Tag: Memphis Restaurant Association

WE SAW YOU: Memphis Restaurant Association Food Festival

Post author By Michael Donahue
Post date February 6, 2024

Tracy Abel, Jenny Crews, and Adonis Middlecoff of Chicken Salad Chick were at the Memphis Restaurant Association Food Festival (Credit: Michael Donahue)

People were allowed to play with their food at the Memphis Restaurant Association Food Festival & Awards. Meaning, those attending the event moved around, laughed, and schmoozed while they sampled food from 16 food stations — and drank from 14 drink stations — at the event, which was held February 4th at The Kent.

It was the third year for the event since it changed formats in 2022, going from a sit-down dinner to a tasting format. “For years — I want to say 50 years — it was a banquet held in a hotel ballroom,” says Memphis Restaurant Association executive director Sally Fienup.

Phillip Ashley Rix at the Memphis Restaurant Association Food Festival (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Andrew Mason and Lauren Pfingstag at the Memphis Restaurant Association Food Festival (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Karina Bautista and Thomas Schaub at the Memphis Restaurant Association Food Festival (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Christopher Green at the Memphis Restaurant Association Food Festival (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Connor and Kelly Fox at the Memphis Restaurant Association Food Festival (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Hall Crawford and Jeffrey Goldberg at the Memphis Restaurant Association Food Festival (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Kyle Sklar and Tristan Farrow at the Memphis Restaurant Association Food Festival (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Aaron Binkowitz and Madison Erwin at the Memphis Restaurant Association Food Festival (Credit: Michael Donahue)

The association changed the format for several reasons, Fienup says. “Number one, was a general trend in events pre-2020 where tastings became popular for fundraising events. People enjoyed a more casual atmosphere for events and eating.”

Covid was another reason. “We still wanted to have an event post-Covid, but everything changed in terms of people not wanting to be confined to sitting down for long periods of time. People wanted flexibility to come and go. And just our access to pricing and even rentals changed post-Covid.”

And, finally, Fienup says, “I think the Memphis Restaurant Association community was ready for a change in the format of their events because we were and always were interested in attracting members to our community who may or may not have been familiar with us.”

A crowd of 460 attended this year’s event. “This one, by far, was our most successful in terms of number of attendees and number of participants,” Fienup says. “I would say the restaurant industry felt stronger over the past year than it had in the past, which I think contributed to the restaurants and beverage vendors participating.”

Peter Parrino and Todai Malone at the Memphis Restaurant Association Food Festival (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Earl Brown, Curtis Mitchell II, Pierre Pige at the Memphis Restaurant Association Food Festival (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Kyle Crisler and Bailey Rhodes at the Memphis Restaurant Association Food Festival (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Reuben Skahill and Shelby Lewis at the Memphis Restaurant Association Food Festival (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Emily Aguillera and Juan Juarez at the Memphis Restaurant Association Food Festival (Credit: Michael Donahue)

John Robinson and Catherine Sights at the Memphis Restaurant Association Food Festival (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Chris Ware, Deni and Patrick Reilly at the Memphis Restaurant Association Food Festival (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Jake Schorr at the Memphis Restaurant Association Food Festival (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Each year the Memphis Restaurant Associate gives out awards. This year’s honorees were Memphis Restaurateur of the Year: Marco Puerto, owner of Cocina Mexicana; Associate Member of the Year: A. J. Jones with Old Dominick Distillery; and Lifetime Achievement Award: the late Jennifer Biggs, who was food editor for The Daily Memphian.

Mike Miller is president of the Memphis Restaurant Association

Mike and Tonya Miller at the Memphis Restaurant Association Food Festival (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Carson Blackfan and Maggie Gibbons at the Memphis Restaurant Association Food Festival (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Joshua and Melody Smith at the Memphis Restaurant Association Food Festival (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Kat Bollheimer and Stone Pannell at the Memphis Restaurant Association Food Festival (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Alisha Cunningham, Norbert Mede, Lashanna Span at the Memphis Restaurant Association Food Festival (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Landon Stone and Adalya Armstrong at the Memphis Restaurant Association Food Festival (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Ryan Marsh at the Memphis Restaurant Association Food Festival (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Donnie and Alexis Malone at the Memphis Restaurant Association Food Festival (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Jeff, Harry, and Kelcie Zepatos at the Memphis Restaurant Association Food Festival (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Clint Van Court, Katie Jones, Clark Schifani, Kelly Brock at Memphis Restaurant Association Food Festival (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Tags Memphis Restaurant Association, Mike Miller, Sally Fineup

We Recommend We Saw You

We Saw You: Returning to the Old Normal

Post author By Michael Donahue
Post date March 16, 2022

It was great running into old friends Anthony Dionne and John Sampietro at the Madonna Learning Center gala.

The 2020 Madonna Learning Center Gala was the last gala I covered before Covid shut down the Memphis social scene. It was the 50th Anniversary Golden Gala, which was held February 29th.

I remember the long line of eager guests holding their plates on either side of the long buffet tables that year at the Hilton Memphis. The Soul Shockers performed. Nobody was really thinking about masks or social distancing at that point.

So, it was great to be at the center’s “A Night of Winter Wonders” gala, which was held February 26th at the Hilton Memphis. It was like going back to the old normal.

Once again there were long buffet tables. And the Soul Shockers were back. “They’ve been with us for over 25 years,” says Madonna Learning Center executive director Jo Gilbert. “It wouldn’t be the gala without them.”

The Soul Shockers performed at Madonna Leaning Center Gala. (Credit: Michael Donahue)

It was so great to see people I hadn’t seen in two years or more. I probably wasn’t the only one thinking that, either.

More than 600 attended, which was about half the number of people who attended the one in 2020, Gilbert says. For that gala, she says, “We had sold over 1,100 tickets.”

But, Gilbert says, “We were still happy that so many people were able to come this year. It was a success. We were very happy and thrilled to see the turnout.”

They did hold an event in 2020, “Rai$in’ on the River!,” which was “to take the place of the gala,” Gilbert says. It was held June 5th “in a huge tent” at Grind City Brewing Co. and featured Dr. Zarr’s Amazing Funk Monster.

Jo Gilbert and Michael Donahue at Madonna Learning Center Gala

Between 500 and 600 people attended. “People were, again, ready to get out.”

Asked why the galas are important to Madonna Learning Center, Gilbert says, “The money that we raise for the gala is what helps us offset the tuition deficit. We only charge families half of the actual cost.”

The “real cost” is “$23,000,” she says. “We only charge $14,000.

And, she says, “We have to make up that remaining balance of the tuition. And the gala is what helps us do that.”

Katherine and Jason Abis at Memphis Learning Center Gala (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Lizzie Folk, Ashlea Barker, Taylor Gilbert, and Andrew Gilbert at Madonna Learning Center Gala (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Gabe and Diana Valesquez and Michael Donahue at Madonna Learning Center Gala

FOOD FESTIVAL

Memphis Restaurant Association (MRA) served up something different on its plate this year.

Instead of a banquet, which was done in the past, the MRA Food Festival & Awards was held February 27th at The Kent.

Guests visited food stations representing restaurants and food purveyors.

“This was a new format for us to give our annual awards,” says MRA executive director Sally D. Fienup. “We consider it a success and are planning to repeat this food festival format in 2023.”

More than 450 people attended the festival, which featured 15 vendors, she says.

Shandera Gillespie at MRA Food Festival (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Faith Wallace and Michael Donahue at MRA Food Festival (Credit: Seth Cartwright)

Joan Robinson and Christopher Green at MRA Food Festival (Credit: Michael Donahue)

The festival followed Youth Villages Soup Sunday, which was the first event held at The Kent. “They were wonderful to work with. And the space is perfectly set up to allow food vendors to have their own space.”

MRA president Mike Miller presented three awards: Anthony House, operator of Chick-fil-A on Germantown Parkway, is Restaurateur of the Year; Brian Edwards, owner of Everything But the Food, is Associate of the Year; and the late Father Nicholas Vieron was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award. Vieron’s sons Paul and Lee Vieron accepted the award.

“Father Vieron was an annual attendee of our banquets and gave the invocation regularly up until — and including — our February 2020 banquet,” Fienup says. “He had many personal connections with those in the restaurant industry, and the Association wanted to recognize his many contributions to Memphis and his admirable career.”

BJ Chester-Tamayo at MRA Food Festival (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Jenny and Chuck Pinkowski with MRA president Mike Miller (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Michael Donahue and Ken Robinson at MRA Food Festival

Tags Jo Gilbert, Madonna Learning Center, Memphis Restaurant Association, Sally D. Fienup, The Soul Shockers

News News Blog

Memphis Restaurant Association Releases Statement on New Health Directive

Post author By Matthew Harris
Post date December 23, 2020

CREDIT: Memphis Restaurant Association

Memphis Restaurant Association

The Memphis Restaurant Association has issued a statement in response to the new health directive announced on Monday.

Restaurants are, in fact, among the safest places to be due to social distancing, mask requirements, and numerous other regulations ensuring the safety of our staff and guests. Local, state, and national data (see links below) bear out the truth that restaurants are not a significant source of transmission, yet our local officials continue to unreasonably single out the restaurant industry. We are disappointed with the Health Department’s decisions and continued lack of communication and are asking for the support of our membership, employees, and community by contacting community leaders to push back against this injustice. Shutting restaurants down drives the public to higher-risk, unregulated, private gatherings.

The statement ended with the tag #SafePlacesSaveLives and provided a myriad of links to back up their claims. Among the links were a Tennessee government link showing fatality rates in the state, a Democrat & Chronicle story from New York that looks at contact tracing data, a story from News 4 Nashville covering a statement from the Nashville Mayor, and a news story from Los Angeles covering the spread of COVID in restaurants.

Under Health Directive 16, restaurants are encouraged to close or operate at 25 percent capacity from the 26th of December to the 22nd of January.

Tags COVID, COVID-19, Health Department, Memphis Dining, Memphis Restaurant Association, Quarantine

Cover Feature News

Give Memphis! Great Local Gift Ideas for the Holidays

Post author By Flyer Staff
Post date November 25, 2020

CREDIT: Greg Cravens

Greg Cravens

If 2020 has proven anything, it’s that we need to come together to support our community — the health, happiness, and longevity of our fellow Memphians count on it now more than ever. While we may not be able to gather with friends and family for gift exchanges like we have in the past, we can still lift their spirits with thoughtful presents that help our local restaurants, retail outlets, and entrepreneurs keep doing what they do. Think local this season!

A Box of Magic

Have a giftee in your life who seeks to better understand their own power, to look within and outside for growth and restoration? Give them a box of magic, or as Sami Harvey, owner of Foxglove Pharm, calls it: a Coven Box.

“I’ve always been amazed by Mother Nature’s ability to heal, and I love finding new ways to use her ingredients to solve my problems,” Harvey says. “I started Foxglove Pharm in 2017 because I wanted to share some of those solutions with my community.”

Each subscription box ($40/month) includes a rotating variety of handcrafted herbal “remeteas” (About Last Night: Hangover Tea, Out of the Blue: Third Eye Tea, and others), scented oils, Resting Witch Face skincare products, rituals, and more special items that “honor the moon, the current astrological phase, and a featured plant.”

Sami Harvey

Each month, she partners with another local maker or small business to spotlight their wares. For her Foxglove offerings, Harvey is “the only witch in the kitchen,” so the products are small-batch and made with “ethically sourced, organic, sustainable ingredients.”

Regarding the rituals included in a box (or separately on the website), Harvey says, “These aren’t like supernatural spells that will destroy all your enemies and turn Michelle Obama into your BFF. But they’re ways to meditate and channel your energy into manifesting a better reality for yourself. The real magic ingredient is you and your intention.”

Visit foxglovepharm.com to order a Coven Box and shop products. — Shara Clark

Feed an Artist

The old cliché about “starving artists” has seldom been more true. Buying art is often the last thing folks are thinking about during tough times like these, but our Memphis painters and sculptors and photographers — and their galleries — have bills to pay, just like the rest of us. That’s why this might be a great year to put a new painting on your wall, or gift someone a work of art so they’ll be reminded of you every day.

Courtesy Jay Etkin Gallery

Untitled by John Ryan

There are many fine galleries in Memphis. Here are just a few: L Ross, David Lusk, Jay Etkin, Crosstown Arts, Orange Mound Gallery, Art Village, Cooper-Young Gallery, and B. Collective. Artists featured include Matthew Hasty, Jeanne Seagle, John Ryan, Mary Long, Roy Tamboli, Eunika Rogers, Cat Pena, Yancy Villa-Calvo, Hamlett Dobbins, Anne Siems, Tim Craddock, and many, many more. In addition, many galleries are featuring special holiday shows.

End what has been a nightmarish year on an upbeat note: Buy a piece of art. It’s good for your heart. — Bruce VanWyngarden

Let Them Eat Cake

I’d be happy to receive a Memphis Bourbon Caramel Cake from Sugar Avenue Bakery, either in or out of my stocking. This is the Sugar Avenue collaboration with Old Dominick Distillery.

Just listening to Sugar Avenue owner Ed Crenshaw describe the six-inch cake makes me crave a slice or three: “The cake is four layers. Each layer is literally soaked in a bourbon caramel sauce. And then our caramel icing, which we make from scratch.”

Courtesy Ben Fant

Sugar Avenue cake

Sugar Avenue worked with Old Dominick’s master distiller/senior vice president Alex Castle to come up with the perfect blend of cake and bourbon. Old Dominick’s Huling Station Straight Bourbon Whiskey was chosen for the cake, which has “a great hint of bourbon flavor,” Crenshaw says. “We add bourbon to the icing and ice the cake with it.”

To help you get even more into the holiday spirit, Sugar Avenue Bakery recently began adding two-ounce jars of extra caramel sauce with every bourbon-flavored cake.

Memphis Bourbon Caramel Cakes are $55 each, and they’re available at sugaravenue.com. — Michael Donahue

Accessorize in Style

When Memphians need to give the gift of stylish living, they turn to Cheryl Pesce, the jewelry and lifestyle store in Crosstown Concourse. The store takes its name from its owner, Cheryl Pesce, a jewelry maker, entrepreneur, and all-around style guru.

This month, Pesce opened a second store in the Laurelwood Shopping Center, giving Bluff City-area shoppers double the chances to find — and give — stylish accoutrements. “I’m banking on Memphis,” Pesce explains. And Memphis seems ready to support Pesce. “We had a grand open house, social distancing into the parking lot, and it went well.”

Courtesy Cheryl Pesce

Handmade jewelry from Cheryl Pesce

The store opening story is just the tip of the breaking-news iceberg, though. Pesce tells me excitedly that she’s been in touch with fashion designer Patrick Henry, aka Richfresh, about his newly designed Henry Mask. “I spoke with him today and — drumroll — we will now be carrying his masks in my Laurelwood store.”

But wait! That’s still not all. The ink is still fresh on a deal for Pesce to carry Germantown-produced Leovard skincare products. “I will be his only brick-and-mortar store in the country,” Pesce says. “So there are a lot of cool things happening, most of them local.”

In the smaller store in Crosstown, Pesce sells hand-sewn baby items, masks, Christmas ornaments, and anything with the Crosstown logo — she’s the official source for Crosstown-brand goods. Laurelwood is larger and a little more deluxe. “One of the focuses for that store is local and regional artisans,” Pesce says. She carries Mo’s Bows, Paul Edelstein paintings, and, of course, hand-crafted jewelry. “That’s really my wheelhouse.

“My studio is at Laurelwood,” Pesce says, “so not only is it made in Memphis, made by me, but it’s all under one roof now. The store, the studio. You can literally come pick out your own pearls — ‘I want this pearl on that earring’ — and then I craft it for you right there.”

Cheryl Pesce is located at 1350 Concourse Avenue, Suite 125, and at 374 Grove Park Road South, Suite 104. Find out more at (901) 308-6017 or at cherylpesce.com. — Jesse Davis

Good Reads

There’s something that comes from holding the edges of a book and being taken to a distant land or wondrous world. Whether it’s due to happenstance or the crazy and confusing world in which we find ourselves now, I have been reading more and more as the months drag on. To fuel my ever-growing hunger for words and phrases completed on the page, Novel has been my go-to place.

Novel is proof that when you are doing something you love, the results will follow. The bookstore, founded in 2017, is the go-to for other local book enthusiasts, too — and with good reason. Their staff will go to the moon and back to help you find the book that fits you just right, and if you’re looking for something specific, chances are they will be just as excited about it as you are.

Matthew J. Harris

of what gift to give this season.

Many of their aisles have felt like a second home to me the past few months. And with books in every genre, it is often easier to ask them what they don’t have, rather than what they do. Personally, I love their new-this-year home delivery option, which offers a safe way to give the gift of literature this holiday season. — Matthew J. Harris

Hit the Boards

This year has given us plenty of time to learn new skills. And what better way to get your mind pumping in both a constructive and competitive fashion than with a game of chess?

The Memphis Chess Club recently opened its new café/headquarters Downtown at 195 Madison Avenue, and the three levels of annual memberships make for a great gift, whether someone is looking to seriously pursue an interest in the game or just learn a few tips and tricks.

Samuel X. Cicci

A Memphis Chess Club membership isn’t as risky a move as the Queen’s Gambit.

The social membership ($50) allows members to play chess in the café area at any time, with tables, pieces, and clocks all provided. The full membership ($100), meanwhile, affords all of the social perks but provides unlimited and free access to all classes and tournaments, which are held at the club weekly. It also offers discounts on merchandise, and members are able to check out materials from the club’s chess library, which contains old magazines and strategy books.

For whole families looking to kickstart an interest in the game? The family membership ($150) contains all full membership benefits and includes two adults and all the children in a household.

And, hey, if chess isn’t your thing, the spacious café is a great space to just hang out or study while sipping on some brewed-in-house coffee or munching on one of chef Grier Cosby’s specialty pizzas.

Visit memphischessclub.com/join for more information. — Samuel X. Cicci

The Gift of Grub

Food is fun and helps define Memphis culture. Those who make that food and fun are in trouble.

Restaurants have maybe suffered more than any small business during this pandemic. Restrictions on them have come and gone and may come again soon. Memphis restaurateurs have shown amazing resilience in these ups and downs. They’ve shifted business models, adapted to the latest health directives, and adjusted staff levels (laying off workers and hiring them back) to match it all.

Memphis Restaurant Association/Facebook

Support local restaurants — so they can stick around.

However, we forever lost some Memphis favorites, like Lucky Cat and Grove Grill. The National Restaurant Association said nearly 100,000 restaurants across the country closed either permanently or for the long-term six months into the pandemic. Nearly 3 million employees have lost their jobs. Help restaurants out and have food fun, too. This holiday season, buy gift cards from our local restaurants.

At the pandemic’s beginning in March, we told you about a national push to buy “dining bonds” or “restaurant bonds.” Many Memphis restaurants jumped in — many selling gift cards at deep discounts. For restaurants, gift cards are quick infusions of cash, helpful in tough times.

So instead of that scarf you’re kind of on the fence about, spend the same amount on a restaurant they love. It’ll be unexpected and, yes, come with some delayed gratification — delicious delayed gratification. Present it not as a gift card but as that dish they love from that place they love.

Sing it with me: “Everybody knows, a burger and some mistletoe help to make the season bright. Memphis foodies, with their eyes all aglow, will find it hard to sleep tonight.”

Gift cards are available at almost every restaurant and for almost any amount. Check websites and socials for details. — Toby Sells

Music to Their Ears

Remember when giving music was a thing? Physical things like LPs, CDs, and cassettes could be wrapped. But now that everything’s ethereal, there’s still a way to give the gift that keeps on giving: Patreon. Musicians are embracing this platform more and more, and it’s working for them. A subscription to their accounts may just be the perfect gift for the superfan in your life who already has everything.

Mike Doughty (Soul Coughing, Ghost of Vroom) relies on his Patreon subscribers for both income and inspiration. As he told the Detroit Metro Times, “Doing a song a week is amazing, and that is really what, if I had my druthers, I’d do for the rest of my life.” Patrons can subscribe at different levels, each with premiums like CDs and T-shirts, but everyone paying at least $5 a month can access Doughty’s song-a-week and more.

Greg Cravens

Other Memphis-affiliated singer/songwriters like Eric Lewis, J.D. Reager, and (coming in December) Marcella and Her Lovers also have accounts. And last month, label and music retailer Goner Records began offering Patreon subscriptions that include access to the Goner archives and exclusive music and videos.

Patreon’s site notes that “there isn’t currently a way to gift patronage,” but if you get creative, you can search for an artist on patreon.com and buy a subscription in a friend’s or family member’s name — and they can thank you all through the year. — Alex Greene

Support Arts and Culture

“A plague on both your houses!” cried the dying Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet, and it seems the COVID-19 pandemic took that sentiment to heart, emptying out our theaters and concert halls and thinning out attendance at museums. But still they persisted. The organizations behind the arts we love are still at work online, virtually, distancing, and striving to keep the arts alive — especially in programs aimed at young people.

You can help the old-fashioned way by getting season subscriptions and memberships for whenever the lights come back on — and they could use that support right now. Or make a simple donation. Help keep Memphis culture alive by giving gifts on behalf of the following, but don’t be limited by this partial list — if you have other favorites, give them a cup o’ kindness as well.

Jon W. Sparks

Spring, Summer, Fall at the Brooks Museum by Wheeler Williams

Performing arts organizations:

• Playhouse on the Square (playhouseonthesquare.org)

• Theatre Memphis (theatrememphis.org)

• Opera Memphis (operamemphis.org)

• Ballet Memphis (balletmemphis.org)

• New Ballet Ensemble (newballet.org)

• Cazateatro (cazateatro.org)

• New Moon Theatre (newmoontheatre.org)

• Hattiloo Theatre (hattiloo.org)

• Tennessee Shakespeare Company (tnshakespeare.org)

• Memphis Black Arts Alliance (memphisblackarts.org)

• Emerald Theatre Company (etcmemphistheater.com)

Museums and galleries:

• Memphis Brooks Museum of Art (brooksmuseum.org)

• Dixon Gallery and Gardens (dixon.org)

• National Civil Rights Museum (civilrightsmuseum.org)

• Metal Museum (metalmuseum.org)

• Stax Museum of American Soul Music (staxmuseum.com)

• Pink Palace Museum (memphismuseums.org)

• Children’s Museum of Memphis (cmom.com)

• Fire Museum of Memphis (firemuseum.org) — Jon W. Sparks

Basket or Box It for a Gift That Rocks It

Need something sweet for your honey this holiday season? Thistle & Bee has the gift that gives twice. A relaxing gift box contains raw Memphis honey, a milk and honey soap bar, and a pure beeswax candle ($20). Every item is handcrafted and directly supports women survivors to thrive through a journey of healing and hope.

Social enterprise director at Thistle & Bee, Ali Pap Chesney, drops a stinger: “We partner with other businesses, too. Feast & Graze uses our honey.”

Feast & Graze/Facebook

Feast & Graze

The cheese and charcuterie company Feast & Grace is co-owned by Cristina McCarter, who happens to co-own City Tasting Box. Boxes are filled with goodies promoting local Black-owned businesses like Pop’s Kernel and The Waffle Iron. An exclusive limited-quantity holiday gift box, Sugar and Spice, just rolled out for the season in two sizes — regular ($74.99) and ultimate ($124.99).

Memphis Gift Basket is owned by Jesse James, who says he is rolling out a new logo this week. Along with the new logo are new products for baskets ($55-$100) that focus on diversity by including more women- and minority-owned businesses, in addition to local items with iconic names like The Rendezvous and Memphis magazine. Guess what else you might find in a Memphis Gift Basket? Thistle & Bee honey.

Now that we’ve come full circle, check out these gift box and basket businesses, as well as partnering companies, for errbody on your holiday list — including that corporate gift list.

Visit thistleandbee.org, citytastingbox.com (use code SHIP100 for free shipping on orders over $100), and memphisgiftbasket.com for more. — Julie Ray

Lights, Camera, Action

A lot of businesses have been hard-hit during the pandemic, and movie theaters have been near the top of the list. With social distancing-limited theater capacity and Hollywood studios delaying major releases into next year in the hopes a vaccine will rekindle attendance, theater chains like Memphis-based Malco have been in dire straits. The exception has been drive-in theaters, like the Malco Summer Drive-In, which have seen a renaissance in 2020.

If you want to support this local institution and give a treat to the movie-lover in your life, you can buy them a Malco gift card. Available in any denomination from $10 to $500, the gift cards can be used for movie tickets and concessions for any film now or in the future. You can also enroll in the Malco Marquee Rewards program, which allows frequent moviegoers to earn points toward free tickets and concessions.

Greg Cravens

Malco has taken extraordinary steps to ensure the safety of its patrons, including mandatory masks, improved air filters, and non-contact payment options. And if you’re not comfortable sharing a theater with strangers right now, there’s a great option: The Malco Select program allows you to rent an entire theater for a screening of any film on the marquee — and that includes screenings in the massive IMAX theaters at the Paradiso. Prices start at $100, which works out pretty well if you want to watch Wonder Woman 1984 with your pod this holiday season. And if the person you’re buying for is a gamer, Malco has a brand-new option. With Malco Select Gaming, you can bring your system to the theater and play Call of Duty or The Last of Us on the biggest possible screen. — Chris McCoy

Tags Anne Siems, art galleries, Art Village, B. Collective, Ballet Memphis, Cat Pena, Cazateatro, Cheryl Pesce, Children's Museum of Memphis, City Tasting Box, Cooper-Young Gallery, Crosstown Arts, Crosstown Concourse, David Lusk, Dixon Gallery and Gardens, Emerald Theatre Company, Eric Lewis, Eunika Rogers, Feast & Graze, Fire Museum of Memphis, Foxglove Pharm, Gift Memphis, Give Memphis, Hamlett Dobbins, Hattiloo Theatre, herbal tea, Jay Etkin, JD Reager, Jeanne Seagle, John Ryan, L Ross, Laurelwood Shopping Center, local art, Malco, Marcella and Her Lovers, Mary Long, Matthew Hasty, Memphis, Memphis Black Arts Alliance, Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, Memphis Chess Club, Memphis Gift Basket, Memphis museums, Memphis Restaurant Association, Memphis restaurants, Metal Museum, metaphysical, Mike Doughty, National Civil Rights Museum, New Ballet Ensemble, New Moon Theatre, Novel, Old Dominick Distillery, Opera Memphis, Orange Mound Gallery, Patreon, Patrick Henry, Pink Palace Museum, Playhouse on the Square, Richfresh, Roy Tamboli, Shop Local, Stax Museum of American Soul Music, Sugar Avenue Bakery, Tennessee Shakespeare Company, Theatre Memphis, Thistle & Bee, Tim Craddock, witchy, Yancy Villa-Calvo

News News Blog

Head of Memphis Restaurant Association Urges, Businesses, Patrons to ‘Do Their Part’

Post author By Maya Smith
Post date July 9, 2020

The head of the Memphis Restaurant Association (MRA) said Thursday that the decisions made by the health department have a “huge impact” on the restaurant industry.

At an update of the Memphis and Shelby County COVID-19 Joint Task Force briefing Thursday, Ernie Mellor, president of MRA, said “these are truly challenging days and times for everybody, in particular in our industry. As most of you know, we have been hit as hard as anybody.”

Mellor said as the number if COVID-19 cases increase, the health department is having to make “tough decisions.”

“These decisions that they are making are for the safety of everyone, not just your next door neighbor, but us as restaurant owners and everybody in the county,” Mellor said. These decisions have a real impact on the livelihood of our industry, our employers, our employees, and their families. So I’ve asked Dr. Haushalter and her staff to please consider the economic impacts of their decisions before they take action.”

The latest directive from the health department asks that restaurants collect tracing data on its customers, recording the names and phone numbers of patrons. Mellor said this request “will be challenging for our members.”

Dr. Alisa Haushalter, director of the Shelby County Health Department said the purpose of this is to ensure the health department has the ability to contact people if they’ve been exposed in a restaurant setting.

Mellor encouraged all restaurants and patrons to follow the protocols of the health directive.

Haushalter added that the health department is prepared to go out and enforce protocols at restaurants and bars.

“We do rely on others bringing information to us and as we are able with the staffing that we have or with police and sheriff we will then respond or do more proactive checks,” Haushalter said. “We all want to move forward, being back to work and back to school. If one or two businesses don’t comply, it makes it much more difficult for every other business.”

Bars aren’t being “targeted,” Haushalter said. Instead, she said the department is relying on data and science to make decisions. The data shows that there is an increase in cases among individuals between the ages of 25 and 45 and that transmissions is occurring in social settings.

Haushalter also gave an update on the criteria for moving forward, which includes:

• The number and trend of cases, which is trending upward

• The positivity rate of tests, which should be below 10 percent. It’s currently at 8.6 percent overall

• The reproduction rate, which should be at 1 or below. That number is currently 1.2

• Testing capacity, which Haushalter said is “becoming more strained”

• Hospital capacity; Haushalter said hospitals are reporting they are currently able to manage number of cases coming in

• Public health capacity, which includes the ability to get people isolated quickly. Haushalter said this is “becoming more of a challenge”

“These are all red flags. When you look at all four gating criteria, we have red flags. We’re really straining the public health system. We ‘re beginning to strain the hospital system. We know our testing system is strained as well and our numbers are going up. So those are things that allow us to move us forward.”

Tags bars, COVID-19, Memphis Restaurant Association, restaurants, Shelby County Health Department

News News Blog

Coronavirus Megathread: Closings and Delays Across Memphis

Post author By Toby Sells
Post date March 16, 2020

Idlewild Presbyterian Church (Friday (March 20)

Churches from the Presbytery of the Mid-South are bringing together their congregations via the radio and Livestream to provide worship services at 11:00 a.m. Sunday, March 22, and for the near future, because of the recommended “social distancing” during the coronavirus outbreak. Members and guests can “be there” at the service, broadcasted from Idlewild Presbyterian Church. The service will be also be archived on the church’s website for later viewing.

The combined congregations of Balmoral, Buntyn, Evergreen, First (Memphis), First (Somerville), Idlewild, Parkway Gardens United and Shady Grove Presbyterian are providing various pastoral staff to participate during each service. This week’s service includes the following service leadership: The Reverend Anne H. K. Apple (Idlewild), The Reverend Carla Meisterman (Balmoral), The Reverend Sara Dorrien-Christians (Idlewild), The Reverend Elizabeth Dick (Evergreen), Mr. Barry Oliver, Director of Music Ministry (Idlewild) and soloists, Amy Phillips and Tyler Brumback (Idlewild). Members of Idlewild’s youth are the preachers for this Sunday: Helen Gillespie, Peter Calkins and Caroline Seamons.

Worship services are held in the sanctuary with no physical congregation, but all are invited “to attend” the service via the church’s Livestream, www.livestream.com/idlewild, or by listening to WIVG-FM 96.1.

For information about the church, please visit www.idlewildchurch.org or call 901-726-4681.

Memphis City Council (Thursday, March 19)

THE MEMPHIS CITY COUNCIL

Tuesday, March 24, 2020, 3:30 p.m.

Due to the declarations of a State of Emergency by the President of the United States, the Governor of Tennessee and the Mayor of Memphis relating to Covid-19 Epidemic the Council has determined that is necessary that the meeting be conducted by electronic or other means of communication in order to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public, City employees, Council staff and Members of the Council.

THERE WILL BE NO PHYSICAL MEETING

Memphis Botanic Gardens (Thursday, March 19)

I write today during this period of uncertainty, both locally and nationally. As I write this, your Garden has already taken numerous steps to help contain the spread of COVID-19 / Coronavirus and we stand ready to take more drastic measures if they become warranted.

Some of the steps we have taken – so far include:

The canceling of all events in excess of 10 people thru at least May 15, 2020.

The closing of My Big Backyard, our children’s garden, to the public beginning Friday, March 20. Because of the many interactive surfaces contained within this garden, we feel it is prudent to close this area off until further notice.

The opening of the Gardens (with the exception of the Children’s Garden) to the public without cost, effective Friday, March 20 and until further notice. We encourage social distancing, and with 96 acres to visit and small groups, we believe this to be a sensible gesture of goodwill to the community. Members and Guests may now enter directly onto Garden grounds at the south end of our parking lot without entering the building or interacting with staff.

This remains a very fluid situation, and we are doing our best to adapt and adhere to CDC guidelines as they evolve. We are also following local health official’s guidance. While at this time we do not intend to close the outdoor spaces of the Garden to the public, we will adapt to future guidance if it comes.

I encourage you to follow us on our social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter) or to visit MemphisBotanicGarden.com for the most current situation as regards your Garden.

I wish you and your family well during this difficult time, and we will remain as transparent as possible in the days and weeks to come

City of Memphis Golf Courses (Thursday, March 19)

In light of current public health issues, for the safety of our golfers and employees, we have made the decision to temporarily close the City of Memphis Golf Courses. It is unknown as to the time frame of the closures. We will keep you updated via www.memphispubliclinks.com.

Locations include The links at Audobon, Overton, Galloway, Davy Crockett, Fox Meadows, Pine Hill, Riverside, and Whitehaven.

State Parks Group Hikes (Thursday, March 19)

We have decided to cancel our guided Spring Hikes this weekend. These annual hikes usually attract thousands of visitors to our parks, and these groups exceed the recommended group sizes for helping our communities “flatten the curve.”

We are sorry for this cancellation, and hope that you will plan to join us for our next signature hike on June 6, 2020.

Macy’s (Thursday, March 19)

In response to the widespread COVID-19 outbreak, Macy’s, Inc. (NYSE: M) today announced that it will temporarily close all stores by end of business today, March 17, 2020, through March 31, 2020. This includes all Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, Bluemercury, Macy’s Backstage, Bloomingdales the Outlet and Market by Macy’s stores. Macy’s, Inc. will provide benefits and compensation to its impacted workforce.

“The health and safety of our customers, colleagues and communities is our utmost priority. As a result of the recent COVID-19 developments, we have decided to temporarily close our stores. We will work with government and health officials to assess when we will reopen our stores and safely bring our colleagues back to work,” said Jeff Gennette, chairman and chief executive officer of Macy’s, Inc. “During this closure, we will continue to serve our customers through our e-commerce sites.”

All three Macy’s, Inc. brands – Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s and Bluemercury – will continue to serve customers through macys.com, bloomingdales.com and bluemercury.com and through its mobile apps.

Hope Church (Thursday, March 19)

We want to address our response to COVID-19 (coronavirus) and how we as a church are doing our part to flatten the curve, follow government and health official guidelines while keeping our family and community healthy!

Beginning this weekend, March 21 & 22, all Hope services will move online only. Together, we will connect, worship and experience God’s word online as one Hope family.

Join us on Facebook, YouTube, and HopeChurchMemphis.com/Live this Saturday night at 5:30 pm, Sunday morning at 11:15 am and Sunday night at 5:30 pm for The Stirring.

Overton Park (Thursday, March 19)

During these times where it’s safest for us to be apart from each other, we’re so glad that the trails and open spaces of Overton Park are serving as a refuge for many of us.

It’s with heavy hearts, then, that we’ve decided to close restrooms, playgrounds, and the dog park until further notice.

We’ve made this choice for two reasons: one, because keeping these facilities open encourages people to gather in close proximity to each other; and two, because there are no current CDC guidelines for how to clean playgrounds and outdoor recreation facilities during a pandemic outbreak.

With reports that COVID-19 can live on surfaces for days, and our cleaning crew only able to visit once or twice per day, there’s simply no way for us to keep all surfaces sanitized for every visitor.

The park’s trail system remains open for you to get some much-needed fresh air. (PSA: The nature trails are so saturated from the endless rain that you’d need wading boots to walk them, so we recommend the paved trails for now!) We encourage you to follow the National Recreation and Park Association’s guidelines for using the trails:

• Before visiting trails — wash hands, carry hand sanitizer, and do not use trails if you have symptoms.

• Observe at all times CDC’s minimum recommended social distancing of six feet from other people. Keep it as you walk, bike or hike.

• Alert other trail users of your presence, and step off trails to allow others to pass, keeping minimum recommended distances at all times.

• Be prepared before you leave and time outings so that you are not dependent on public restrooms.

• Bring water or drinks — public drinking fountains may be disabled and should not be used, even if operable.

• Bring a suitable trash bag. Take trash with you to protect park workers.

• We’ve posted signs announcing the closures, but our playgrounds are open-air, so we’ll need everyone’s cooperation to stay away. Thank you for helping to keep yourself and other park visitors safe.

Memphis Zoo (Wednesday, March 18)

Memphis Zoo will temporarily close to the public Thursday, March 19th.

The health and safety of our team members, guests, volunteers and animals is our top priority, and Memphis Zoo is committed to taking proactive steps to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

Any guests who had field trips or group visits planned will be able to reschedule or receive a refund.

While we are closed, our zookeepers and essential team members will continue to care for our animals. Zoo fans will also be able to check on our animals and team members through our social media accounts.

How you can help Memphis Zoo

During our closure, we are reaching out to our Memphis Zoo friends to ask for your support. Please consider donating to our Emergency Animal Support Fund. We appreciate your continued support and look forward to welcoming you to the Zoo again soon. To donate please visit memphiszoo.org/emergencysupportfund.

Orion Federal Credit Union (Wednesday, March 18)

The safety and well-being of our community is Orion’s highest priority. Orion continues to monitor the COVID-19 situation closely and we are making necessary adjustments to business processes and operations.

Beginning Friday, March 20, 2020, we are temporarily shifting our branch services approach to drive-through only. Our ATMs are available 24 hours a day. For non-cash transactions, remember you can bank with us without leaving the comfort of your home.

YMCA (Wednesday, March 18)

Due to the ongoing public health emergency presented by the COVID-19 virus outbreak and recommendations from the CDC and other health officials, the YMCA will be temporarily closing all 11 YMCA of Memphis & the Mid-South locations effective at 8:00 p.m. on March 18, 2020.

According to the YMCA, the goal with the temporary closure is to limit the spread of COVID-19 in the community before it threatens to overwhelm the public health system, while continuing to focus resources on providing services to healthcare workers, first responders, and those most vulnerable in our community.

“In times like these, the very best of who we are is called forward, giving us the opportunity to live our mission and values and promise to the community. Now, it is critical that we step up and respond to the needs in our community, redirect our expertise and resources, serve those who need us most, and provide inspirational leadership and hope for all. We will pivot our operations to focus on our community response to the unique circumstances created by the COVID-19 virus and repurpose our branches as community response centers,” said Jerry Martin, President and CEO for YMCA of Memphis & the Mid-South.

YMCA Emergency Childcare For First Responders & Healthcare Workers:

Effective Thursday, March 19, 2020, Healthcare & First Responder Childcare will be offered 7 days a week from 6:00AM to 8:00PM to accommodate a 12-hour shift schedule for these families at various YMCA locations throughout our community. Care will be supervised by trained childcare team members for children ages 3 years (potty trained) to 12 years of age.

For more information and to sign up please visit www.ymcamemphis.org or call our Customer Support Center at 901-766-7677.

YMCA Partnering with School Districts for Meal Services:

The YMCA of Memphis & the Mid-South will be joining our schools partners to provide children access to meals at designated sites throughout our community.
Meals are scheduled to be served between 11:00 a.m – 1:00 p.m beginning March 23, 2020. For a full list of meals site locations, visit: www.ymcamemphis.org

Highpoint Climbing & Fitness (Wednesday, March 18)

In a continued effort to mitigate risk and prioritize safety, we have decided to temporarily suspend operations of all High Point facilities beginning March 18th through March 31st. We believe that social distancing is the best way for us to do our part in slowing the spread of COVID-19.

While we try our best to keep our doors open whenever possible, in this instance, our temporary closure can help ensure the safety of our members, staff and the overall community. We will be monitoring how this situation continues to unfold and use this as an opportunity to do a deep sanitation of all facilities.

To our members:
• During this time memberships will automatically be frozen at no additional cost and you will receive a prorated credit to be applied toward next month’s dues.
• We will provide a status update on billing by March 27th as well as any additional details on possible closure extensions.
• If you need to contact the gym, or if you need to retrieve items from a locker in our locker rooms, we will be maintaining office hours Mon-Fri from 10am to 4pm. Please email us at Memphis@highpointclimbing.com and we will be happy to coordinate with your needs.
We are looking forward to serving all of our wonderful community members again soon and in the meantime encourage everyone to stay positive and safe as we move through this together!

Pink Palace (Tuesday, March 17)

As a public health precaution due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), the Pink Palace Family of Museums including the Pink Palace Museum, theater, planetarium, Lichterman Nature Center, Mallory-Neely House and Magevney House will temporarily close to the public beginning Wednesday, March 18, 2020.

“The Pink Palace Family of Museums has remained open these past two days in order to wind down scheduled activities between now and the end of May. In just two short days, our staff has worked incredibly hard at winding down operations affecting over 11,000 people who had scheduled visits through May,” said Kevin Thompson, Executive Director Pink Palace Family of Museums.

The public is encouraged to visit the Pink Palace Family of Museums website (www.memephismuseums.org), Facebook and Instagram pages for online content for children and adults created to keep the public engaged and entertained during this period of home quarantine.

“We plan to roll out online services next week in order to continue to engage with the public. We have an initial set of items for next week, and plans are in the works to continue to create online environments to share our history. Please check our website and social media outlets for more information,” continued Thompson.

Ballet Memphis (Tuesday, March 17)

Ballet Memphis is prioritizing the health of students, families, dancers, patrons, and staff, and will be taking the following precautions against the spread of COVID-19:

● Ballet Memphis Office: Closed to the public beginning March 18th until further notice

● Ballet Memphis School: Closed until further notice

● Pilates and Adult Classes: All classes, workshops and certifications canceled until further notice

● 2020-21 Company Auditions: in-person auditions canceled – Digital video submissions, headshot and resume should now be sent to auditions@balletmemphis.org

● Cinderella: Performance and supporting events canceled.

“Cinderella is a piece that brings magic to life for families, but we will not perform at the expense of our community,” says Steven McMahon, Artistic Director. “We are being proactive, both in prevention and serving our community. We hope that during this time, we’ll be able to reach our audience through virtual tools so that we may continue to bring dance to Memphis.”

Those who have already purchased tickets to Cinderella will be contacted directly. Refunds are available for tickets purchased through Ballet Memphis, however the organization is asking patrons to consider purchased tickets a donation.

“On behalf of the Ballet Memphis team, I can’t wait to bring Ballet Memphis back to the stage very soon,” said McMahon.

Ballet Memphis staff will continue to communicate any updates and ways they will continue to share the power of dance in a time when our community could use it most.

Memphis Rox (Tuesday, March 17)

In light of recent announcements over the past few days about local schools, organizations, and businesses closing due to concerns with Coronavirus COVID-19 and an increased emphasis on the safety, health, and wellness, Memphis Rox Climbing Gym will temporarily close Wednesday, March 18 for the remainder of the month. We will continue to monitor circumstances daily and will remain flexible and forward-thinking in regards to the next steps.

Our top priority is the safety and well-being of our guests, employees, and our community. Our commitment to improving the quality of life for Mid-Southerners through climbing and community outreach has not wavered during this time of uncertainty looming around Coronavirus (COVID-19). Now more than ever, it is important for us all to exercise collective leadership and take precautionary measures to participate in the healing of our city, state, nation, and world.

Furthermore, we will steadfastly follow all protocols recommended by the CDC, Tennessee Health Department, and Shelby County Health Department and encourage everyone in the community to do the same.

To support our staff during this time of closure and uncertainty, all employees will be paid for their previous average weekly hours worked, even as the gym remains closed for the next two weeks. We will then create various projects for our employees to participate in to improve the gym experience for our customers with an emphasis on safety protocols.

Art Museum of the University of Memphis (Tuesday, March 17)

In keeping with the measures the University is taking to contain the spread of COVID-19, the opening reception for “In 7, 6, 5…” scheduled for March 21st has been cancelled. We tentatively postpone re-opening to the public until March 31st. Please contact the museum for further information. In spite of being closed to the public, AMUM continues to install our upcoming exhibition and will be sharing online stories about “In 7, 6, 5…” once the show is up. When we are able to re-open to the public, then we will schedule an opening reception to replace the one that was cancelled, which would have taken place on March 21st.

Memphis River Parks Partnership (Tuesday, March 17)
Justin Fox Burks

An aerial view of the new River Garden park.

As much as we love having folks share the space of the Memphis River Parks, we’re reminded that we’re all in this together to keep Memphis healthy. Please follow guidance from the CDC and Shelby County Health Department.

The Partnership has increased the frequency of scheduled cleaning and sanitizing in all park facilities and reinforced recommended procedures with staff while monitoring development and following the latest guidance on COVID-19.

All public events scheduled to take place on the riverfront in the next eight weeks have been postponed or canceled. Keep updated on the latest on Facebook and our website.

Metal Museum (Tuesday, March 17)

It is with deep regret that we inform you that we have made the difficult yet necessary decision to close the Metal Museum to the public, effective immediately until further notice. This includes all public programs and classes.

As with our peer institutions in the city of Memphis and across the country, we believe this is the best course of action to ensure the continued well-being of our visitors, volunteers, and staff.

Please watch your email and/or the Museum’s website and social media for the most up-to-date information. Our staff will continue to work during this time to answer any questions you have and to ensure that exhibitions and programs are to the high standard you expect when we reopen. Should you have any questions during this time, please do not hesitate to email us at info@metalmuseum.org.

We greatly appreciate your understanding and flexibility during this time and, as always, your support of the Metal Museum.

Hattiloo Theatre (Tuesday, March 17)

In light of the developing news about the coronavirus (COVID-19), here’’s the latest from Hattiloo. We continue to look to the CDC, the Shelby County government and the City of Memphis and state leadership for guidance. Following the temporary recommendation to limit public gatherings, and in concert with our colleagues throughout the theatre industry, we’’ve suspended all performances through May 1, 2020.

We’’re adapting as quickly as we can to this situation. For your convenience, as always, you can email us at manager@hattilootheatre.org, or call 901.502.3486. With the expected volume of emails, it may take us 3-5 business days to respond, but rest assured that we will get back to you. Our shows are canceled for now, but our staff is here for you.

If you have tickets for this weekend’s performance, please email tickets@hattilootheatre.org for information.

Thank you for your support. Please stay safe, and we look forward to seeing you when Hattiloo reopens.

Southland Casino Racing (Monday, March 16)

The situation surrounding coronavirus (COVID-19) is rapidly developing, and Southland Casino Racing continues to be focused on efforts at our facility to protect the health and safety or our guests and employees.

In coordination with the Arkansas State Racing Commission and the State of Arkansas, we are acting to temporarily close the venue. No new patrons will be permitted into the facility after 11:59 p.m. tonight, Monday, March 16, and the facility will be closed at 6 a.m. March 17 until further notice. All activities are canceled, including casino promotions.

We will be communicating as quickly as possible with our employees to assist them during this period. We thank them for their ongoing diligence and ability to adapt in a very fluid and unprecedented circumstance.

To date, we have worked to protect public health by following CDC guidelines on sanitizing protocols and cleaning throughout our venue. We will remain in close touch with State and County health officials, and we look forward to reopening Southland Casino Racing shortly and continuing to provide a clean, safe environment.

We apologize for the inconvenience and look forward to hosting you again in the near future. We will keep you updated on our website at www.southlandcasino.com and via Facebook.com/SouthlandCasinoRacing as more details become available.

Opera Memphis (Monday, March 16)

Members of the Opera Memphis family,

Earlier today, Opera Memphis made the difficult decision to cancel our 2020 Midtown Opera Festival, including the production of Mozart’s Così fan tutte.

Though this decision is heartbreaking, we know it is vital that we play our part in combating the spread of COVID-19 in this truly unprecedented situation.

We know there are many disappointed opera lovers reading this, so we are also taking the opportunity to announce 30 Days of Digital Opera beginning on April 1. Every September, we fan out through the city giving free performances for the entire month. This coming April, instead, will be a chance for us to provide fresh, daily content on all of our digital channels.

More details will be shared on this new program as it develops. We know nothing can replace the feeling of seeing an opera live and in person, but hopefully, this new program will help bridge the gap!

Within the next several days, we will reach out to all of our ticket holders and provide them with their options. We hope our patrons will consider donating their tickets to help us recoup some revenue, as the company has decided to pay our artists and crew who rely on performances for their livelihood.

Finally, the administrative offices for Opera Memphis will be temporarily closed. If you have any questions or concerns, you may contact us at info@operamemphis.org.

Thank you in advance for your patience.

Germantown Performing Arts Center (Monday, March 16)

Friends and Family of GPAC:

The safety of GPAC’s audiences, artists, volunteers and staff are our first priority. In response to the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19), GPAC will be closed to the public indefinitely as of Monday, March 16, at 5 p.m. The following events have been modified:

Welcome to Night Vale Live, March 18, at 7:30 p.m.: This show will be rescheduled. We’re working with the tour on a new date, and GPAC will make an announcement as soon as it is set.

Peanut Butter & Jam: José! by New Ballet Ensemble, March 21, at 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.: This program will be rescheduled. Please stay tuned for the new date.

Artist’s Reception with Pam Santi, March 21, at 5 p.m.: This reception has been cancelled.

Germantown Symphony Orchestra 250th Anniversary Beethoven Celebration, March 21, at 7 p.m.: GSO is rescheduling this concert and apologizes for any inconvenience. Please hold onto your tickets and they will be providing additional information once more is known about the future concert schedule.

Memphis Symphony Orchestra: Masterworks 5: Strauss, Tchaikovsky, & Shostakovich, March 22, at 2:30 p.m. MSO will not hold the concert. The decision to reschedule or cancel will be determined at a later date, and will be guided by public health and safety and scheduling considerations. Additional updates will be made on the MSO website, social media and emails to subscribers and ticket buyers. Please contact the MSO Box Office with any ticket related questions at (901) 537-2500 or tickets@memphissymphony.org.

ArtSavvy: Shadow Play Workshop, March 24, at 7 p.m.: This program will be rescheduled or cancelled based on safety and scheduling considerations. You can find updates here or on the Facebook event.

Jazz in the Box: Emmet Cohen & Houston Person, March 27, at 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.: This show will be rescheduled. We’re working on a new date based on safety and scheduling considerations. GPAC will make an announcement as soon as it is set.

Pilobolus—Shadowland: The New Adventure, March 28, 8 p.m.: Pilobolus’ performance has been rescheduled for Saturday, September 19, at 8 p.m. Tickets for the March performance are valid for the September show.

Visual Arts Exhibit, Artist’s Reception and Artist Chat with Yancy Villa Calvo will be rescheduled for the fall. Keep an eye on information for the 2020-2021 Season for details.

Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers, Saturday, April 11, 8 p.m. This performance will be rescheduled or cancelled based on safety and scheduling considerations. Tickets for the April concert will be valid for the rescheduled show.

Artsavvy: Gullah Traditions, Tuesday, April 14, 7 p.m. This program will be rescheduled or cancelled based on safety and scheduling considerations. You can find updates here or on the Facebook event.

Victor Wooten and the Wooten Brothers, Thursday, April 16, 7:30 p.m. This show will be rescheduled, we are working with the tour on a new date.Tickets for the April performance are valid for the rescheduled show.

Ranky Tanky, Friday, April 17, 8 p.m. This performance will be rescheduled or cancelled based on safety and scheduling considerations. Tickets for the April Ranky Tanky concert will be valid for the rescheduled show.

We will communicate updates for these events via the GPAC website, social media and through emails to patrons and ticket holders affected by rescheduled events and cancellations. If you have questions regarding ticketing for the above mentioned performances, please call the GPAC box office at (901) 751-7500 or at boxoffice@gpacweb.com. Thank you for your understanding.

Quark Theatre (Monday, March 16)

Quark is suspending performances until, hopefully, we can remount it in the (near) future. That may be in 2 weeks; it may be in 2 months. We will keep you informed.

We had originally planned to complete our entire run. While we believe any possibility of virus transmission at Theatre South is quite low because it only holds, at the most, 50 people, we understand the the possibility is not zero. We also understand that people are concerned right now and seem to be getting more so.
We hope to see more of you in the future!

Playhouse on the Square (Monday, March 16)

The safety of our patrons, staff, artists, teachers, and volunteers is of utmost importance, and we at Playhouse on the Square (Circuit Playhouse, Inc.) have been adjusting our plans to confront the challenges of COVID-19 on a daily basis based on information from the CDC, WHO, Shelby County Health Department, City of Memphis, and the State of Tennessee.

With 18 productions on 3 stages, 2 school touring productions, and 13 education and outreach programs, reaching 10s of 1000s of people yearly, there are many moving parts, and we strive to present our offerings with as little disruption as possible.

This past weekend, the CDC issued new recommendations, and we will be implementing the following courses of action:

· Beginning on 3/16/20, we will be cancelling remaining performances of The Book of Will; Ain’t Misbehavin’; Schoolhouse Rock Live; The Ant and the Grasshopper; and Days of Rage through May 7, 2020.

· We will push the entire run of Little Shop of Horrors 1 or 2 weeks later to run May 8 through May 31 or May 15 through June 7.

· We will shorten the run of Mississippi Goddamn by opening one week later to run June 12 through June 28.

· We will push the entire run of Something Rotten 1 week later to run June 26 through July 12.

· St. Paulie’s Delight’s run will retain its current schedule, July 10 through July 26.

· After School Acting Program (ASAP) and Theatre School will be cancelled until the Fall.

· TnT and PlaySlam will be postponed to a later date.

· Summer Youth Conservatory programming will retain its current schedule.

· The 43rd Annual Original Art Auction, scheduled for April 25, will be postponed until Summer or Fall of 2020.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, and we hope that you will continue to support Playhouse on the Square as we endeavor to confront both the health and economic challenges to our patrons, staff, teachers, and volunteers.

If you have tickets for upcoming cancelled performances, our Box Office team will be reaching out to you to change your reservation to another show, issue refunds, or process your payment as a donation should you prefer that option. Our Box Office (901-726-4656) will maintain normal business hours until further notice.

201 Poplar (Monday, March 16)

In light of the health and safety concerns surrounding the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the criminal justice system at 201 Poplar will be functioning much differently over the next few weeks, Shelby County District Attorney General Amy Weirich said Monday.

Major changes will include:

• Out-of-custody defendants with cases in General Sessions and/or Criminal Court will have their cases reset automatically to the corresponding day of the week of April 20, 2020, through May 5, 2020. You do not need to appear at 201 Poplar.

Here is the updated schedule:

• In-custody cases are top priority and will be handled as usual.

• There will be no jury trials until further notice.

• The Shelby County Grand Jury will not meet until further notice.

• If you are a victim or a witness subpoenaed by the DA’s office, someone from the DA’s office will contact you. If you have not been contacted within a day of your ordered appearance, please call 901-222-1300 and ask for the Victim Witness Unit.

Other important numbers to keep:

General Sessions Criminal Court Clerk – 901-222-3500

Criminal Court Clerk – 901-222-3200

Gold Strike Casino Resort (Monday, March 16)

GM Resorts International announced its decision to temporarily suspend operations at its two Mississippi properties, Beau Rivage Resort & Casino and Gold Strike Casino Resort, until further notice, effective as of Tuesday, March 17th. Casino operations will close at 6 a.m. CST, followed by hotel operations.

“Our highest priority remains the health and wellbeing of our guests and employees. We will work to mitigate the impact this will have on our employees, partners and communities,” said MGM Chief Operating Officer and president Bill Hornbuckle. “We will continue monitoring the situation and announce plans for reopening when appropriate.”

Crosstown Arts (Saturday, March 14)

Crosstown Arts is working to help slow the potential transmission of coronavirus and is postponing all music performances, public events, gallery open hours, Shared Art Making open hours, and food/beverage service at the cafe and Art Bar through April 1. Refunds to any ticketed events will be issued within 48 hours.

For updates about when these spaces and programs will resume normal operation, please look for an announcement in the Crosstown Arts newsletter; check out crosstownarts.org; or follow Crosstown Arts on social media — Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Dixon Gallery and Gardens (Monday, March 16)

Dear Friends,

The Dixon Gallery and Gardens is above all concerned for the health and safety of our visitors, employees, and many volunteers. We are measuring our response to the new Coronavirus/COVID 19 by the best and most current information available from the World Health Organization, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the Shelby County Health Department, the American Alliance of Museums, all the area hospitals, and the City of Memphis. We have taken part in conference calls with the Association of Art Museum Directors, ArtsMemphis, and the Cultural Coalition of Memphis to learn how other organizations are gathering information and making decisions. We have been impressed by the spirit of cooperation, the sharing of information, the sacrifice, and the genuine compassion of the cultural sector in Memphis.

The Dixon has taken a number of actions—some very difficult—in trying to combat the spread of Coronavirus/COVID 19 in our community. Effective Tuesday, March 17, we are closing the Dixon Galleries, the museum facility, for the next two weeks. We will see where we are on Monday, March 30. Count on regular updates. We also are cancelling all education and outreach programs, whether in the museum or in the gardens, and asking our many volunteers to work from home the next two weeks or to take a few days off.

The Dixon is also canceling or postponing the following large events: the Margaret Oates Dixon Society gathering (18 March); the Philipp Laagland lecture (19 March); the Daffodil Show (20-21 March); the Director of Horticulture tour of ‘Dixon Blooms’ (24 March); the Memphis Flower Show (3-5 April); the Cosmopolitans Spring Party (9 April); and the Dixon Easter Egg Hunt (11 April). The Dixon is determined to make good and transparent decisions for the safety of our visitors, staff, and volunteers, and to get reliable information to you in a timely fashion.

For the time being, the Dixon Gardens will remain open. If you come to the gardens, please be considerate of one another’s personal space. Temporary social distancing is one of the very simple actions we can all practice—along with staying home if we feel ill, washing our hands vigorously and frequently, and refraining from touching our faces—to thwart COVID 19. The Dixon has also doubled and tripled our cleaning and disinfecting efforts around our campus.

The best thing the Dixon can do for our community right now is to eliminate any close public interactions that are not necessary. Don’t get me wrong, art is essential, but it is also eternal, and it will be waiting for you in the Dixon Galleries when we reopen. And the Dixon Gardens await you. With 200,000 tulips and other flowering bulbs coming into bloom, the gardens offer abundant joy and solace in these challenging times. I repeat, our seventeen acres also present more than ample room for safe social distancing. Please respect the personal space of others while you are here.

Thank you for your support of the Dixon. We will get through this together.

Kevin Sharp

Stax Museum of American Soul Music (Monday, March 16)

The Soulsville Foundation – which operates the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, Stax Music Academy, and The Soulsville Charter School at the original site of Stax Records in Memphis, Tennessee –has made the difficult decision to temporarily close the Stax Museum beginning March 18, 2020 out of concern for the safety of its employees, visitors, volunteers, and other guests amid the outbreak of the COVID-19 coronavirus.

While we have not seen any signs of COVID-19 among our staff and visitors, we feel that we should take this preventative measure because the circumstances surrounding the virus are changing by the hour and we always err on the side of caution when it comes to safety, which is our top priority.

While the museum’s closure status will be reevaluated every two weeks, it is postponing until further notice all events and programs until at least April 30, 2020.

The Stax Museum is unique in that it is not only an international tourist destination drawing people from around the world and a community-based museum offering free programming for the general public throughout the year, but it also shares the same campus as the aforementioned Stax Music Academy and The Soulsville Charter School, which provide education and other services to roughly 800 children and families each day. In keeping with Shelby County Schools’ policies, both schools are closed until March 30, 2020.

“Like the rest of the world, we are deeply concerned about the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak,” said Soulsville Foundation President and CEO Richard Greenwald. “We realize that many of the Stax Museum’s guests travel to Memphis from across the United States and from other countries and, given the propensity for the virus to affect those traveling, we feel it’s our responsibility to help stop the spread of COVID-19 by temporarily closing the Stax Museum. It’s not an easy decision but we feel it’s the right thing to do at this time.”

In the meantime, the Soulsville Foundation will continue deep cleaning and sanitizing of all its facilities and following all protocol set forth by the American Alliance of Museums, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Shelby County Health Department, and other relevant organizations. We urge everyone to follow these guidelines to help stop the spread of the virus.

We will keep the public updated on any and all changes during this time and regret any inconvenience.

“Our hearts go out to the millions of people being affected by COVID-19,” Greenwald continued. “Our hope is that the pandemic will eventually subside and we can return to business as usual of preserving and promoting the legacy of Stax Records in the many ways we do that.”

Earnestine & Hazel’s (Posted there Thursday, March 12)

Toby Sells

Earnestine & Hazel’s wil shut down for two weeks.

Owners of Earnestine & Hazel’s closed the “most popular dive bar in America” for two weeks in a memorandum that appeared on the bar’s front door Thursday.

“I hope my actions are going to be considered overkill, perhaps like taking a flame thrower to a cockroach,” said co-owner (and medical doctor) Dr. Kevin Merigian. “My intuition tells me otherwise.

Agricenter (Monday, March 16)

Agricenter is closely monitoring the recommendations from the CDC and Shelby County Health Department as it relates to COVID-19 in our region. CDC issued guidance over the weekend on limiting gatherings to 50 people or less.

Effective immediately, all event activities in Agricenter’s Expo Center, ShowPlace Arena, and Farmer’s Market that are larger than 50 people will be postponed or cancelled through March 31, 2020.

Agricenter is working closely with show organizers to reschedule their events as possible. Event notices will be posted on the events page here: www.agricenter.org/events

Memphis International Raceway (Monday, March 16)

Memphis International Raceway (MIR) and its parent company IRG Sports + Entertainment (IRGSE) have made changes to the upcoming event schedule in adherence with national, state and local public health officials’ recommendations to limit the spread of COVID-19.

• The 34th annual Super Chevy Show has been postponed and rescheduled to Sept. 25-27, 2020
• Memphis International Raceway will host an action-packed doubleheader weekend by combining the 34th annual Super Chevy Show with the ARCA Racing Series 200 championship race of the Sioux Chief Showdown Saturday, Sept. 26 – this is a weekend you will not want to miss
• Anyone who has purchased tickets to the 34th Annual Super Chevy Show will be able to transfer their tickets to the rescheduled date of Sept. 25-27, 2020.

Children’s Museum of Memphis (Monday, March 16)

The Children’s Museum of Memphis will be closed temporarily as a safety measure beginning Tuesday, March 17, based on the CDC and local health departmental recommendations.

Dr. Stewart Burgess, Executive Director of the museum, said: “Although we have not had any presumed or confirmed cases of the virus at the museum, we would rather do our part to protect the safety of our visitors, staff, and the community.”

Although we are making this adjustment, we plan to provide parents with fun, educational materials, and creative suggestions to keep their children engaged. And, of course, we will have some fun activities planned for when this concern has been resolved.

Our staff will continue to monitor released health updates and will post any updates on our website and social channels.

Indie Memphis (Monday, March 16)

Indie Memphis is postponing upcoming events in March and April as a precaution to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the community.

If you purchased a ticket to a film screening, you will be receiving a refund and/or your member credits will be returned.

Our youth film mentor teams have been recommended to meet virtually during this time to avoid close contact.

I am in regular communication with our peer arts organizations in Memphis and around the country as the situation evolves. We look forward to announcing new programming and rescheduling screenings when the time is appropriate.

National Civil Rights Museum (Monday, March 16)

The Lorraine Motel is among the three sites in Memphis to be included on the U.S. Civil Rights Trail.

A Special Alert from the National Civil Rights Museum
regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19)

With news of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic escalating, the National Civil Rights Museum will temporarily CLOSED to the public, beginning Tuesday, March 17, until further notice. We recognize that this situation is extremely fluid and feel it necessary to halt operations to ensure the safety of our employees and guests.

While the Museum is closed, all public events and programming are cancelled. This includes our annual April 4th commemorative service.

We will provide frequent updates on any changes in our operations status. Thank you for your understanding as we work together to ensure a safe environment for everyone associated with the Museum.

For more information from health officials regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19), visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.

Kroc Center of Memphis

In light of the national developments and rapidly changing conditions regarding the spread of COVID-19 (commonly referred to as coronavirus), the Kroc Center of Memphis has temporarily suspended all public programming and operations effective immediately.

As risks have increased regarding community spread of COVID-19 across Memphis and the Mid-South, we have considered all options and have ultimately decided to follow CDC guidelines to limit public exposures. As such, all activity, with the exception of Spring Break camp, will be suspended in our building effective Monday, March 16. Spring Break Camp will be held March 16-17 only.

As this matter evolves, we will offer facility updates on when we plan to reopen. Our local and national Kroc Center teams are working within parameters set forth by the CDC and the guidance of local government to determine when we can safely return to normal operations. For those that are enrolled in programs, we will communicate plans for rescheduling as that information becomes available. If you have any questions in the interim, please contact us at info@krocmemphis.org. You may also call 901.729.8007, and press 2.

Temporarily closing our doors is a difficult decision, as we balance being available to the community with being proactive in the interest of public health. We are grateful to have your understanding and patience during this time.

We truly appreciate your support and commitment to helping us create a welcoming space for Worship, Arts, Education, and Recreation. We know that staying fit and active is our best way to build a strong immune system and stay healthy. Even though you can’t make it in to join us in person, here is a FREE online option of our Les Mills fitness classes to help keep you active and working out at home. This platform offers 95 free workouts across 8 categories and it will remain available as long as the disruption from Coronavirus continues. Additionally, we plan to post on our social media platforms, providing tips to stay active and engaged over the coming day.

Please continue to observe the recommended practices for maintaining good health, and we look forward to seeing you when the Kroc Center reopens.

Blessings,

The Salvation Army Kroc Center

Memphis Restaurant Association (Monday, March 16)

Postponed – Pro Tips for Avoiding ADA Nightmares
We feel it is responsible to postpone the March membership meeting at this time.

Thanks to Evans Petree for being flexible and agreeing to speak at a later date which is to be determined.

Brooks Museum of Art (Sunday, March 15)

We have made the painful but necessary decision to temporarily close the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, effective Sunday, March 15 at 5:00 pm until March 31, 2020. This includes all public programming.⁣

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Since March 4, the Brooks staff has made extraordinary efforts to disinfect and sanitize its spaces. We now believe we must close temporarily to further limit transmission of COVID-19, and do all we can as a public institution to ensure the safety of our visitors, staff, volunteers and community.⁣
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We understand how rapidly this situation is evolving, so we will provide updates as we have more information. ⁣
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Meanwhile, as one of our region’s greatest cultural assets, we hope that you will enjoy checking our website and social media to experience our temporary exhibition, “Native Voices, 1950s to Now: Art for a New Understanding,” our great permanent collection of paintings, sculpture, drawings, photographs, decorative arts, and new media; and snapshots of some of our nationally-recognized educational programs in action. ⁣
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We appreciate your support of the Brooks and our efforts to care for our community. We assure you that our staff and Board are committed to making this effort as effective and smooth as possible for everyone in our great city.

Food & Drink Hungry Memphis

Memphis Restaurant Association Awards to Honor Shawn Danko and Pat Taylor

Post author By Lorna Field
Post date February 21, 2020

CREDIT: Kooky Canuck/Facebook

Kooky Canuck/Facebook

Shawn Danko has been named Restaurateur of the Year.

This weekend, the 56th annual Memphis Restaurant Association awards will honor Kooky Canuck owner Shawn Danko and Cleaner Solutions owner Pat Taylor.

Danko has been named Restaurateur of the Year, and Taylor is Associate Member of the Year. Both have been deeply involved in the local restaurant scene and are being honored for their commitment to celebrating and lobbying for the Memphis restaurant industry.

Danko, who is originally from Montreal, first came to Memphis to open the Hard Rock Cafe and later the Downtown restaurant Kooky Canuck. He serves on boards for the Memphis Restaurant Association and Memphis Tourism and has been featured on a number of food shows including Man v. Food.

Taylor worked in restaurants for almost 20 years before transitioning to the cleaning and sanitation industry. His company Cleaner Solutions has serviced hundreds of Memphis restaurants with dishwashers and cleaners for roughly 16 years. Taylor has been an active member and sponsor of the Memphis Restaurant Association and says that he is driven by his desire to give back.

The annual celebration is a major fundraiser for the Memphis Restaurant Association, and the awards ceremony will be held at 6 p.m. on Sunday, February 23rd, at the University of Memphis Holiday Inn. Go to memphisrestaurants.com/events for more info.

Tags Cleaner Solutions, Kooky Canuck, Man v. Food, Memphis Restaurant Association, Memphis Tourism, Pat Taylor, Shawn Danko

News News Blog

Downtown Business Groups Issue Conditional Support for New Tom Lee Park

Post author By Toby Sells
Post date July 1, 2019

CREDIT: Chris McCoy

Studio Gang

A view of Tom Lee Park from Studio Gang’s 2017 Riverfront Concept Plan.

Three major Downtown business groups said Monday they support an improved Tom Lee Park but not at the expense of Memphis in May and its revenues.

Much noise has been made about the Mississippi River Parks Partnership’s (MRPP) $60 million plan to renovate Tom Lee Park. That plan would transform the now-flat, largely featureless expanse with gentle hills, trees, and permanent structures.

Much of that noise has been made from those fearing the updated park would force the festivals to move or shrink. MRPP has said neither of those would happen.

On Monday, the Memphis Restaurant Association, Memphis Metropolitan Hotel & Lodging Association, and the Beale Street Merchants Association issued a joint statement in support of an improved park but only if it does not harm Memphis in May.

Here’s the statement in full:

“We support an improved Tom Lee Park that showcases and embraces the Mississippi River.

Together, the Memphis Restaurant Association, Memphis Metropolitan Hotel & Lodging Association, and the Beale Street Merchants Association desire a park that fits the needs of the citizens of Memphis but that also accommodates the annual activities and events associated with Memphis in May and its $137 million-dollar annual economic impact on the city of Memphis and Shelby County.
[pullquote-1] If Memphis in May events are relocated or restructured, it could have a devastating effect on Downtown businesses and cause a loss in critical tax revenue from the Memphis and Shelby County hotel/motel tax and directly impact the revenue projected to be generated through the Downtown Tourism Development Zone — funds that can not be recuperated.

Downtown Memphis offers the amenities and services our community and visitors desire when participating in Memphis in May events. We are committed to a solution that supports improvements, encourages business, is accessible, and that allows thousands of citizens and visitors to experience our riverfront.”

Tags Beale Street Merchants Association, Memphis Metropolitan Hotel & Lodging Association, Memphis Restaurant Association, Mississippi River Parks Partnership, Tom Lee Park

Cover Feature News

In It Together

Post author By Simone Wilson
Post date August 24, 2006

CREDIT: Justin Fox Burks

The restaurant business is a very difficult chosen profession,” says Sam Long, who owns and operates Seasons at the White Church in Collierville with her boyfriend Brian Harwell.

“This is what Patrick O’Connell, chef at the Inn at Little Washington in Virginia, wrote in my menu when I asked him to sign it: ‘Good luck in this difficult chosen profession,'” Long recounts. “When you open your own restaurant, you need all the support you can get, and the Memphis Restaurant Association provides just that,” she says.

A native Memphian, Long owned her own catering business when she was 18 years old. She worked with Erling Jensen at La Tourelle and at Erling Jensen’s, with Jeffrey Dunham at the Grove Grill, and at restaurants around the country. Even with her background, Long discovered she had some things to learn when she opened her own restaurant.

“Knowing how to prepare the food and how to provide good customer service is one thing. Knowing the ins and outs of government regulations, health department requirements, city codes, insurance policies, you name it, is a different thing altogether,” Long says.

The Memphis Restaurant Association (MRA) was founded to “protect its members from unfair government legislation and unethical business practices, to provide information on ways to improve and maintain a healthy, profitable business, and to create a spirit of fellowship among its members.”

With 190 restaurant members and 140 associate members, new and old restaurateurs find an abundance of information and insight just a phone call away.

“I get calls from members all the time,” says Dunham, president of the MRA and chef/owner of the Grove Grill. “Somebody might have trouble with the new grease-trap regulations. Somebody else might have an accounting question. There is always something. The great thing about belonging to the MRA is that if I don’t know the answer, I usually know someone who does,” Dunham says.

The MRA got its start in 1947 — by accident or through persistence, one might say.

There aren’t many local restaurant associations around the nation. Restaurateurs typically join statewide associations that provide greater lobbying power on a national level. Many of the members of the Memphis association also belong to the Tennessee Restaurant Association (TRA) and the National Restaurant Association (NRA).

The TRA was founded in 1936 and consisted of several chapters spread throughout the state. Memphis, according to Huey’s owner Thomas Boggs, a former MRA president, was the largest chapter. Due to its location, restaurant owners in Memphis were able to observe trends in nearby states.

“Memphis restaurateurs saw what was going on in Atlanta when it got approved for liquor-by-the-drink,” Boggs says. “Atlanta turned into a convention city, and the Memphis guys wanted a piece of that business. But they knew that the only way to attract some of those people was through liquor-by-the-drink.”

However, the TRA wasn’t interested in supporting the Memphis chapter, which consisted of such influential figures as Robert Anderton of Anderton’s, Charlie Vergos of the Rendezvous, and Harry Zepatos of the Arcade.

“When those guys realized that they wouldn’t get any support from the TRA on this issue, they decided to split and start lobbying themselves,” Boggs says. The Memphis Restaurant Association was born, and even though it took many years, its founders were successful in their quest.

“The way the MRA was founded pretty much defines what it is today,” says Dunham.

“As recently as a few years ago, we had a law that didn’t allow restaurants to serve liquor, beer, or wine before noon on Sundays. Well, the MRA took the lead and lobbied to change that law, and now restaurants can serve alcohol at 10 a.m. on Sundays,” Dunham says. Justin Fox Burks

But what’s the MRA’s role aside from fighting controversial liquor issues? What’s its role in an industry with steadily growing competition that might make some people hesitant to join such a tightly knit network?

“Sure, our industry is competitive, probably even more so now than 50 years ago, but there is also a strong sense of camaraderie in this business. We do want people to succeed,” Dunham says.

Wight Boggs, wife of Thomas Boggs and the MRA’s executive director, takes a different approach to the question “Where do we stand?”

“Besides industry advocacy, our dining and buyer’s guide, and the networking opportunities, the MRA is involved in a lot of community projects — the Food Bank, MIFA’s Feed the Need Week, Youth Village’s Soup Sunday, Zoo Rendezvous, to name just a few,” Wight Boggs says. “This is a great way — especially for people in the restaurant and food industry who tend to be very busy — to be involved in the community and to give back,” she explains.

One of the criticisms the MRA faces frequently is its image as a good-old-boys club. Wight Boggs knows it’s an impression that’s hard to shake because the association still gets linked to such figures as Vergos, Anderton, and even her husband Thomas. However, she also knows that change can only happen if the next generation gets involved.

“Like many members, when I first joined the MRA I didn’t go to the meetings and I wasn’t very involved until Thomas Boggs stopped by one day and gave me the speech,” Dunham recalls.

“The speech” is something that Boggs himself had to listen to, when “Big Charlie Vergos” ordered him to the Rendezvous and “wore him out.”

Vergos, a firm believer in giving back to the community, had a laundry list of complaints about the “young generation of restaurateurs,” which counted Boggs. He made his point with Boggs, and Boggs made the same point with Dunham. And now Dunham is making that same point with the next generation of Memphis restaurateurs.

www.memphisrestaurants.com

siba@gmx.com

Tags Memphis Restaurant Association, MRA