The new director of the local Workforce Investment Network program wants to take the employment-training program a step further by broadening its impact and continuing to work closely with employers.

2. Events - Saturday, March 30, 2013

Tennessee Shakespeare Co. will present “Hamlet” Wednesday, April 3, through Sunday, April 14, at the Dixon Gallery and Gardens Winegardner Auditorium, 4339 Park Ave. Visit tnshakespeare.org for times and tickets.

3. Phipps Named Vice President, COO at American Esoteric Laboratories - Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Dr. Amber R. Phipps has joined American Esoteric Laboratories, the Mid-South division of Sonic Healthcare USA, as vice president and chief operations officer. In her new role, Phipps will oversee all operations for AEL, which includes nine laboratories and more than 800 employees in six states. A captain in the U.S. Army Reserves, Phipps most recently served as a medical operations officer stationed at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

4. Coffee, Beer Bar Coming Downtown - Friday, March 22, 2013

Downtown residents and visitors will soon be able to grab a cup of joe, locally brewed beer and a fresh sandwich or salad in one convenient spot.

Taylor Berger, partner in YoLo Frozen Yogurt & Gelato, and partners Mitch Buckner (of Bella Café in Pink Palace) and Daniel Flanagan (of Chiwawa, the newly opened Southern-inspired eatery near Overton Square) have signed a lease for 2,755 square feet of retail space in the ground floor of Van Vleet Flats, 122 Gayoso Ave.

5. Coffee, Beer Bar Slated for Downtown - Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Downtown residents soon will be able to grab a cup of Joe, locally brewed beer and a fresh sandwich or salad in one fell swoop.

Taylor Berger, partner in YoLo Frozen Yogurt & Gelato, along with partners Mitch Buckner (of Bella Café in Pink Palace) and Daniel Flanagan (of Chiwawa, the newly opened Southern-inspired eatery near Overton Square), have signed a lease for 2,755 square feet of retail space in the ground floor of Van Vleet Flats, 122 Gayoso Ave.

6. South Main’s New Life - Saturday, March 02, 2013

The history of the South Main Historic Arts District is as colorful as its present-day users, an alternating rhythm of sorts in Memphis’ songbook.

The area has oscillated from its ritzy suburban roots of the 1800s to the industrial era ghost town of the 20th century and now to its current status as Downtown’s flourishing arts and boutique district and the subject of some $100 million in investment. And it’s all due to stakeholders who braved the status quo in distinguishing the southern end of the Central Business District as that funky place with an indescribable vibe.

7. Maximizing Madison - Thursday, February 21, 2013

The Downtown strip of Madison Avenue from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law to Fielder Square Apartments in its prime was the city’s financial hub.

It’s seen some successes in recent times – new businesses opening, building renovations and the removal of the makeshift wall at Main and Second streets that interrupted traffic for two years.

8. Brothers to Open Brewery on Broad - Tuesday, February 19, 2013

A new craft brewery is coming to one of Memphis’ up-and-coming areas – the Broad Avenue Historic District.

Wiseacre Brewing Co., a concept from brothers Kellan Bartosch and Davin Bartosch, has leased 13,000 square feet at 2783 Broad Ave. and is planning to open by late 2013. They chose the old warehouse for its “big open space” and the Binghampton neighborhood for its community appeal.

9. Expanding Distribution - Thursday, February 07, 2013

Budweiser of Memphis is dedicated to expanding the craft beer segment in Memphis following its acquisition of Southwestern Distributing’s sizable craft beer portfolio last October, making Budweiser of Memphis the largest wholesaler of craft beer in the Memphis market.

10. Chism Hardy Moves Deeper Into Logistics - Monday, January 28, 2013

The certified public accountant who bought the old Coors Belle brewery in Hickory Hill seven years ago and turned it into Hardy Bottling Co. has taken the supply chain lessons from the business into the logistics industry.

11. High Cotton Brewing Kicks Off Renovations - Saturday, January 05, 2013

Plans are moving forward for High Cotton Brewing Co. LLC’s facility in Memphis’ Edge District.

12. High Cotton Brewing Kicks Off Renovations - Friday, January 04, 2013

Plans are moving forward for High Cotton Brewing Co. LLC’s facility in Memphis’ Edge District.

13. Restaurants See Plenty of Activity in 2012 - Thursday, January 03, 2013

There were new restaurant openings, expansions and major milestones celebrated.

Alliances were formed, events were debuted and, of course, a few joints were shuttered.

In most respects, 2012 was a banner year for the Memphis food scene, and 2013 could be even more promising, said Patrick Reilly, owner of Majestic Grille and president of the Memphis Restaurant Association.

14. New Brewery on Tap for Cooper-Young - Friday, December 21, 2012

A new brewery is headed to Cooper-Young. 

Memphis native and craft beer enthusiast Drew Barton plans to open Memphis Made Brewing Co. LLC at 768 S. Cooper St. near York Avenue along with two other silent partners by mid 2013. The 6,000-square-foot space is adjacent to Signworks and owned by Richard Sullivan.

15. New Brewery on Tap for Cooper-Young - Thursday, December 20, 2012

A new brewery is headed to Cooper-Young.

Memphis native and craft beer enthusiast Drew Barton plans to open Memphis Made Brewing Co. LLC at 768 S. Cooper St. near York Avenue along with two other silent partners by mid-2013. The 6,000-square-foot space is adjacent to Signworks and owned by Richard Sullivan.

16. Training Day - Monday, November 19, 2012

The pursuit of economic development comes with code names, secrecy and mysterious visitors.

Without a doubt, the last two years have been eventful when it comes to the city’s civic leaders luring companies to town with the promise of jobs for Memphians. In that regard, the local debate about tax incentives and the competition with other cities, some nearby, was vigorous.

17. Boscos Teams With Cyclists To Battle Multiple Sclerosis - Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Boscos Brewing Co. is preparing to launch a limited-edition ale whose sales will support the Mid-South Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

18. Shipyard, Mike’s Hard Lemonade Added to Local Brewing Scene - Wednesday, August 01, 2012

Blues City Brewery is now producing two malt beverages for well-known national brand names – Shipyard and Mike’s Hard Lemonade.

The brewery at 5151 E. Raines Road, owned by City Brewing Co. LLC, makes and bottles numerous brand name beverages – alcoholic and non-alcoholic – but doesn’t disclose those names.

19. Biz License Filings Rise in Q2 - Tuesday, July 24, 2012

The number of business licenses filed with the Shelby County Clerk’s office increased 2.7 percent to 1,397 in the second quarter of 2012 from 1,360 for the same period last year, according to The Daily News Online, www.memphisdailynews.com.

20. Loeb Makes Progress on Square Plan - Tuesday, May 15, 2012

The blue banner that hung until recently at the curved building at Cooper Street and Madison Avenue and read “Returning in 2012” will soon ring true for Overton Square and its developer, Loeb Properties Inc.

21. Craft Brewery on Tap for Edge District - Wednesday, April 25, 2012

A new microbrewery has its sights set on Memphis’ Edge District for a September opening.

High Cotton Brewing Co. – which its partners say will be housed in a Monroe Avenue property, though a contract has yet to be finalized – will join Boscos and Ghost River Brewing in bringing locally crafted beers to the Memphis market.

22. Craft Brewery on Tap for Edge District - Tuesday, April 24, 2012

A new microbrewery has its sights set on Memphis’ Edge District for a September opening.

High Cotton Brewing Co. – which its partners say will be housed in a Monroe Avenue property, though a contract has yet to be finalized – will join Boscos and Ghost River Brewing in bringing locally crafted beers to the Memphis market.

23. Biz Owners Find Value In Giving Back - Monday, January 30, 2012

There’s a growing breed of innovative for-profit entrepreneur that views positive social change as the foundation of business.

Rather than garnering donations or applying for grants as a nonprofit entity, social enterprise entrepreneurs are generating revenue and reinvesting profits in the community by providing services or manufacturing products.

24. That's a Wrap - Monday, January 02, 2012

If the grand sweep of 2011 could be captured on celluloid and presented to an audience on the big screen, all the components of a great film would be readily apparent.

There was drama, in the form of a deluge and historic flooding that led the Mississippi River to crest at nearly 48 feet early in the year. One of the year’s big surprises saw President Barack Obama give the commencement address for the Booker T. Washington High School class of 2011 at the Memphis Cook Convention Center.

25. Message of Hope - Thursday, December 15, 2011

Bruce Hopkins, First Tennessee Bank’s president of banking for West Tennessee, couldn’t attend last year’s Greater Memphis Chamber annual chairman’s luncheon.

26. Chamber Luncheon Highlights City’s ‘Medical Miracles’ - Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Bruce Hopkins, First Tennessee Bank’s president of banking for West Tennessee, couldn’t attend last year’s Greater Memphis Chamber annual chairman’s luncheon.

27. Pulling the Strings - Monday, December 12, 2011

Long before the first widgets roll off the assembly line, way back before the ribbon cutting and the first shovels break ground, and even before executives quietly slip in to scout out a prospective piece of land, someone like Mark Sweeney gets a phone call.

28. Events - Tuesday, December 06, 2011

The Memphis Rotary Club will meet Tuesday, Dec. 6, at noon at the University Club of Memphis, 1346 Central Ave. Bill Gibbons, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security, will speak. Cost is $18 per person. For reservations, email Taylor Hughes at taylor@memphisrotary.org.

29. Events - Monday, December 05, 2011

Kyle Durrie will bring her Moveable Type Truck to Memphis for a print workshop and presentation with Crosstown Arts Monday, Dec. 5, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the parking lot of the Sears Crosstown building, at Cleveland Avenue and North Watkins Street. Visitors can tour the truck and print their own letterpress art to take away. For more information, visit www.powerandlightpress.com or www.type-truck.com.

30. Successful Year - Tuesday, November 08, 2011

The Greater Memphis Chamber’s annual chairman’s luncheon next month is expected to draw more than 1,000 business leaders and elected officials to a celebration of the economic and cultural health of the city.

31. Region’s Best Beer on Tap at Festival - Monday, October 10, 2011

The Cooper-Young Festival, annually attended by 100,000 Memphians, has already passed, but the eclectic Midtown neighborhood hasn’t finished partying yet.

The second annual Cooper-Young Regional Beerfest, set for Saturday, Oct. 15, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. will cater to a more intimate crowd.

32. MIFA to Raise Funds, Feed Soul at Party - Monday, October 03, 2011

Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association (MIFA) is gearing up to rock the South Main Historic Arts District while raising money to support its programs during the nonprofit’s fourth annual Feed the Soul party Thursday, Oct. 6, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at The Warehouse, 36 E. G.E. Patterson Ave.

33. Events - Thursday, August 18, 2011

The Downtown Memphis Commission will hold a public-sector focus group meeting as part of the Downtown Memphis Design Guidelines and Sign Code update Thursday, Aug.18, at noon in the DMC conference room, 114 N. Main St. For more information, call 575-0540.

34. Living on the Edge - Thursday, August 18, 2011

In 2008, something was brewing in the area near Cleveland and Watkins streets south of Poplar Avenue in Midtown.

A developer, Tom Marsh, working with Florida-based WSG Development, had unveiled plans for a mixed-use development to include small and large retail, including a Target store, condominiums, apartments and medical offices, along with all-around improvements to the neighborhood known as Crosstown.

35. Events - Wednesday, August 17, 2011

The Center City Development Corp. board of directors will meet Wednesday, Aug. 17, at 9 a.m. in the DMC conference room, 114 N. Main St.

36. Events - Tuesday, August 16, 2011

The Memphis Rotary Club will meet Tuesday, Aug. 16, at noon at the University Club of Memphis, 1346 Central Ave. Kevin Kane, president and CEO of the Memphis Convention and Visitors Bureau, will speak. Cost is $18 per person. Advanced reservations are required. For reservations, email Taylor Hughes at taylor@memphisrotary.org.

37. Chamber Fires Up 2011 Membership Drive - Thursday, August 11, 2011

The Greater Memphis Chamber could not exist without the support of its members. That is why every year the nonprofit economic development organization holds a membership campaign with the aid of its current investors to encourage new membership and spark growth.

38. Mayoral Showdown Pits Wharton, Harvey - Tuesday, July 26, 2011

They filed for the Oct. 6 city elections one day apart. They served together in Shelby County government. Their campaigns are using different versions of the same basic computer software for targeting voters.

39. Hardy’s Perseverance Runs in The Family - Monday, July 25, 2011

Carolyn Chism Hardy initially thought owning her own business would be as a business consultant. She was a certified public accountant with a comfortable position and a specialty in cost efficiency at the Memphis Coors brewery in 2006 when Molson-Coors Brewing Co. put the Memphis plant up for sale.

40. Bloomberg Grant Highlights Big City Challenges - Monday, July 18, 2011

When the nonprofit foundation of New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg went looking for cities to award grants for innovation, foundation leaders didn’t just give out an address and wait for applications.

41. Beer Pairing Events Brewing in Memphis - Friday, July 08, 2011

Local chefs and restaurateurs are hoping to show more people that beer pairs up just as well, and in many cases better, with fine food as wine has traditionally been known for in the past.

Steve Barzizza, sales manager at Southwestern Distributing Co., has helped to arrange many of the beer pairing nights at various restaurants around town.

42. Biggs Erases Stumbling Blocks for Companies - Thursday, June 30, 2011

Before Lodie Biggs ever stepped foot into law school, he was coached on business ethics from his Depression-era grandfather.

Growing up in Millington with a dad who worked long hours, Biggs would spend the majority of his Saturdays learning about capitalism, the stock market and entrepreneurship.

43. Events - Friday, June 24, 2011

The Small Business Chamber Breakfast Club will meet Friday, June 24, from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. at Office Suites Plus, 6000 Poplar Ave., suite 250. Cost is free to members and first-time guests and $10 for returning guests. For more information, call Melody Douglas at 261-5400.

44. Events - Thursday, June 23, 2011

Methodist North Hospital will host a free seminar on congestive heart failure Thursday, June 23, from 11 a.m. to1 p.m. at the hospital, 3950 Covington Pike, suite 250. Dr. Claro Diaz, cardiologist with Sutherland Cardiology Clinic, will speak. The event is free and open to the public. To register, call 888-777-5959.

45. $800K Grant to Help Public Housing Residents - Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Nearly $800,000 in federal funding is on its way to the city of Memphis to prepare public housing residents for life outside the vanishing developments.

And Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr. hinted this week that much more in U.S. Housing and Urban Development funding is on the way shortly for other parts of the ongoing move in the city away from public housing.

46. Ghost River Brewing Holds Kayak Contest - Thursday, June 09, 2011

Ghost River Brewing Co. is promoting a regional contest to win a new Pungo 100 Kayak from Outdoors Inc. The contest runs until Aug. 14.

47. Brewing Loyalty - Wednesday, June 08, 2011

Many consumers of craft beer may not be fully aware of the operation involved behind each glass.

Local craft breweries, like Memphis-based Ghost River Brewing Co., move beer out the door as fast as they can make it. That’s because small breweries have a set amount of alcohol they can brew, said company principal Chuck Skypeck.

48. State Senate Passes High-Alcohol Beer Bill - Tuesday, May 24, 2011

The state Senate passed a bill Friday that allows the sale of locally made high-alcohol-content beer.

Tennessee law currently makes no distinction between high-alcohol beer and liquors or wines. SB 1224 expands the definition of “alcoholic beverage” to include high-alcohol-content beer, which is defined as “an alcoholic beverage which is beer, ale or other malt beverage having an alcoholic content of more than 5 percent by weight and not more than 20 percent by weight, except wine.”

49. Senate Approves High-Alcohol Beer Bill - Monday, May 23, 2011

The state Senate passed a bill Friday that allows the sale of locally-made high alcohol content beer.

SB1224 authorizes a licensed wholesaler – holding a basic permit under the Federal Alcohol Administration Act as an importer – to import alcoholic beverages and wine under certain enumerated circumstances. It also requires non-resident sellers to obtain an importer or broker permit.

50. Blues City Brewery Buys Hardy Bottling - Tuesday, May 17, 2011

5151 E. Raines Road
Memphis, TN 38118
Sale Amount: $10 million

Sale Date: May 2, 2011
Buyer: Blues City Brewery LLC
Seller: Chism Hardy Enterprises LLC

51. Hardy Bottling Plant Sells for $10 Million - Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Blues City Brewery LLC, an affiliate of La Crosse, Wis.-based City Brewing Co., has bought the former Hardy Bottling plant, a 40-year-old Memphis beer brewery at 5151 E. Raines Road, from Chism Hardy Enterprises LLC for $10 million. It is part of a $30 million dollar deal between City Brewing and Chism Hardy Enterprises that will bring beer brewing back to the Memphis plant.

52. Plant Follows Blueprint for Project Success - Tuesday, May 10, 2011

First come the months and years of deal-making and finger-crossing. After that, the big announcement.

Next up after all that hard work in the world of economic development is something now evident throughout Memphis: forward momentum on several big projects that promise to bring hundreds of jobs, a boost to the manufacturing base and a jolt to the local economy.

53. City Brewing Acquires Former Coors Brewery - Wednesday, May 04, 2011

City Brewing Co. of La Crosse, Wis., has completed its $30 million acquisition of a former Coors brewery in Memphis.

54. Cheffies Cafe to Host Grand Opening Saturday - Friday, April 22, 2011

Cheffie’s Cafe is holding its grand opening Saturday, featuring Jeremy Shrader’s jazz duo and Memphis-based bluegrass string band 2 Mule Plow.

55. Batter Up - Monday, April 04, 2011

Opening Day is right around the corner for the Memphis Redbirds, who will open the 2011 campaign with improvements to both its ballpark and its financial outlook.

The Redbirds, the minor league Triple-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals, on Thursday begin their 14th season in Memphis and 12th at AutoZone Park following the move from Tim McCarver Stadium in 2000.

56. Brewery Traveled Long, Winding Road - Friday, April 01, 2011

Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr. made it clear this week that his latest economic development announcement wasn’t like the others he’s made in the last four months.

The move of City Brewing Co. into the Hardy Bottling Co. in Hickory Hill starting this summer isn’t a company starting from the ground up in Memphis or an existing company expanding in Memphis.

57. Road to Blues City Brewery Rough - Thursday, March 31, 2011

The plan by City Brewing Co. of La Crosse, Wis., to buy the 40-year-old Memphis beer brewery that is now Hardy Bottling Co. didn’t begin this year.

58. IDB Approves Blues City Brewery PILOT - Thursday, March 31, 2011

The Memphis-Shelby County Industrial Development Board on Wednesday approved a 15-year payment-in-lieu-of-taxes program for City Brewing Co. LLC, the La Crosse, Wis., brewer that will buy the Hardy Bottling Co. plant in Hickory Hill.

59. Buyer Set To Acquire Hardy Bottling Plant - Wednesday, March 30, 2011

City Brewing Co. LLC, which has production facilities in La Crosse, Wis., and Latrobe, Pa., is planning to buy the assets of Hardy Bottling Co. in Memphis for $30 million and to invest additional money in the facility over the next five years.

60. Buyer Poised to Acquire Plant From Hardy Bottling - Tuesday, March 29, 2011

City Brewing Co. LLC, which has production facilities in La Crosse, Wis., and Latrobe, Pa., is planning to buy the assets of Hardy Bottling Co. in Memphis for $30 million and to invest additional money in the facility over the next five years.

61. Stephen Hegdale Named General Manager at BarDett - Wednesday, February 02, 2011

Stephen Hegdale has been named general manger of BarDett, dba A.S. Barboro, a Memphis-based distributor of Miller and Coors beer with ties to Nashville’s Det Distributing Co.

62. YING-Cha-Ching - Friday, November 05, 2010

Finally, beer worthy of the water.

Whatever you may be feeling in the aftermath of the election, whether you were throwing the mud or covered in it, for the charter or against it, lied to or preached to, there is one thing every voter can do today … black or white, left or right … that will help the whole community.

63. Ghost River Brewing Releases New Beer - Tuesday, November 02, 2010

Memphis’ own Ghost River Brewing has announced a change in its lineup of “all-year” beers with the release of the new CopperHead Red. It is available on draft at select area bars and restaurants and can be purchased in kegs or growlers direct from the brewery at 827 S. Main St.

64. Yuengling Eyes Memphis for Expansion - Friday, October 15, 2010

A major U.S. brewer is on the verge of making Memphis a key production and distribution center for its increasingly popular line of beers.

The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday that D.G. Yuengling & Son Inc., the Pottsville, Pa.-based brewer of Yuengling beer, has signed a letter of intent to buy the Hardy Bottling Co. at 5151 E. Raines Road.

65. Ignite Night to Highlight Memphis’ Creative Side - Tuesday, October 12, 2010

A self-described “geek” event that’s already swept cities from Helsinki to New York to Sydney makes its Memphis debut at 7 Tuesday evening at Playhouse on the Square.

IgniteMemphis invites pre-registered speakers to sell their idea to a hometown crowd in exactly five minutes. Each speaker is given 20 slides, each shown for just 15 seconds.

66. Pinnacle Deal Provides Blueprint for Memphis - Monday, October 11, 2010

News that Pinnacle Airlines Corp. is heading Downtown – and not Olive Branch – is a welcome sign that change is brewing in Memphis.

67. River Revival - Thursday, September 23, 2010

Nature enthusiasts and conservation supporters are getting set for the second annual Wolf River Day exposition Saturday at the Vollintine-Evergreen Greenline, 620 N. Avalon St., in Midtown.

68. Powerful Possibilities - Monday, May 17, 2010

Oct. 29 turned into a day for window staring when the news came.

The top executives of GTx Inc. looked at the bleak gray of an overcast sky from the seventh floor of the Toyota Center, their minds gone blank.

69. Skypeck Elected to Brewers Association Board - Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Chuck Skypeck, founder of Bosco’s Brewing Co. and Ghost River Brewing, has been elected to the board of directors for the Brewers Association, a Boulder, Colo.-based nonprofit trade group dedicated to promoting and protecting America’s small and independent brewers. Skypeck previously served on the board from 2001 to 2006.

70. McFerren Pursues Social Change In Role at Hooks Institute - Friday, March 26, 2010

With a diploma from Yale College, a degree from Harvard Law School and deep roots in the civil rights movement in Fayette County, Daphene McFerren is a mover and shaker.

While in Washington, McFerren practiced law as a trial attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice and was counsel to former Attorney General Janet Reno.

71. Another Kind of Drug War - Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Walgreens’ buyout of 17 local drug stores is the first salvo in a brewing battle for the Memphis market between the nation’s largest retail pharmacy and its closet competitor, CVS.

With the purchase of the prescription files of area Super D and Ike’s drug stores, Walgreens will increase its market share just as CVS is making inroads into Memphis. Walgreens will also lock up two prime locations by obtaining the two Ike’s stores at 2145 Union Ave. and 5040 Park Ave.

72. Realtor Seeks Injunction Against MAAR - Thursday, March 11, 2010

A dispute brewing over a realty firm’s organizational structure kicked up a notch Wednesday when the company filed an injunction against the Memphis Area Association of Realtors.

First National Realty Inc. principal Larry Mayall is trying to prevent his 225 agents from being suspended on Friday from having access to the local Multiple Listing Service (MLS), a multifaceted system through which real estate professionals gather information and broker deals.

73. Realtor Seeks Injunction Against MAAR's Attempt to Block MLS Access - Wednesday, March 10, 2010

A dispute brewing over a realty firm’s organizational structure – and potentially jeopardizing its future – was kicked up a notch Wednesday when the company filed an injunction against the Memphis Area Association of Realtors.

74. Negative Absorption Dings Market - Tuesday, February 23, 2010

The strength of Memphis’ commercial real estate market is its industrial sector, but the city’s bread and butter suffered a rare misstep in 2009, the most recent data show.

Memphis saw negative absorption of 352,797 square feet during the fourth quarter and negative absorption of 913,871 during 2009, according to a year-end report from CB Richard Ellis.

75. Norfolk Woes? - Thursday, February 04, 2010

Norfolk Southern Corp. hasn’t laid down any of the track that will connect its main line to the proposed $112 million intermodal terminal in Rossville, but the company is laying down a foundation to keep the project on target to open in two years.

76. Two New Beer Fests On Tap for Aficionados - Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Anyone looking to try a good ale, stout, lager or porter should raise their pint glasses to a pair of inaugural beer-tasting festivals being introduced in Memphis this spring.

The River City Brewer’s Festival will be held March 13 at Handy Park on Beale Street and the Memphis Brewfest will be held April 24 at AutoZone Park. Both events are fundraisers for charities and will feature hundreds of brews from dozens of brewers.

77. 2009 Foreclosure Activity Drops 11 Percent - Thursday, January 14, 2010

On a comparative basis, Shelby County’s residential foreclosure numbers for 2009 make it seem like the housing bust is solidly in the rearview mirror.

The number of homes banks and lenders snatched away from borrowers and the number of foreclosed homes sold to new owners this year were both down from 2008’s totals. But that’s only the visible tip of the iceberg, and it belies the hulking mass below the surface that could slice open the hull of Shelby County’s real estate vessel if the danger is ignored.

78. Health Crisis Looms as Congress Debates Reform - Tuesday, November 17, 2009
While the nation remains focused on a complete overhaul of the health care system, several cogs within the existing networks need immediate fixes.

The Tennessee AIDS Drug Assistance Program began this month putting people on waiting lists because the program has reached enrollment capacity.

CoverKIDS and CoverTN are about to stop taking new enrollees Nov. 30. Medicare is set to cut reimbursements to doctors by 21 percent next year. And the Regional Medical Center at Memphis plans to close its emergency department in February.

“We got a perfect storm brewing here for people who are marginalized and without resources to become sicker, really sicker,” said Kim Daugherty, the executive director of Friends for Life, a nonprofit organization that assists people living with the HIV virus.

Most of these cutbacks are occurring or likely will happen regardless of what Congress does with health care reform. Even if Congress enacts legislation to expand health care coverage, the timeline for implementation is staggered.

Any impact the legislation will have on The MED is largely unknown, said Gene Holcomb, the chairman of the hospital’s board.

“We have not seen the promised land,” said Holcomb.

Wandering in the desert

The issue with CoverKids and CoverTN is state funding. The federal government matches every dollar Tennessee spends on CoverKids with three dollars, while CoverTN receives no federal support.

No more children can be signed up for CoverKids after Nov. 30. No more working uninsured people can sign up for CoverTN after Dec. 31.

“This is the first time we’ve done this,” said Joe Burchfield, public information officer for Cover Tennessee, a program Gov. Phil Bredesen launched in 2007.

The state has had to make cutbacks since the onslaught of the nation’s prolonged recession.

“What we have now is our current operating budget is about $20 million,” he said. “That will support roughly 23,000 members. We are going to be coming up on 23,000, we believe by the end of year. That has put us in this first-time situation of suspending enrollment for (an) unknown period of time.”

The program is not likely to open back up until the 23,000 number shrinks enough to allow new enrollees, Burchfield said.

Cover Tennessee’s other two programs, CoverRX, which helps with prescription drugs, and AcccessTN, which provides health insurance to people denied in the private market because of pre-existing conditions, can continue enrolling people, he said.

This is also the first time the state-sponsored HIV medication program has had to halt new enrollees.

“Here’s the ugly truth: Somebody will die before the next person gets on,” Daugherty said. “Somebody has got to drop out before somebody gets in.”

Process of elimination

Tennessee joined Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming in putting people seeking HIV medication on a waiting list.

“It is incredibly devastating to a person who might be newly diagnosed with HIV and who has no health insurance or any means of acquiring health insurance or medication to fight this virus to be told that now they cannot have access to medication which will give them a greater quality of life and really prolong their life – even save their life,” Daugherty said.

The situation is a setback to efforts to halt the spread of the virus and will also end up increasing health care costs in the long run, she said. People who can’t get the medicine to suppress the virus will end up in hospitals with illnesses, such as pneumonia, that could have been prevented.

Knowing medicine is not available will discourage uninsured people from being tested, she said, resulting in more people with higher viral loads.

“Memphis and Shelby County are much more highly impacted than other areas of the state because of our rising number of people with HIV in our community,” Daugherty said.

Shelby County accounts for nearly 40 percent of the 14,000-plus HIV/AIDS cases statewide, according to reports.

Broke – needs fixing

Daugherty said she’s very worried about the possibility of The MED shutting its doors. The board for the county-owned hospital, which treats a disproportionate share of the uninsured, recently voted to shut down its emergency room Feb. 1 unless it can come up with $32 million in additional operating funding.

The move is intended to improve the patient-payer mix because the ER is a gateway for uninsured patients.

“The MED bears the brunt in our community of people who don’t have access to health care,” she said.

Holcomb said The MED needs funding to build a new, more efficient hospital. The funding needs to keep operating are more immediate, he said.

“We have not yet seen anything that we think is going to alleviate our financial concerns,” Holcomb said. “Some of the programs may abate some of the no-pay type patients, but at the same time may provide for under-reimbursement, less-than-cost reimbursement as we get from TennCare and other programs now.”

The MED is also closely watching the state.

“To the state financing, which is more imminent, again we continue to be inundated through various associations and the governor’s office and so on with discouraging news about state finances and the thing that may have to happen, particularly after July 1,” Holcomb said. “All of those things are not favorable. There are none that are favorable to The MED.

Clearly, as people’s benefits erode or as people are being removed from the rolls of TennCare or other programs, they find their way to us eventually. As reimbursements erode, that has a direct and immediate effect on us.”

The elderly and the disabled could have a tougher time finding health care providers if Medicare slashes payments to physicians. Congress may address the “doc fix” in health care reform legislation. However, if no legislation passes to stop the 21 percent cut, more physicians are likely to stop accepting new Medicare patients.

79. A River Runs Through Us: Memphis’ once and future connection with the Wolf - Monday, September 07, 2009

A cottonmouth slithers through the marsh. A wolf spider clings to a cypress tree. A white heron soars above the bottomland forest.

Paddle a canoe down the Ghost River section of the Wolf River in Fayette County and you’ll travel through multiple, distinct ecosystems teeming with wildlife. But while animal sightings convey the true spirit of the Wolf, only one creature – the elusive “river rat” – can verbalize why this river and its wetland corridor are so important.

80. Drink a Beer To Save the Wolf River - Tuesday, September 01, 2009

Ghost River Brewing, a local brewer of handcrafted beer, has announced a fundraising initiative to benefit the Wolf River Conservancy, a Memphis-based nonprofit land trust that protects and promotes the Wolf River corridor and its watershed.

81. Big Demand Drives Ghost River Brewing To Expand - Friday, June 26, 2009

Less than a year after handcrafting its first batch of beer, Memphis-based Ghost River Brewing is expanding.

The company today takes delivery of a new 900-gallon fermenter, increasing the company’s brewing capacity 33 percent from 2,500 kegs per year to more than 3,300, said Ghost River co-owner Chuck Skypeck.

82. Brewery Donates To Wolf River Conservancy - Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Ghost River Brewing has donated a portion of its proceeds to the Wolf River Conservancy, a nonprofit that works to protect the Wolf River and its ecosystem. The amount of the donation wasn’t immediately available.

83. Ghost River Brewing To Offer Tours - Monday, December 01, 2008

Ghost River Brewing will begin hosting tours every Saturday at 1 p.m. starting Sunday at its Downtown brewery, 827 S. Main St.

84. Ghost River Enters Microbrew World - Thursday, August 07, 2008

The roots of Chuck Skypeck’s passion for handcrafted beer dates back to the late 1980s, when he began brewing at home and sharing his libations with a handful of other homebrewers at gatherings around town.

85. Ruling Expected In Police Association Injunction Request - Monday, March 10, 2008

The Herenton administration and the Memphis Police Association already are in court and contract negotiations between the two are just getting started.

U.S. District Court Judge Hardy Mays soon could issue a ruling on a request by the union for an injunction permitting its president, Lt. Gene Hulley, to take part in the bargaining. Mays heard Thursday from both sides in the federal lawsuit.

86. Housing Fallout Continues - Monday, February 18, 2008

New data show 2007 was the worst year for new housing permits and home closings in Shelby County since the early 1980s, adding to the well-documented housing woes that stemmed from last year's subprime fallout and credit crunch.

87. Naked Lion Owner Hopes to Go National - Thursday, January 03, 2008

When Molson Coors Brewing Co. decided to close its Memphis facility in 2006, some employees were left to make life-altering decisions.

For former Coors international brewmaster Tony Vieira, the decision was whether to pick up his family and move to another city or remain in Memphis.

88. Would-Be Brewery Developers Hit Eject Yet Again - Monday, November 26, 2007

The Tennessee Brewery is one of the most prominent "big empties" in Downtown Memphis, and it's going to stay that way for at least the near future.

Following another unsuccessful attempt by an anonymous group to buy and refurbish the long-vacant landmark, the broker who's been negotiating to sell the property said it's now going to be taken off the market indefinitely.

89. New Festival To Replace, Build On Arts in the Park - Friday, October 19, 2007

Mid-Southerners next week will have the opportunity to take part in the first RiverArtsFest, an event put together by some of the former organizers of the now-defunct Arts in the Park annual event.

90. Tennessee Brewery Deal Could be Close - Monday, October 01, 2007

The acquisition of one of Downtown Memphis' most iconic structures, the long-vacant Tennessee Brewery, tentatively is scheduled to close on Oct. 15.

As The Daily News first reported in August, James Rasberry has been at the negotiating table for several weeks with a new group that wants to buy and refurbish the landmark, at 495 Tennessee St. Rasberry, who represents the owner of the brewery property, said the group already has put a significant amount of money into the deal.

91. Coors Brewing Disputes Tax Assessments - Monday, September 17, 2007

Commenting on the sale of Coors Brewing Co.'s Memphis plant to an employee-led group of investors in 2006, company president and CEO Leo Kiely reportedly called the transaction the most important milestone in a companywide cost-savings effort.

92. Liquor License FiledFor Former Raiford's Site - Friday, September 07, 2007
     Something new appears to be brewing at the site where the memorable Downtown landmark Raiford's Hollywood Disco closed in May after more than three decades in operation.
     An application f

93. Lumber Company Owner Reflects on a Lifetime In the Business, Still Going Strong at 72 - Monday, August 20, 2007

George Buzard admits he wasn't much of a student when he attended the University of Memphis, where he never got the chance to declare a major.

He left college shortly after starting and went on to do something very few children do these days: He followed in his father's footsteps. Buzard's father was working at North Memphis Lumber Co. when his son joined, unloading box cars.

94. Going Green at The Daily News - Monday, May 21, 2007

Change is brewing at The Daily News.

No, the 121-year-old publishing company isn't altering the way it delivers business news and public records, but the paper is striving to become a more responsible corporate citizen by lessening its environmental footprint.

95. Events - Monday, January 08, 2007

The Memphis chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) holds a membership breakfast meeting Tuesday from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. at Holiday Inn-University of Memphis, 3700 Central Ave. Carolyn Hardy, president and CEO of Chism Hardy Enterprises LLC, is the guest speaker. She will discuss her career successes as the first black vice president for the Memphis Coors Brewing Co. and the future of her newly formed corporation. Cost is $15 for members and $20 for non-members. Call 844-3738 or visit www.nawbomemphis.org for reservations.

96. Events - Friday, January 05, 2007

The Memphis chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) holds a membership breakfast meeting Tuesday from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. at Holiday Inn-University of Memphis, 3700 Central Ave. Carolyn Hardy, president and CEO of Chism Hardy Enterprises LLC, is the guest speaker. She will discuss her career successes as the first black vice president for the Memphis Coors Brewing Co. and the future of her newly formed corporation. Admission is $15 for members and $20 for non-members. Call 844-3738 or visit www.nawbomemphis.org for reservations.

97. Events - Thursday, January 04, 2007

The Memphis chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) holds a membership breakfast meeting Tuesday from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. at Holiday Inn-University of Memphis, 3700 Central Ave. Carolyn Hardy, president and CEO of Chism Hardy Enterprises LLC, is the guest speaker. She will discuss her career successes as the first black vice president for the Memphis Coors Brewing Co. and the future of her newly formed corporation. Admission is $15 for members and $20 for non-members. Call 844-3738 or visit www.nawbomemphis.org for reservations.

98. Events - Tuesday, January 02, 2007

The Juvenile Court ad hoc committee meets Wednesday at 9 a.m. in the fourth floor conference room of the Shelby County Administration Building, 160 N. Main St. Call 545-4301 for more information.

99. Events - Wednesday, December 27, 2006

The Memphis Symphony Orchestra (MSO) and soprano Joanna Mongiardo present a romantic waltz Sunday at 8 p.m. at the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts, 255 N. Main St. Ballroom dancers from the Gallery Ballroom will demonstrate the waltz before the concert and join guests afterward to show them how to waltz. The musical program was designed with the Old World romance of New Year's in mind. The work of composers Johann Strauss, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Gioacchino Antonio Rossini will be featured. Tickets cost $60. Call the MSO box office at 537-2525 or visit the office at 585 S. Mendenhall Rd. for tickets.

100. Events - Wednesday, December 20, 2006

The Center City Development board of directors meets Thursday at noon in the CCC conference room, 114 N. Main St. Call 575-0540 for details.

The Peabody Hotel hosts a Christmas Day Brunch Monday from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom, 149 Union Ave. Admission is $39.95 for adults and $15.95 for children. Call 529-3668 for reservations.