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New Memphis’ Exposure Goes Digital for 901 Day

While everyone might be social distancing, New Memphis still has a way to safely bring thousands of Memphians together next week.

Normally, 901 Day (September 1st) is a celebration of all things Memphis. Bluff City’s very own holiday has seen thousands of people flock annually to AutoZone Park for Exposure, New Memphis’ festival that aims to spotlight nonprofits, art and culture, advocacy, and social connectivity. While such an event wouldn’t be possible this year due to COVID-19, New Memphis made a full transition to turn Exposure into a fully interactive digital experience.

Photo by Ziggy Mack

Despite going virtual, Exposure will still feature music and other live entertainment.

New Memphis has hosted Exposure alongside Independent Bank for the past six years, and the festival was originally designed as a way for newcomers to find something to engage with, according to New Memphis’ community engagement manager Nora Murray. “If I moved from another city and I used to be part of, say, a book club or a running club, or maybe used to volunteer,” she says, “it’s a way that we can have all these separate organizations under one roof.”

While cancellation was briefly discussed, the organization knew it was even more important to hold the 2020 iteration. “We know this is a year where many of our nonprofit friends are seeing decreased support,” says Murray. “On top of that, we know that Memphians may be feeling a little bit disconnected at this time when things aren’t happening. So this provides a way to marry those things and make sure that everyone feels connected.”

Exposure will use a digital platform called Hopin that differs from conventional Zoom-style webinars. Everyone who registers will have total control over what they explore while attending the virtual event. Each participating organization will have their own virtual booths that host videos, histories, and other information. There are also booth-specific chatrooms if someone wants to learn more about an organization. For anyone who can’t decide on which booths to visit, a survey on New Memphis’ website can match up attendees with organizations that seem like a good fit.

In addition to booths, New Memphis has brought in several ask-me-anything panels. “We want to cover everything,” says Murray, “whether it’s where to eat, what to do on your weekend, how to build a COVID-fund plan for your family. Anything you want to know, we’ll have Memphis experts there to talk about it and guide you on your way.”

Plus, anyone who registers before September 1st will receive a virtual swag bag. Organization and local businesses have donated various perks, which could range from anything between free dance classes to free Mempops. Crosstown, meanwhile, set up a scavenger hunt that puts a firm focus on fully exploring the city.

While participation isn’t as high this year, Murray says most organizations were eager to sign up again. “We’ve really retained the essence of Exposure,” she explains. “It’s still a place where new or long-term Memphians can find any opportunity they’re looking for.”

901 Day festivities start at 9:01 am on Tuesday, September 1st, while Exposure runs from 4-7 pm.

Register for Exposure here.

For more information, visit New Memphis’ website.

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Celebrate 901 Day Virtually Via Exposure

Turn your love of Memphis into action on 901 Day, otherwise known as September 1st. New Memphis will host Exposure, a free celebration of all things Memphis.

The annual event offers opportunities to get involved and give back. This year, it’s virtual. Go online and meet 75+ local organizations and businesses. Commit to volunteering, joining a team, getting involved, and celebrating your city — from a proper social distance.

Memphis River Parks/Facebook

This year, 901 Day is going virtual, Tuesday, September 1, 4-7 p.m.

You’ll find Memphis magic around every virtual corner. Listen to live performances, watch live art demonstrations, and ask a panel of Memphis experts anything you want to know about the city. Post what you love about the 901 and tag your favorite organization to enter to win $500 for you and $500 to be donated to that organization.

“I love the 901,” says Cynthia Daniels, chief event strategist of Cynthia Daniel & Co. “My absolute favorite thing to do is to go and try the newest local restaurants in the city. We have the most amazing food here and the friendliest people.”

Visit the Exposure 901 website to learn more, register, and attend. And don’t forget to post some of your own amazing experiences in Memphis.

Tuesday, September 1, 4-7 p.m., exposurememphis.com, Visit the website to participate and learn more about the organizations and businesses that make up the 901.

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Nick Vergos, Exposure, Art on the Rocks, Stock Exchange

This photo may be at the first Zoo Rendezvous. That’s Nick Vergos (at left) and his dad, the late Charlie Vergos, who founded the Rendezvous. That is my real hair.

A tribute to the late Nick Vergos, an owner of the Rendezvous restaurant, was part of the restaurant’s serving station at the 36th Zoo Rendezvous, which was held September 7th. Vergos died two days before the event.


Vergos and the late Thomas Boggs of Huey’s and The Boxtops fame started Zoo Rendezvous at the Memphis Zoo, says Vergos’s brother, John Vergos. “It used to be called Rendezvous at the Zoo,” John says.

Zoo Rendezvous now is Memphis Zoo’s biggest fundraiser.

The Rendezvous is “an integral part of the event,” says Tim Dalfiume, Memphis Zoo director of events.

“They used to do ribs and smoke them on sight,” he says. “Now, they do skewers of pickled sausage and cheese.”

The Rendezvous and Huey’s, another Zoo Rendezvous mainstay, are “very iconic to the event.”


Michael Donahue

A tribute to the late Nick Vergos was at the Rendezvous booth at Zoo Rendezvous. Lorn Green helped man the booth.

Michael Donahue

Art on the Rocks

It was so hot at Dixon Gallery and Gardens’s Art on the Rocks, the event almost could have been called “Art on Fire.” But Art on Fire is another Dixon fundraiser. It’s going to be held October 19th.

About 1,000 attended Art on the Rocks, which was held September 6th, says Kristen Rambo with Dixon. “Some even in the celebrated color for the year – purple – and had a beautiful night at the Dixon,” she says. “We are pleased with how well everyone has embraced this new take on a beloved event.”

This was the second year for Art on the Rocks, which, previously, was Art on Tap. You still could get beer at Art on the Rocks, but cocktails were the main focus.

“This year was a record breaker for fun. Attendance was great, but no records were broken.”

And, Rambo says, “The money we raise for this event goes towards programming for all ages. The new friends we make at this event is also of great value.”

Michael Donahue

Kevin Sharp and Chantal Drake at Art on the Rocks.

Michael Donahue

Art on the Rocks

Michael Donahue

Lauren Macyauski and Jacob Laurence at Art on the Rocks.

Michael Donahue

Nathan Reisman and a shorter fellow at Exposure,

Those who took part in New Memphis’ Exposure, got a lot of exposure.

“This year we had 203 plus organizations, 900 plus volunteer hours pledged, and 5,725 plus connections made between organizations and attendees,” says New Memphis event specialist Nora Bisaccio. “These are all record-breaking numbers.”

Exposure, she says, “is an event that celebrates all things Memphis and helps Memphians turn their love of the city into action.”

This year’s Exposure was held August 29th at FedExForum. Visitors to the free event learned about Ballet Memphis, Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, and hundreds of other local organizations. Brochures were handed out at booths. Cookies were handed out at one of them.

Cameron Mann, carrying a bag of brochures, says, “I call this adult trick or treating.”

His bag was “full of Memphis goodness.”

The bag was “totally full,” Mann says. And he’d only been at Exposure 30 minutes.

Michael Donahue

Beale Street Flippers at Expsoure

Michael Donahue

Exposure

Michael Donahue

Exposure

Michael Donahue

Memphis Grizzline Drumline at Exposure

Michael Donahue

Exposure

MIchael Donahue

Stock Exchange preview party

Guests at the Les Passees Stock Exchange preview party, which was held September 5th, were able to buy antiques, home furnishings, and other items before the consignment shop opened the next day.

This year, Stock Exchange is at 888 White Station Road next to Bed, Bath & Beyond.

Between now and November 3rd, people can shop for items on consignment. Consignments will be taken until October 25th.

Les Passees president Kathy Sapp discovered this year’s location, which was donated by Belz Enterprises. “Ron Belz has been so gracious to us.”

And, she says, “I cannot begin to tell you how blessed I feel that we are in that location. That location has made all the difference in the world. I guess because it’s so accessible. Everybody comes in that part of town at some point. It’s easy to pop in and out whether dropping kids at school or going to the beauty shop, or having their nails done. It’s made it easy for lunch hour, too. Lunch hours we’re slammed.”

What is Les Passees? “Our mission is to help children and their families in our community. We support local charities: Les Passees Kids on the Block, which is a puppet troupe that does a Japanese theater form of puppetry – bunraku. The other one is the Harwood Center for children with disabilities.”


Michael Donahue

Stock Exchange preview party

                                    WE SAW YOU AROUND TOWN

Michael Donahue

Julie, Santiago, and Manuel Castro at Julie’s birthday party.

Michael Donahue

Mateo Rayo at Julie Castro birthday party.

Michael Donahue

Alec Dawson and Lia Morris on Front Street.

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Celebrate 901 Day at Exposure

Since 2016, New Memphis has hosted Exposure in conjunction with 901 Day and to carry along its mission of seeing to the prosperity and success of the city through growth, exposure, and support of local businesses, talent, government, communities, and education.

This year’s Exposure event, which falls three days before September 1st, celebrates the Bluff City while connecting longtime Memphians and newcomers alike to more than 175 local businesses and organizations.

“The event is kind of twofold,” says Anna Thompson, marketing communications manager for New Memphis. “If you’re a lifelong Memphian, you might not know all that Memphis has to offer because we’re moving, changing, and evolving every year. So we help to reignite Memphians’ love of their city. The second part of that is if you’re a newcomer, we want to ‘expose’ you to all of what Memphis has to offer, which is why it’s called Exposure.”

New Memphis

Expose yourself to good times.

Organizations representing categories like arts and culture, community, volunteer opportunities, fitness and outdoors, and social and entertainment will be set up in FedExForum’s concourse, with interactive activities like Southern Reins Center for Equine Therapy’s pool-noodle horse races and Memphis Escape Rooms’ 10-minute escape room challenge.

The Beale Street Flippers, Goldperms, and Opera Memphis are just a few of the performers providing entertainment on the two stages in the plaza and on the concourse.

Other events and offerings include giveaways to the first 200 attendees, celebrity bicentennial games, New Memphis T-shirts for sale, and a scavenger hunt with prizes like tablets and Explore Bike Share memberships.

For more information, visit exposurememphis.com.

Exposure, FedExForum, Thursday, August 29th, 6-8 p.m., free.