Tag: We Saw You

WE SAW YOU: Memphis Tattoo Festival

Post author By Michael Donahue
Post date April 16, 2025

Cameron Carroll traveled from the north Seattle area to Memphis for the Memphis Tattoo Festival, held April 4th, 5th, and 6th at the Renasant Convention Center.

It was his second year attending the festival, Carroll says. College Station, Texas, tattoo artist David Hershman worked on one side of his leg last year, and his other leg this year. Carroll says he “had to come back. [Hershman] invited me out here, and I flew out from Washington.”

**Jen Archer, James Archer, and**
**Jacques Van Wyk**

Asked what he likes about the festival, Carroll, who sports seven tattoos, says, “It’s a blast. Amazing people. It’s always a good time. Just a bunch of laughs. Great people out here. It’s a fun time.”

**Austin Gilbert,** **Breanna Nelson, Christina Robertson, and Travis Robertson**

Quinn Hurley, director of operations for the three-day event presented by Tattoo Fest and the Explore Tattoo Conference, was pleased to be “coming back to a city that really embraced us and embraced us again this year.”

**Madelynne Caldwell and Makayla Weaver**

**Zach Morris, Sarah Lee, Adrian Hood, Leah Chester, and Jenner and Joshua Brook**

“This is an artistic show,” he says. “Everyone that’s here is here because they love some sort of art. A lot of it’s tattooing, but we have our vendors that make art as well. And so we wanted the festival to reflect the love of that.”

Tags Explore Tattoo Conference, Memphis Tattoo Festival, Renasant Convention Center, We Saw You

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WE SAW YOU: Trolley Night

Post author By Michael Donahue
Post date April 9, 2025

Erica Haskett, Will and Bethany Goodman, and Gali Du (Photos: Michael Donahue)

Trolley Night kicked off with a bang. The March 31st event, the first of the season, was “the busiest Friday night we’ve had in years,” says South Main Association president Joe Simon. “Almost every shop and restaurant and bar was completely crowded. To where there were many stand-up areas, it was so busy.”

Trolley Night is held from 5 p.m. “until” on the last Friday of every month on South Main. People stroll up and down and drop in on establishments, some people buying, some just looking.

The only change this year was moving the starting time up to 5 p.m., Simon says. “Just to get an early start. Happy-hour style.”

**Mike, Nora, Michael, Rami, and Armina McCaffrey**

They were “highly successful” with the time move, he says. “A lot of bars and vendors appreciate that. People getting off early on Friday, it gives them a chance to start the night early.”

Simon adds, “We’re still partnering with DMC [Downtown Memphis Commission] even with the trolleys not running. MATA says they’re going to have them back up and running by late summer.”

Tags South Main Association, Trolley Night, We Saw You

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We Saw You

Post author By Michael Donahue
Post date March 26, 2025

Mark, Mac, Sydney Pulido (Photos: Michael Donahue)

About 1,500 people turned out for this year’s Memphis Irish Society/Cooper-Young St. Patrick’s Day Parade, says Tamara Cook, executive director of the Cooper-Young Business Association.

Green was the preferred wardrobe color of the day.

As usual, the parade was held on March 17th.

**DeAndre Diggs, Alaysia Williams,**
**Main Williams**

“We had a ton of people,” Cook says. Part of the reason was the timing of the parade,
she says. It was held about 4 p.m. “We did it after school was out.”

Memphis Irish Society presented the parade in conjunction with Celtic Crossing. DJ Naylor opened up his Celtic Crossing Irish bar/restaurant for outdoor and indoor celebrating.

**Margot, Victoria, Kelleam, and Max Myers;**

This year’s parade featured 21 entries. As is the custom, the parade included horses, dancers, bagpipers, and Inis Acla School of Irish Dance step dancers.

The parade was family-oriented. “We gear ours toward the family. We wanted kids here, and we got them. And dogs. And I even saw a cat on a leash. Everybody brought everybody, so that was good.”

Tags Cooper-Young Business Association, Memphis Irish Society, St. Patrick's Day Parade, We Saw You

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WE SAW YOU: A Taste of CBHS

Post author By Michael Donahue
Post date March 19, 2025

Mike, Tripp, Michael, and Matthew Garibaldi circle: Thomas Owens and Zach Hamlet (Photos: Michael Donahue)

If you tasted everything at A Taste of CBHS, you ate a complete dinner several times.

An incredible array of Memphis restaurants and businesses participated in the annual event, including some with Christian Brothers High School ties.

**Clark Shifani and**
**David Valentine**

**Dawn Waxler, Charles Hall, and Laura Hall**

The event, which was held March 2nd at CBHS’ field house, listed 35 participants on its program.

Among those attending with school connections were Mike Garibaldi of Garibaldi’s Pizza, Alex Boggs of Huey’s, and Clark Shifani of Old Dominick Distillery. Other purple and gold businesses linked to former CBHS students include Dyer’s Burgers, which is owned by Kendall Robertson, and Hog & Hominy, which is owned by Andrew Ticer and Michael Hudman.

**Ron Kent, Hall Crawford, and Paul Benson**

**Caryn Welsh, Nash Lanigan, and Hannah Goode**

Villa Castrioti was the title sponsor of the event. One of the owners, Joe Clarke, and an investor, Brian Leith, are Brothers Boys.

The event was a sellout, Clarke says.

**Brittany Deaton, Tony Heard, and Grace Poel**

In addition to the cuisine, A Taste of CBHS featured tasteful music by performers, including the Walnut Grove Jazz Band.

Tags A Taste of CBHS, Christian Brothers High School, Villa Castrioti, We Saw You

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Tennessee Equality Project Gumbo Contest

Post author By Michael Donahue
Post date March 5, 2025

Deedee Johnson, Meetesh Patel, Brie Griffith, Cory Redwine, and Marisa Griffith (Photos: Michael Donahue)

Whether they were talking about it or eating it, “gumbo” was on everybody’s lips at the Tennessee Equality Project Gumbo Contest, held February 16th at the Memphis Sports and Events Center.

**Arnold Medal, Savannah Jeffrey, and**
**Kristie Jeffrey**

**Alex Jamerson, Anthony Perez, and Michael Pohlman**

More than 200 people turned out for the event, which featured 11 teams, says Dabney Ring, an event committee member.

It was the project’s 12th gumbo contest, Ring says. “It went well,” she says. “We had a bigger crowd and raised more money than last year. It’s important because the money raised goes for state and local advocacy for the LGBTQ community.”

**Tammy Ackers, Trinita Williams, Khalil Carey, and Crystal Turn**er

And, she says, “Not only do we talk with our state reps and senators, but we also do outreach and education all over the state, including — and probably most importantly — the rural areas that don’t really have a lot of resources. So, we try and provide everything that we can.”

**Sister Squeegee Jubilee of Blue Suede Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence**

As for how much money they raised, Ring says, “We raised above expectations.”

AD and the Vibe played music to eat gumbo by.

Tags LGBTQ Community, Tennessee Equality Project, Tennessee Equality Project Gumbo Contest, We Saw You

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WE SAW YOU: Works of Heart

Post author By Michael Donahue
Post date February 19, 2025

Richard Ross, John and Suzanne Scharff, and Deborah Ross (Photos: Michael Donahue)

Guests were all heart at Works of Heart, the Memphis Child Advocacy Center fundraiser presented by Stern Cardiovascular. The art auction and party was held Saturday, February 8th, at the Memphis Botanic Garden.

**Virginia Stallworth, Richard Wood,**
**James Hay, and Kevin Scott**

“Works of Heart was a record-breaking success,” says Beryl Wight, the center’s communications and grants manager. “We had 122 artists — a record — and raised over $139,000 [also a record].”

**Alexandra Eastburn, George Williford, Donna Williford, and Juston Williford**

This was the third year at the Memphis Botanic Garden, Wight says. Between 300 and 350 people attended the event.

**Sonal Mehr, Sujit Mehr,**
**Swati Chokshi, and Saurin Chokshi**

Now in its 33rd year, Works of Heart’s first beneficiary was the Mental Health Association. After it closed, the Memphis Child Advocacy Center became the beneficiary.

Longtime Works of Heart supporter Murray Riss was at this year’s event with his wife Karen and daughter Shanna. “Murray was part of the planning committee that brought the event to us,” Wight says, adding, “He certainly is a very important contributor, serving as chair and co-chair for many years. And, of course, he still is a contributing artist.”

Tags Memphis Child Advocacy Center, Stern Cardiovascular, We Saw You, Works of Heart

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WE SAW YOU: Healthier Memphis Gala

Post author By Michael Donahue
Post date February 12, 2025

David Krog, Ben Vaughn, and Erling Jensen (Photos by Michael Donahue)

A total of $231,000 was raised at this year’s Healthier Memphis Gala presented by Lifedoc Health.

And $48,000 of that was raised at the live auction.

**Gary and Barb Meloni, Kert and Abbey Kaise**

The event, held January 31st at the old Summit Club space at the top of Clark Tower, provided a tasty way for guests to support Lifedoc Health’s work. Fifteen Memphis chefs provided the fare for guests, many of whom wore Gatsby-like attire — flapper dresses and tuxedos — from that other Twenties decade. “Our Roaring 20th: A Speakeasy Soirée” was the event theme.

**John Adamstown, Tom Hughes, and**
**Jaksen Pounders**

**Kelly English, Fatou and Bala Tounkara**

According to its website, the mission of Lifedoc Health is “to build healthier communities by preventing diabetes through healthcare and research.”

As the invitation reads, “All proceeds will support Lifedoc’s investment in research and policy to transform healthcare for Memphis’s most underserved communities.”

Tags Healthier Memphis Gala, Lifedoc Health, Memphis chefs, We Saw You

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WE SAW YOU: Graceland’s ‘90 For 90 Exhibit’

Post author By Michael Donahue
Post date January 15, 2025

Anthony Pacheco, Sam Barlow, and David Hamilton of Sam Barlow & His True Blue Band (Photos: Michael Donahue)

Elvis fans turned out in chilly weather to pay homage to their King.

Though it was the day after Elvis’ 90th birthday on January 8th, out-of-town fans remained in Memphis and visited the various exhibits, including the new “90 for 90 Exhibit,” which features Elvis clothing and other memorabilia and artifacts.

**Kala Morris, Logan Morris,**
**and Tori Hutson**

**Lauren, Samuel, and**
**Steven Calmas**

The birthday celebration, which ran through January 11th, included a birthday cake, a Proclamation Day Ceremony, live concerts at the Graceland Soundstage, dance parties, special tours, and panel discussions.

**Jessica Herring and**
**William Hill**

A threat of snow, which became a reality January 10th, apparently didn’t deter the loyal fans. The only snow the truly avid fans probably had on their minds was — according to Google — “When the Snow Is on the Roses,” which Elvis sang in a live concert in 1970; “Snowbird,” which he covered in 1970; and “On a Snowy Christmas Night,” which the King recorded in 1971.

Tags 90 For 90 Exhibit, Elvis Presley's Graceland, We Saw You

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WE SAW YOU: Truist Zoo Lights

Post author By Michael Donahue
Post date January 8, 2025

Sophia, Charlotte, and Drake Newman with Hunter, McNeilly, and Miller Cowan (Photos: Michael Donahue)

Memphis Zoo was aglow for the holidays with its annual Truist Zoo Lights.

Attire was heavy coats on chilly nights for visitors who drank hot chocolate and took photos standing in front of festive light displays. They kept their coats on, but removed their shoes to don skates at the ice-skating rink.