden. Hi Tone, April 19-20
Shell Daze You’ll be dazed but not confused by this lineup of musical acts, headlined by JJ Grey & Mofro and Oteil & Friends. Overton Park Shell, April 19-20
Cooper-Young Porchfest Porches were made for more than Amazon deliveries and spying on your neighbors. They can be stages, too — at least that’s the case for this unique music festival of free concerts on, yes, the front porches of the homes in Cooper-Young. Cooper-Young Historic District, April 20
Earth Day Festival The way the Earth rotates makes my day, and it oughta make yours, too. So celebrate the Earth on its special day (Earth Day, duh) at Shelby Farms Park, where adults and kids alike will have opportunities to experience, explore, and learn different ways of going green in Memphis. Shelby Farms Park, April 20
Knowledge Is Flower Festival This festival’s mission is to promote local farmers, herbalists, artists, and entrepreneurs. The day will have workshops, installations, community engagement opportunities, and local vendors. Arkwings, April 20
Regen Farm Festival Join Riley Family Farms for an afternoon of music and local farm-raised food, and celebrate farms helping build a better Mid-South through regenerative agriculture. Wiseacre Brewery, April 20
Spirit Fest Holistic, Metaphysical, & Crystal Expo Get physical … er, I mean, metaphysical at this holistic, metaphysical, crystal expo with vendors, readers, and healers from across the country. Agricenter International, April 20-21
World Championship Hot Wing Contest & Fest Wing, wing, wing, we have a winner. A winner, winner chicken-dinner. That’s what you’ll be hearing at this contest for the best wing. Oh, and it’s supporting The Ronald McDonald House Charities of Memphis. River Garden Park, April 20
Mimosa Festival Feeling mimosional? It’s okay. You’re in a safe space where you can indulge in all the mimosas. Tom Lee Park, April 21
Rajun Cajun Crawfish Festival Let’s get cray. What’s the o-cajun, you ask? The Rajun Cajun Crawfish Festival, supporting Porter-Leath. It’s a day of crawfish bobbing, eating, and racing, plus music, vendors, and more. Riverside Drive, April 21
Wine, Food and Music Spring Festival Prepare your tastebuds for this annual festival, whose flagship event features all things wine and food — wine vendors, classes, chef demonstrations, and more. The Medicine Factory, FedEx Event Center, Sunday 20-21
Double Decker Arts Festival Take part in this two-day celebration of food, music, and the arts. Oxford Courthouse Square, April 26-27
Overton Square Crawfish Festival Heads, you suck. Tails, you pinch. But the Overton Square Crawfish Festival doesn’t leave anything up to a coin toss when it comes to serving good crawfish. Overton Square, April 27
OttoFest Enjoy artists, bands, food trucks, and a playground at this arts and music fest. Peabody Park, April 27-28
Taste the Rarity Beer gets weird at this event that features breweries from all over the country. Wiseacre Brewing Company, April 27
MAY
Memphis in May International Festival For the month of May, this festival every year brings the world to Memphis and Memphis to the world, and this year it is saluting France through cultural events and performances, educational experiences, museum and gallery exhibits, films, luncheons, and the Memphis in May International Festival Gala. Memphis, May 1-31
River Beat Music Festival We got the beat. We got the beat. Yeah, the River Beat! The inaugural lineup has the Fugees, Odesza, and Jelly Roll, plus a bunch more. Tom Lee Park, May 3-5
Cigar & Whiskey BBQ Festival Talk about a smoke show. Cigars, whiskey, and barbecue come together for this celebration of flavor and fun. Meddlesome Brewing Company, May 4
Ruby Bridges Reading Festival Children pre-K through elementary school can receive free books at the festival, and they’ll enjoy storytelling and entertainment, including a reading and signing with Ruby Bridges herself. National Civil Rights Museum, May 4
Sunset Jazz Jazz up your summer plans with this free family-friendly jazz concert series. Court Square, May 12, June 9, July 14,August 11, September 8, October 13
World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest (Photo: Courtesy Memphis in May)
SmokeSlam Cue another barbecue contest. The inaugural SmokeSlam will include a carnival with games and rides, a marketplace, and an interactive area where fans will be able to sample food and participate in fun food-related events. Tom Lee Park, May 16-18
Memphis Vegfest This is one of the few events where you can truly veg out in a family-friendly environment full of vegan food options and sustainable and cruelty-free products. Agricenter International, May 19
Bluff City Fair We aren’t bluffin’ when we say the Bluff City Fair is a quintessential fair. It’s got attractions and shows, all your favorite fair fare, carnival rides, and kiddie rides, and it’s just plain fun. Liberty Bowl Stadium, May 24-June 2
Memphis Italian Festival When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that’s amore. When the world seems to shine like you’ve had too much wine, that’s just the Memphis Italian Festival, “where everyone is Italian.” Marquette Park, May 30-June 1
Memphis Pride Fest Weekend (Photo: Kevin Reed Photography)
Memphis Pride Fest Weekend June is the time for Pride, and Memphis Pride Fest does it best. Spanning four days, the celebration includes a Drag N Drive, complete with a movie screening and drag show; a dance party; the signature parade and festival with two stages, over 150 vendors, food trucks, and so much more; and a delightful brunch crawl. Various locations, May 30-June 2
JUNE
Memphis Margarita Festival Wasting away again in Margaritaville? Searching for a lost shaker of salt? The Memphis Margarita Festival, where you can sample from the city’s best margarita-makers, might be to blame. Overton Square, June 1
Memphis Dragon Boat Festival (Photo: Courtesy Memphis Dragon Boat Festival)
Memphis Dragon Boat Festival Dragon boat races, stage performances, arts and crafts, Asian street food — what more could you ask for? Hyde Lake at Shelby Farms Park, June 1
TriState Black Pride TriState Black Pride presents four days of fun, education, and community, with workshops, lectures, a drag show, stand-up comedy, and a free Community Appreciation Day to cap off the weekend with musical performances by national and local artists. Various locations, June 13-16
Memphis Juneteenth Festival The annual Memphis Juneteenth Festival celebrates African-American culture, food, entertainment, and the overall significance of the holiday. Health Sciences Park, June 14-15
Memphis Crafts & Drafts This event is no rough draft. It was perfectly crafted to fit all your summer market’s needs. Crosstown Concourse, June 15
Memphis Vegan Festival On the veg (of glory)? This festival is for you. It’s a day full of vegan food, live entertainment, and a marketplace featuring local businesses, plant-based health and beauty products, clothing, and accessories. Fourth Bluff Park, June 16
Memphis Summer Cocktail Festival Get your drink on at the hottest festival of the summer featuring seasonal sips, tasty eats, and throwback vibes. The Kent, July 12
Asian Night Market Enjoy authentic Asian street foods at this unique festival. Tiger Lane, July 20
AUGUST
Elvis Week Feel your temperature rising? Higher and higher? It’s not just the August heat. It’s your spidey (Elvis?) senses tingling, burning through to your soul ’cause here in Memphis we know that August means more than hot weather: It means Elvis Week. Graceland, August 9-17
Memphis Chicken & Beer Festival If you appreciate your chicken friend, a cold beer on a Saturday night, a pair of jeans that fit just right, and the radio up, you’ll appreciate the Memphis Chicken & Beer Fest where you can get all that — except the jeans, you’ll have to figure that out yourself. Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium Field, August 17
Shop Black Fest Connect with and shop from Black-owned small businesses at the Shop Black Fest. Riverside Dr., August 17
SEPTEMBER
Oxford Blues Festival This year’s Oxford Blues Festival promises unforgettable experiences with a lineup featuring Lurrie Bell, Libby Rae Watson, Anthony “Big A” Sherrod, Ra’Shad the Blues Kid, Randy Ferguson, Cricket and the Brim Hooks, Kenny Kimbrough & Davis Coen Duo, and DuWayne Burnside. A portion of profits will be donated to furthering the music education of Mississippi youths. Oxford, MS, September 13-14
Cooper-Young Festival There’s no need to stay cooped up in your house when you can join in on the fun at the Cooper-Young Festival, where art, music, and crafts come together to celebrate Memphis’ culture and heritage. Cooper Young Historic District, September 14
Gonerfest 21 Going, going, gone — that’s what they’re gonna say about Gonerfest tickets as soon as the lineup is announced. Already, the first batch of Gonerfest tickets have sold out, so keep your eyes peeled for when more tickets go on sale. Railgarten, September 26-29
I went with “wazoo” on my fourth guess. I should have gone with “taboo,” and because of that little miscalculation, it took me five tries to get Sunday’s Wordle instead of four. Dang.
A group of friends and I play TheNew York Times’ popular word game every day and share our scores with accompanying visuals. There are five of us, in different cities, connected mostly by school and family ties and a sense of humor. Our gimmick is that we take turns picking a different starter word every day, and quite often those words are, well, let’s just say, not geared to an easy solution.
Wordle aficionados know that you should start with a word like “arise” or “audio,” something with lots of vowels and/or often-used consonants. Our group doesn’t go that route (a decent starter word, by the way). For instance, “grams” is a terrible starter, but when one of our members announces she’s going to become a grandmother, that kind of stuff happens, and we roll with it. Nobody has suggested “zyxin” or “geese” yet, but it’s probably just a matter of time.
We humans love puzzles, and there is some evidence that the recent pandemic that kept us all mostly homebound for months just exacerbated those tendencies, not that we needed a push. Think of the great variety of such activities we engage in: crosswords, crypto-quotes, sudoku, mazes, find the difference between pictures, jigsaw puzzles, Scrabble, Jumbo. We watch television game shows like Jeopardy!, Wheel of Fortune, and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? We play zillions of games on our phones — at least everyone in my doctor’s office does.
These little self-imposed challenges give us the thrill of the chase and the endorphin lift of success that follows overcoming an obstacle — attaining that “aha” moment. It’s no accident, I think, that most of the games we pursue are solitary endeavors. We’re testing ourselves, our brains, our thought processes, and finally, if we succeed, enjoying the dopamine of success. It’s addictive.
My morning routine goes as follows: Feed the dogs, make coffee, then sit down on the couch with my phone and do — in order — the Times’ Wordle puzzle, Mini-Crossword, Connections, Spelling Bee, and Letter Boxed. Then I hit TheWashington Post website and do their Mini-Crossword and Keyword (one word to spell ’em all!). I’m done in 30 minutes or less, but if I miss a morning I feel incomplete. Some of you can relate, I’m sure.
It may make you feel better about your own gaming rituals to learn that human beings’ love for puzzles is rooted in more than just finding a diversion. It’s bred into our genes. Psychologists say that the urge to solve puzzles comes from human beings’ instinctual proclivity for pattern-finding, and for using those patterns to try to find solutions to problems.
And it goes even deeper than that. Humans have historically used the patterns they’ve observed in nature to search for the very meaning of life itself, to plumb its mysteries and magic. Our ancestors saw patterns in the stars and planets of the night sky, in the phases of the moon, in the duration of the sun’s rise and fall. They observed the rhythm of the seasons, the greening of the spring and the brown fade to winter, the solstices, the yearly cycle of life on Earth. They discovered the big picture, created calendars, clocks, began to measure the passage of time.
The discovery of these patterns led to the creation of gods, legends, and myths, as humans strove to understand their world and to give it meaning beyond the simple arc of life and death. Our coming to understand the seasons of the earth and the patterns in the night sky is why we have recurring annual celebrations, and why most of them are spiritual or religious in nature.
Seeing the patterns in life — whether it’s in a sunset of cirrus clouds, in the rings of a fallen oak, or the nebula of a sunflower blossom — can bring a sense of balance, a respite, a reassurance that all is not chaos and disorder. There is beauty and symmetry to be found in the course of every day that we’re alive and breathing, if we pause long enough to look for it. It can even be found in the simplest of puzzles. Today’s word is “pause.”
Tim Vissia, Kelsi Ikeda, Taylor Whipple, and Brendan Sandefe heped kick off the 2024 Trolley Night Memphis season (Credit: Michael Donahue)
South Main Association’s Trolley Night began its 2024 season on March 29th with a taste of what’s in store for the monthly South Main district street party. Part of that taste was the free hamburgers from Earnestine & Hazel’s.
“This month was just a start of bringing everything together,” says South Main Association president Cori McCleskey. “Going forward we we will have themes as well as strategic partners.”
The Memphis Grizzlies and MATA will be the sponsors of April trolley night, which will be held April 26th. As always, Trolley Night is held the last Friday of the month. Trolleys will be decorated in Grizzlies gear “to connect with the theme.”
And, McCleskey adds, “We will have more music than we ever have had. Music will be played on the trolleys.”
Alessandra Daniele and Justin Soffer at Trolley Night (Credit: Michael Donahue)Charles Thomas at Trolley Night (Credit: Michael Donahue)Milton Howery and Kirby Boyd at Trolley Night (Credit: Michael Donahue)Erica Smith at Trolley Night (Credit: Michael Donahue)Sean Powers and Beans at Trolley Night (Credit: Michael Donahue)
South Main Association will also be activating its VIP area, next to Crave Cheesecake on South Main. The VIP area was open to the public with free Earnestine & Hazel’s hamburgers and music by DJ Tree Riehl during the March Trolley Night. “We’re still working on implementing the VIP area with new decor,” says McCleskey. “So it’s a bit welcoming. And using some lighting and, not just murals, but kind of artistic expression on the walls and grounds.”
In the future, McCleskey says, “We’ll have a different business cater each time. And there will be free beer and wine.”
To get into the VIP area, people must become a South Main Association member. “For an individual membership, it’s as low as $5 a month or $50 for the year,” says McCleskey. “And that gets you free access to the VIP area and the South Main Socials that are on the second Tuesday of the month. They always take place at some South Main hot spot.” And, she says, “New businesses are invited to speak and share the good news.”
The next South Main Social, on April 9th, will be held at Wiseacre Brewing Company at 398 South B. B. King Boulevard. The socials are from 6 to 8 p.m.-ish, McCleskey says.
The organization didn’t partner with anybody at the March Trolley Night because, McCleskey says, they wanted to “get in gear and work out the kinks. I think it was a great start, but we’re going to continue to make it bigger and better.”
Rachel Quinn, Jacob Woloshin, and Jeff Haas at Trolley Night (Credit: Michael Donahue)Alessandra Daniele, Morgan Gaines, Jon Gaines, Nikhil Yedulla, Justin Soffer at Trolley Night (Credit: Michael Donahue)Stephanie Elzey and Paul Shea at Trolley Night (Credit: Michael Donahue)Me and my buddy, D.J Tree Riehl at Trolley Night (Credit: Kathy McLallen)We Saw You
