Shelby Farms Park is gearing up for the second annual Mempho Music Festival and another chance to showcase the country’s largest urban park to a diverse and wide-reaching audience.
Memphis’ newest music festival is expecting a crowd of 20,000 on Oct. 6 and 7, which is impressive for a park two years out from a $70 million renovation embarked upon in 2010 with a distant vision for such an event.
The master plan for the park was designed not only for people to recreate and relax, but as a place to build community, and a music festival can be a big part of that, said Jen Andrews, executive director of Shelby Farms Park. Andrews has always had a larger vision for the park as a place where the community could come together and take ownership and pride in the best that Memphis has to offer.
Enter another visionary, native Memphian Diego Winegardner, founder of Mempho Fest and CEO of Big River Presents, which is putting on the festival. Winegardner grew up in Memphis and now lives outside of New York City where his day job is in finance and investment management. A couple of years ago on a trip home to Memphis he met some old friends for a bike ride at Shelby Farms Park.
“I was completely blown away,” Winegardner said. “The sun was setting on Hyde Lake, and I had this lightning-bolt moment of how special it would be to bring a world-class music festival to this site.
I thought about Memphis’ place in the annals of American music as the birthplace of blues, soul and R&B and the hip hop scene that we have here.
“If you think about the labels … Sun, Stax, Royal…I was exposed to all of that growing up, and seeing B.B. King on Beale Street was just normal,” he said. “I didn’t appreciate it until I was gone. I started to get really nostalgic about my hometown.”
Winegardner is a music enthusiast who has been to most of the notable music festivals in the U.S. and many around the world. He had the resources and connections to realize his dream. Last year, the first Mempho Fest kicked off with great success with 10,000 in attendance for two days of concerts featuring a variety of bands from different music genres.
“I’ve always been a big fan of (Memphis) and its people and a big defender of the city and its history,” Winegardner said. “This music festival was born out of my passion for music and my passion for the city of Memphis.”
When Winegardner first met with Andrews two years ago to pitch his idea, she caught his vision right away.
He approached it cautiously and wanted to understand how to protect the park and still give people a good experience, she said. “We like working with Diego,” she said. “They care about the park, and like us, have a big, bold vision, and they hired a professional team who knew how to put on a safe and fun event.”
This year’s festival will feature two days of multi-genre music headlined by Grammy Award-winning artist and hip-hop superstar Post Malone as well as Beck, Phoenix, NAS and Janelle Monae. Local talent like Lucero and alternative Mac deMarco also will perform, and there will be a special tribute to Willie Mitchell’s Royal Studios featuring the label’s past and present stars.
Sunday will feature performances by crowd favorites like George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic and Stones Throw, Chuck Laevell’s Rolling Stones’ backer band.
The festival will not only expand in attendance, but will add a larger culinary and craft beer presence in addition to on-site camping and VIP and super-VIP experiences.
“We’re trying to create more than just music on a stage,” said Winegardner, who also created a nonprofit arm called Mempho Matters that will partner with organizations that line-up with the vision of the festival, such as Oceanic Global Foundation, #BringYourSoul, Learn to Rock and the Memphis Area Women’s Council’s “Memphis Says NO MORE” campaign.
As part of Mempho’s partnership with the Oceanic Global Foundation, the festival has a 100 percent waste-free goal, which will start with its no straw policy.
“A best practice environmental policy is important to help make sure the park is as pristine when we leave as when we showed up,” said Winegardner.
The partnership promoting the Memphis Area Women’s Council’s “NO MORE” campaign is to make sure that Mempho Fest’s female attendees feel safe. Winegardner, who has a teenage daughter, knows stories about the lack of safety for females at other events, prompting him to take up the cause.
“In this day and age, you really have to take a stand and make it an institutional part of our way of doing things,” he said.
Money raised through Mempho Matters will also benefit the Memphis community through contributions to musical education in the form of free tickets for students and teachers to attend the festival as well as instruments and money for music education in local schools.
Last year, Mempho Matters gave away 2,000 tickets to students and teachers.
“We want to build bridges into the community and be as inclusive as possible,” Winegardner said. “We want to educate the children and the youth of tomorrow about the history of Memphis musically and create a sense of pride for its citizens while also attracting new people and adding another chapter to Memphis’ long, rich history.”
Andrews is optimistic about the growth of Mempho Fest this year, projecting double the attendance in its second year as well as adding 400 weekend camping permits. Those include primitive camping, RV hookups and glamping.
“The camping option is an important part of festival culture, and one of the great benefits of the park is its tremendous scale, which can accommodate that,” Andrews said.
But the plan is to grow Mempho Fest slowly, she said.
“We learned a lot the first year, and we’re applying the learning to this year’s festival,” she said. “We have a strong plan for safely managing the crowd. We want this to be a world-class festival.”
Big River Productions and Winegardner have an undisclosed agreement with Shelby Farms Park, and both entities hope to continue the relationship.
“I’m hoping that Mempho Fest will become a long-term asset for the city of Memphis,” Winegardner said.
Music remains a big driver of visitors to Memphis — 56 percent of leisure visitors come to the city for something related to music, said Kevin Kane, president and CEO of Memphis Tourism, formerly called the Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau. “We’re supporters of (Mempho Fest),” he said. “We believe in it and want to see it grow. Music festivals have a big impact on the economy. The more events we have based in music the better, and we think it’s great to utilize Shelby Farms in this way.”

2. Last Word: Southgate Signs, Suburban Deadline and Kingsbury Allegations - Thursday, August 16, 2018

Seven months after it closed, the Kroger supermarket at the Southgate shopping center reopened Wednesday as a CashSaver grocery store in what has to be a blueprint for future efforts but is also nonetheless something that is not easily replicated. Showing the way on this has been The Works Inc. at its store at the South Memphis Farmers Market. We wrote about this earlier this year just as the Southgate solution began to take shape.

3. Last Word: MemFix 4's Big Weekend, Early Voting Six Days In and Grizz Moves - Friday, July 20, 2018

A big weekend to avoid the interstate with a rare closing of I-240 between the 385 split and the I-40 split and Poplar over I-240 also closed in both directions. This kicks in Friday evening and runs up to Monday morning’s rush hour as TDOT crews work to replace four bridges in East Memphis using a relatively new process in which parts of the bridges are assembled in advance and then moved into place. The bridges are both Poplar bridges, the Park Avenue bridge and the Norfolk Southern rail bridge. And this will happen all over again in about a week’s time using the same schedule, weather permitting. Weekenders on the interstate already have some experience with a milder version of this with the interstate projects on the south leg

4. Last Word: The Jenkins Ruling, No More City Court Clerk and Harwell's Quest - Tuesday, July 10, 2018

Making your early voting plan for Friday’s debut of the voting period in advance of the Aug. 2 election day? Well, you might want to hold off until after Tuesday morning. That’s when the latest changes could get set in stone … or not.

5. Last Word: River Museum Review, Tigers' Blended Family and Oxford Crackdown - Friday, July 6, 2018

It’s not the Gulf. It’s Lake Pontchartrain that draws the crowds on Mud Island. The Riverwalk replica of the Gulf of Mexico’s neighbor that is. A few adjustments is all it took to return authorized wading to the area at the end of the scale model of the Mississippi River. The river park is changing as it continues to make its way through the annual season from the summer and into the fall.

6. Testing a New Line - Friday, June 22, 2018

Beale Street will be trying out new security measures this month as a task force reviewing the entertainment district continues to work on a better plan for the spring and summer weekend peak nights.

7. Events - Friday, June 22, 2018

Luna Nova Music presents the 12th annual Belvedere Chamber Music Festival through Saturday, June 20-23, at Grace-St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 1720 Peabody Ave. Concerts start at 7:30 each night; Thursday and Friday also feature a 3:30 p.m. concert. Concerts are free and open to the public. Visit belvederefestival.org.

8. The Week Ahead: June 18-24 - Monday, June 18, 2018

Good morning, Memphis! Summer officially arrives Thursday with the solstice (aka the longest day of the year). Celebrate by taking in an evening Redbirds game or outdoor movie – or head indoors for one of nearly a dozen chamber music concerts. Here’s what else you need to know about in The Week Ahead...

9. Events - Saturday, June 16, 2018

The Memphis Juneteenth Urban Music Festival returns Friday through Sunday, June 15-17, in Robert R. Church Park, 345 Beale St. The annual event features live music, vendors, senior activities, kids zone and more. Admission is free. Visit memphisjuneteenth.com.

10. Last Word: Kiwanis Debate, Haslam on the Gov. Race and Street Work - Thursday, June 14, 2018

For the last couple of days there has been this brewing story that Kim Kardashian West was on her way to the city to meet with Alice Marie Johnson, the convicted drug dealer sentenced to life in prison who was pardoned by President Donald Trump last week after serving 21 years in federal prison. And that is just what happened Wednesday – almost. The meeting was in Southaven. And, according to People, it included lessons in how to use Snapchat. The meeting included an interview with the Today show that will air Thursday morning.

11. Events - Saturday, June 9, 2018

Hattiloo Theatre performs “Raisin,” a musical adaptation of Lorraine Hansberry’s “A Raisin in the Sun,” Friday, June 8, through July 1 at 37 S. Cooper St. Visit hattiloo.org for showtimes and tickets.

12. Memphis News, Daily News Win 9 Green Eyeshade Awards - Tuesday, June 5, 2018

The Daily News and the Memphis News placed in nine categories in the Society of Professional Journalists’ annual Green Eyeshade Awards, including five first-place finishes. The regional awards cover an 11-state area.

13. Last Word: St. Jude's Reach Across A Divide, One Beale Numbers and Draft Math - Friday, May 25, 2018

To no one’s surprise the legal skirmish over Confederate monuments is on its way to the Tennessee Court of Appeals. Sons of Confederate Veterans and the Forrest family filed notice Thursday of their appeal of the Davidson County Chancery Court ruling of last week holding that the city of Memphis broke no laws in selling two parks, including the monuments in them, to a private nonprofit which then had the monuments removed.

14. Beale Street Bucks Comeback Recommended as Lawsuit Dismissed - Thursday, May 24, 2018

Almost a year after all cover charges to get in the Beale Street Entertainment District were dropped, the cover charge program known as Beale Street Bucks could be making a comeback.

The suggestion is sure to renew a vocal debate about whether charging a cover after 10 p.m. on Saturdays during the summer is an effective security measure or selective crowd control on the street that gave birth to the blues, where Saturday night crowds are a part of its history. 

15. Last Word: Pete & Sam's and Barbecue, Neutral Turf and Ralph Wiley on Penny - Monday, May 21, 2018

Pete & Sam’s, one of the city’s long running restaurants in a vibrant culinary scene, reopens Monday afternoon on Park Avenue following an extensive renovation following a major fire this past December. There should be lots of curiosity about what change looks like in a restaurant devoted to sticking with the past so much so that at times Pete & Sam’s and its reputation have been debated vocally among foodies. Kind of like the debate that occasionally surfaces over the Rendezvous and its place in our local world of barbecue.

16. Riverside Drive Closures Now Underway - Tuesday, May 1, 2018

Riverside Drive street closures between Union and Georgia avenues have begun in advance of Memphis in May International Festival events happening throughout the month.

The street is partially closed – allowing two-way traffic in the northbound lanes – through Tuesday, May 1, in preparation for the Beale Street Music Festival. The street will be completely closed between Union and Georgia between Wednesday, May 2, and Monday, May 7.

17. Last Word: Reading Early Voting Tea Leaves, Corker Qualifies and New Carrot - Monday, April 23, 2018

This should be the week that the Tennessee Legislature adjourns and state Senators and state Representatives return to their districts to begin campaigning in earnest for the August primaries and the November general election beyond that. The only hold-up to adjournment this week would be any more tremors surrounding education policy, specifically the TNReady test debacle of last week.

18. Events - Saturday, April 21, 2018

Circuit Playhouse will present the regional premiere of “Stupid F#!&ing Bird” Friday, April 20, through May 13 at 51 S. Cooper St. Visit playhouseonthesquare.org for times and tickets.

19. Events - Friday, April 20, 2018

Circuit Playhouse will present the regional premiere of “Stupid F#!&ing Bird” Friday, April 20, through May 13 at 51 S. Cooper St. Visit playhouseonthesquare.org for times and tickets.

20. The Week Ahead: April 16-20 - Monday, April 16, 2018

Good morning, Memphis! It’s time for Africa in April, which in the minds of many Memphians, is the seasonal kick-off for festivals. The annual Southern Hot Wing Festival comes this weekend on Tiger Lane, so get ready for good times to replace that winter weather. Check out what else you need to know about in The Week Ahead...

21. Events - Wednesday, March 21, 2018

The Project Management Institute Memphis Chapter will meet Wednesday, March 21, at 6 p.m. at the Crescent Club, 6075 Poplar Ave., suite 909. Author and life coach Jasmin Nuhic will present “Create your development plan; no one else should.” Reel 2 Reel Photography will be on hand offering optional professional headshots for $20, so arrive early and dress professionally. Register at pmimemphis.org.

22. Events - Tuesday, March 20, 2018

Memphis Brooks Museum of Art hosts its final community engagement session to gather feedback on its Downtown relocation Tuesday, March 20, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Memphis fire headquarters (the site of Brooks’ future home), 65 S. Front St. Museum officials are seeking input as they begin the process of selecting an architect and creating a vision for the new space. Free and open to the public, but RSVPs requested via the Facebook event. See facebook.com/brooksmuseum for details.

23. Olford Ministries Continues to Influence the World - Tuesday, March 20, 2018

The man who reportedly most influenced the Rev. Billy Graham’s ministry left a legacy in Memphis that still impacts people from all over the world.

24. The Week Ahead: March 19-25, 2018 - Monday, March 19, 2018

Good morning, Memphis! Spring fever’s in the air as the equinox officially arrives Tuesday morning. Tell winter to take a hike at the new Heels 4 Healing 5K for St. Jude this weekend, then let the kids dance the blues away at a pair of family ballet events. Here’s what else you should know about in The Week Ahead…

25. Events - Monday, March 19, 2018

The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development brings its apprenticeship listening tour to Memphis Monday, March 19, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in Southwest Tennessee Community College’s Bert Bornblum Library art gallery, 5983 Macon Cove. The goal of the tour is to determine the current state and future of area apprenticeship programs. Visit tn.gov/ecd/apprenticeship-tour.html for details and to RSVP.

26. Events - Saturday, March 17, 2018

Memphis Brooks Museum of Art hosts its final community engagement session to gather feedback on its Downtown relocation Tuesday, March 20, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Memphis fire headquarters (the site of Brooks’ future home), 65 S. Front St. Museum officials are seeking input on several topics as they begin the process of selecting an architect and creating a vision for the new space. Free and open to the public, but RSVPs requested via the Facebook event. See facebook.com/brooksmuseum for details.

27. Events - Friday, March 16, 2018

Circuit Playhouse will present “James and the Giant Peach” Friday, March 16, through April 8 at 51 S. Cooper St. Visit playhouseonthesquare.org for times and tickets.

28. Digest - Tuesday, March 6, 2018

Memphis Grizzlies Suffer 15th Consecutive Loss

The Grizzlies lost their 15th straight game, 119-110 at Chicago, on Wednesday, March 7.

The team has not won since defeating the Phoenix Suns at FedExForum on Jan. 29.

29. Last Word: Plans and More Plans, Badu and Byrne and Gun Bills In Nashville - Thursday, February 22, 2018

Plans, plans, plans. I’ve seen so many overhead views and schematics in the last 24-hours that I had to go for a walk in the rain Wednesday to avoid vertigo. I saw a lot of green Save the Greensward t-shirts Wednesday evening at the Pink Palace that looked like they hadn’t been out of the bottom drawer in a while and even a couple of banners.

30. BSMF Lineup Features Diverse Mix of New and Familiar - Wednesday, February 21, 2018

The Beale Street Music Festival's 2018 lineup is out, and it features a mix of BSMF first-timers and familiar faces for longtime attendees of the three-day music fest in Tom Lee Park.

Headliners for the May 4-6 event include Tyler, the Creator, Jack White, R&B singer-songwriter Erykah Badu, rapper Post Malone, the EDM duo Odesza and Queens of the Stone Age, along with Alanis Morissette and Incubus.

31. Events - Wednesday, February 21, 2018

Fisher Phillips’ Memphis law office will host a breakfast briefing titled “The New I.C.E. Age: Surviving Immigration & Customs Enforcement Investigations” Wednesday, Feb. 21, from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Germantown’s Great Hall and Conference Center, 1900 S. Germantown Road. Attorney David Jones will share tools to ensure your business is doing all it can to comply with immigration laws, minimize the risk of penalties, and be prepared for when ICE comes knocking. Cost is $25. Visit fisherphillips.com or email atasman@fisherphillips.com to register.

32. Events - Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Talk Shoppe will meet Wednesday, Feb. 21, from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Pinot’s Palette, 8225 Dexter Road, suite 103. David Althizer of SOS Systems Inc. will present “Keeping Your Computer Safe in 2018.” Cost is free. Visit talkshoppe.com.

33. Events - Monday, February 19, 2018

Talk Shoppe will meet Wednesday, Feb. 21, from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Pinot’s Palette, 8225 Dexter Road, suite 103. David Althizer of SOS Systems Inc. will present “Keeping Your Computer Safe in 2018.” Cost is free. Visit talkshoppe.com.

34. Events - Saturday, February 17, 2018

Calvary Episcopal Church’s 2018 Lenten Preaching Series and Waffle Shop is open Tuesdays to Fridays through March 27 at Calvary, 102 N. Second St. The Waffle Shop is open from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the preaching series takes place from 12:05 p.m. to 12:40 p.m. The evening series, Lent After Dark, is Wednesdays, with dinner from 5:15 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. and a speaker at 6:30 p.m. Visit calvarymemphis.org/lentenpreaching for the Waffle Shop menu and speaker schedule.

35. Beale Crowd Control Consultant Has Early Ideas - Monday, February 12, 2018

The head of the crowd-control consulting firm hired to study and make recommendations on crowds in the Beale Street Entertainment District already has tentative ideas.

Peter Ashwin of Event Risk Management Solutions of Boise, Idaho, met with the Beale Street Task Force last week to map out the study’s course, with a final report due May 21.

36. Events - Saturday, January 20, 2018

Memphis Animal Services and Memphis Public Libraries will present the Helping Hands + Helping Paws Volunteer & Support Fair Tuesday, Jan. 23, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., in Meeting Room C at the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library, 3030 Poplar Ave. Attendees can speak one-on-one with local animal rescues, shelters, advocacy groups and other nonprofits about opportunities to support local animals. Cost is free. Visit memphislibraries.org.

37. Events - Saturday, December 30, 2017

The Beale Street New Year’s Eve Celebration kicks off Sunday, Dec. 31, at 8:45 p.m. with a concert at Fourth Street and Beale. The B.B. King’s Blues Band featuring pop music icon Tito Jackson will headline the celebration of Memphis music leading up to a midnight fireworks show. Cost is free; visitors must be 21 or older. Visit bealestreet.com for the full concert lineup.

38. Events - Friday, December 29, 2017

The 59th annual AutoZone Liberty Bowl, pitting the University of Memphis vs. Iowa State, kicks off Saturday, Dec. 30, at 11:30 a.m. at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, 335 S. Hollywood St. Join fans from both teams on Beale Street Friday, Dec. 29, for the free Beale Street Parade (3 p.m.) and Bash on Beale Pep Rally (4:30 p.m.). Visit libertybowl.org for details.

39. Beale’s Question Mark - Friday, December 29, 2017

For all of the change in the Memphis landscape announced in 2017 – including the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art’s decision to move to the riverfront and plans for several “gateway” developments around the city – Beale Street was in a holding pattern for most of the year.

40. Events - Thursday, December 28, 2017

The Children’s Museum of Memphis will host New Year’s at Noon Friday, Dec. 29, at CMOM, 2525 Central Ave. Enjoy games and activities from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., highlighted by a balloon drop and goody toss at noon to say goodbye to 2017 and hello to 2018. Everything is included with general admission. Visit cmom.com.

41. Events - Wednesday, December 27, 2017

The 59th annual AutoZone Liberty Bowl, pitting the University of Memphis vs. Iowa State, kicks off Saturday, Dec. 30, at 11:30 a.m. at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, 335 S. Hollywood St. Visit libertybowl.org for details. Bowl Week events include:

42. The Week Ahead: Dec. 25-31, 2017 - Monday, December 25, 2017

Good morning, Memphis, and a very Merry Christmas! Gifts are unwrapped, holiday cheer is spread, and now we start looking forward to the Liberty Bowl – featuring our own University of Memphis Tigers – plus a whole slate of New Year’s Eve events happening around the city. Check out all our top picks for what to do in The Week Ahead...

43. This Week in Memphis History: December 22-28, 2017 - Saturday, December 23, 2017

1929: Memphis Power & Light Co. advertises Christmas gifts in The Daily News, including Christmas tree lamps at $1.25 for a set of eight; washing machines for $99.50 or $185; waffle irons from $8.45; cigar lights “attachable to any socket” at $5 each; and curling irons “for maid or matron” at $1.95 and $3.

44. Council Moves Toward Alcohol on Main Street - Thursday, November 23, 2017

Memphis City Council members delayed a final vote Tuesday, Nov. 21, on an ordinance that sets out options for the removal of statues of Nathan Bedford Forrest and Jefferson Davis in city parks, but moved forward on a proposal to allow open alcohol containers and consumption on Main Street.

45. Memphis Could Say Cheers to Main Street Consumption - Wednesday, November 22, 2017

Memphis could open itself up to a new world of tourism and entertainment if the city council toasts an ordinance amendment.

Residents and visitors alike would be able to carry and consume open plastic containers of alcohol along Main Street from AW Willis Drive to the north to Crump Boulevard to the south under the proposed amendment.

46. Council to Take Final Vote on Confederate Monuments Alternatives - Tuesday, November 21, 2017

Memphis City Council members are scheduled to take a final vote Tuesday, Nov. 21, on an ordinance that sets out options for the removal of Nathan Bedford Forrest and Jefferson Davis statues in city parks, and will discuss amending a city ordinance to allow the consumption of alcoholic beverages on Main Street Downtown.

47. Council Funds Beale Crowd Consultant, Abolishes $5 Cover - Wednesday, November 8, 2017

Memphis City Council members voted Tuesday, Nov. 7, to approve $50,000 in funding for a crowd control consultant for the Beale Street entertainment district and to end the $5 cover charge for entry into the district on spring and summer Saturday nights after 10 p.m.

48. Events - Saturday, October 21, 2017

The Big River Crossing Half Marathon and 5K, benefiting Peer Power Foundation, will be held Saturday, Oct. 21. The half-marathon will be the first to allow participants to cross the Arkansas-Tennessee state line via the Big River Crossing, while the 5K will run a course through Downtown Memphis. Both races with start at Tom Lee Park, with the 5K beginning at 8 a.m. and the half-marathon at 8:30 a.m. Visit runsignup.com/Race/TN/Memphis/BigRiverCrossing for details and registration.

49. The Ties That Bind - Saturday, October 21, 2017

When Big River Crossing was about to open a year ago, Doug Carpenter was asked often where the Tennessee-Arkansas state line is over the Mississippi River.

His marketing firm DCA has overseen publicity for the crossing from concept through construction, so he has learned much about the history of the Harahan Bridge and the mighty river below it. But the stateline wasn't marked

50. Events - Friday, October 20, 2017

The Big River Crossing Half Marathon and 5K, benefiting Peer Power Foundation, will be held Saturday, Oct. 21. The half-marathon will be the first to allow participants to cross the Arkansas-Tennessee state line via the Big River Crossing, while the 5K will run a course through Downtown Memphis. Both races with start at Tom Lee Park, with the 5K beginning at 8 a.m. and the half-marathon at 8:30 a.m. Visit runsignup.com/Race/TN/Memphis/BigRiverCrossing for details and registration.

51. Last Word: The Amazon Offer, Mario Chalmers, The New Symphony Conductor - Wednesday, October 4, 2017

If you want to figure out the rhythm of Downtown there are a couple of time-honored indicators. One of my favorites is the church bells. The bell at Calvary Episcopal Church rang 60 times Tuesday for all of the lives lost in the Las Vegas massacre including that of the shooter. Old tones for new mourning as the seasons change in our city by the river.

52. Beale Street Task Force Outlines Two Cover Charge Options - Wednesday, October 4, 2017

A Beale Street Task Force assembled this summer to consider the future of a spring and summer cover charge Saturday nights after 10 p.m. in the district is recommending the cover charge stay.

The task force, in its last meeting Monday, Oct. 2, also recommended the return of Beale Street Bucks in some form – coupons given to those paying the cover charge that can be redeemed in most Beale businesses Saturdays and Sundays.

53. Last Word: The No Compete, Liberty Bowl Blues and Assessing the ASD - Thursday, September 21, 2017

The calendar says fall but the weather says summer and in Arlington the flags and notices say election day. The polls at the two polling places in Arlington open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday in municipal elections – the only regularly scheduled election of 2017 in Shelby County, which in our politics is frequently regarded as an invitation for departures and vacancies in other office that cause the scheduling of special elections. We’ve already had those earlier this year for a spot on the Lakeland commission and a state House seat.

54. Beale, Bourbon Street Protocols Examined - Wednesday, September 20, 2017

As the Beale Street Task Force moves toward making recommendations to the Memphis City Council on a Saturday night Beale Street cover charge, there isn’t a consensus on the $5 charge.

Task force members who have been to New Orleans and consulted other cities have found very different models for crowd control.

55. Last Word: The Monument Letter, Soulsville Gateway and Gas Tax Hike Regrets - Thursday, September 14, 2017

The Redbirds take Game 1 of the Pacific Coast League Championship series Wednesday evening with a 6-4 win over El Paso at AutoZone Park. Game 2 is noon Thursday at B.B. King and Union.

56. Last Word: The Orange Mound Way, Midtown Apartments and 'I Am A Man' Plaza - Tuesday, August 8, 2017

First day of school redux on Tuesday for students in Memphis Catholic Schools and it is a half-day. The first day of classes in most of the county’s other schools Monday went smoothly. Shelby County Schools reports more than 6,000 students registered on the first day of school despite another concerted effort at numerous events to register students in advance. That’s in a school system of approximately 96,000 students.

57. Last Word: School Days, MLGW Moves Off Beale and Room For Peter Pan To Fly - Monday, August 7, 2017

The K-12 school year begins Monday for most of Shelby County including the state’s largest public school system right here. Some schools have started earlier and some start later. So remember that in your daily travels going forward even if you don’t have school age children.

58. Redbirds Revitalization: Fun at the Old Ballpark and the Winning is Easy - Thursday, July 27, 2017

Bottom of the seventh inning and another night at AutoZone Park is unfolding the way so many have this season. The Memphis Redbirds have a nice lead. Their starting pitcher has been putting up zeros and the team has been banging out timely hits and playing crisp defense.

59. Events - Tuesday, July 18, 2017

Nick Black will perform as part of Stax Museum’s Live in Studio A summer concert series Tuesday, July 18, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at 926 E. McLemore Ave. The concert is free for Shelby County residents (who get free museum admission with ID on Tuesday afternoons), and free with paid admission for out-of-towners. Visit staxmuseum.com.

60. Summer in the City - Saturday, July 15, 2017

Saturday night on Beale Street is more than a catch phrase for businesses there.

It is chapters in old, out-of-print books like Lt. George W. Lee’s “Where The Blues Began” that you can only see in the Memphis-Shelby County Room of the Central Library. You can’t check the book out because of its rarity and age. But you can also find references to the lore of Saturday nights on Beale Street on plaques in the entertainment district that current patrons walk past without even noticing.

61. Bridge Protest Anniversary Draws More Action, Reflection - Tuesday, July 11, 2017

A year after the spontaneous protest march that ended with more than 1,000 people shutting down the Hernando DeSoto Bridge for several hours, the leader of that effort was again moving north along B.B. King Boulevard on Sunday, July 9.

62. Patterson Resignation Comes as Council Examines DMC’s Role - Monday, July 10, 2017

Terence Patterson exited the Downtown Memphis Commission last week as the Memphis City Council is about to discuss replacing or restructuring not only the DMC, but the Riverfront Development Corp.

63. $18.5 Million Permit Filed for Central Station Project - Thursday, June 29, 2017

In this week’s Real Estate Recap, developers pull an $18 million permit for the Central Station overhaul, another new Downtown hotel is in the works and the new Laurelwood bookstore gets a restaurant...

64. Events - Wednesday, June 21, 2017

Talk Shoppe will meet Wednesday, June 21, from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. in NovaCopy’s conference room, 7251 Appling Farms Parkway. Diane Neal of USHealth Advisors will present “Helping Small-Business Owners, Self-Employed and Families Get Affordable Health Coverage.” Cost is free. Visit talkshoppe.com.

65. Events - Tuesday, June 20, 2017

The city of Germantown’s Groovin’ and Grillin’ Concert Series wraps up Tuesday, June 20, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Kiwanis Pavilion at Municipal Park on Exeter Road. Bluff City Soul Collective will perform at 7 p.m. Concert is free; hot dogs and hamburgers available for purchase. Visit germantown-tn.gov.

66. Events - Saturday, June 17, 2017

The 11th annual Belvedere Chamber Music Festival, featuring performers from Luna Nova Ensemble and guest artists from around the country, will be held Wednesday through Saturday, June 21-24, at Grace-St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 1720 Peabody Ave. Concerts start at 7:30 each night; Thursday and Friday also feature a 3 p.m. concert. Visit belvederefestival.org for details.

67. Last Word: Centennial, Hackett Retires -- Sort Of and Baseball Dreams - Monday, May 22, 2017

Monday marks 100 years since a mob took Ell Persons off a train and to the Macon Road Bridge across the Wolf River and burned him alive. It was the lynching that gave birth to the Memphis Branch NAACP one month later. The national NAACP field office investigator who came to Memphis at great personal peril to investigate Person’s death was none other than James Weldon Johnson, the man who also composed “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”

68. Present Day Issues Surface in Centennial of Persons Lynching - Monday, May 22, 2017

The interfaith prayer ceremony Sunday, May 21, marking the centennial of the lynching of Ell Persons included several mentions of the removal of Confederate monuments in the last month in New Orleans.

69. Council Hears Railgarten Dispute in 2 Weeks, Appoints Impasse Panels - Wednesday, May 10, 2017

Memphis City Council members will hold an evidentiary hearing in two weeks to sort out a Midtown restaurant-bar that ran afoul of the approvals needed to open with annexes including intermodal containers and an outdoor area.

70. The Week Ahead: May 1-7 - Monday, May 1, 2017

Happy Monday, Memphis! May has arrived, which means it’s time to kick off the Memphis in May International Festival with the always-popular Beale Street Music Festival – and that’s just one of the events music lovers will enjoy this week. Plus, check out where to celebrate Star Wars fans’ favorite holiday and other happenings you need to know about in The Week Ahead... 

71. Last Word: Two Science Marches, Bill Lee Kicks Off and Andrew Young on Ben Hooks - Monday, April 24, 2017

Rainy Sunday in the city with ponchoed partisans of the Porter-Leath Ragin' Cajun gathering and Africa in April overlapping from the riverfront to Danny Thomas Boulevard. In Germantown, it was a soggy but colorful 5k for the Germantown Municipal School District with shades of blue, orange and of course pink, or was it red?, at different parts of the run.

72. Events - Saturday, April 22, 2017

The 31st annual Africa in April Cultural Awareness Festival will take place Friday through Sunday, April 21-23, in Robert R. Church Park (Fourth and Beale streets). The festival will showcase the Republic of Togo from an international perspective, with music, food, a diverse cultural marketplace and more. Hours are 8 a.m. until late night; admission is $5. Visit the festival’s Facebook page for a complete schedule.

73. Last Word: The Day After, $21.9M More for SCS and First Tennessee Overdrafts - Friday, April 21, 2017

Take That For Data, Indeed. The Grizz crack the century mark over the Spurs 105-94 in a motivated Game 3 of the playoff series before a loud and proud Forum. Game 4 is Saturday on Beale. Meanwhile, Markel Crawford chooses. He will be leaving the Tigers basketball program for Ole Miss.

74. Events - Friday, April 21, 2017

The 31st annual Africa in April Cultural Awareness Festival will take place Friday through Sunday, April 21-23, in Robert R. Church Park (Fourth and Beale streets). The festival will showcase the Republic of Togo from an international perspective, with music, food, a diverse cultural marketplace and more. Hours are 8 a.m. until late night; admission is $5. Visit the festival’s Facebook page for a complete schedule.

75. Events - Thursday, April 20, 2017

The Benjamin L. Hooks Institute’s Join Hands for Change Gala: Pursuing the Dream to Reality will take place Thursday, April 20, at 7 p.m. at the Holiday Inn University of Memphis, 3700 Central Ave. Civil rights pioneer, politician and diplomat Ambassador Andrew J. Young will present the keynote at the gala, which celebrates the institute’s 20th anniversary. Buy tickets at hooksgala2017.eventbrite.com. 

76. Events - Wednesday, April 19, 2017

The Benjamin L. Hooks Institute African-American Male Initiative Symposium will be held Wednesday, April 19, from 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. in the University of Memphis’ University Center Bluff Room, 499 University St., room 304. The symposium will feature national and local efforts to increase positive educational and social outcomes for African-American males. Free and open to the public. Visit memphis.edu/benhooks for details.

77. City Council Abolishes Beale Street Authority - Thursday, April 13, 2017

The year-old Beale Street Tourism Development Authority quietly went out of business this week without a single objection to be heard at City Hall.

The authority was abolished Tuesday, April 11, by the Memphis City Council.

78. Council Faces Beale Street, Parking Decisions - Tuesday, April 11, 2017

Memphis City Council members have an agenda full of hot spots Tuesday, April 11. They vote on a move to abolish the Beale Street Tourism Development Authority, check to see if both sides paying for a Memphis Zoo parking solution in Overton Park are on the same page and take a final vote to change on-street parking around FedExForum and The Orpheum Theatre to a flat fee of $10 for “special events.”

79. Events - Friday, April 7, 2017

The Super Chevy Show auto show kicks of its 2017 national tour Friday through Sunday, April 7-9, at Memphis International Raceway, 5500 Victory Lane in Millington. The show will feature drag racing, a professionally judged car show, a nonjudged “Show ‘n’ Shine,” an automotive swap meet, a pro show with jet cars and wheelstanders, and more. Visit superchevy.com/show for hours and tickets.

80. Events - Thursday, April 6, 2017

The Metal Museum will kick off its 2017 Whet Thursday series April 6 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at 374 Metal Museum Drive. Attendees can tour the museum and grounds, watch a metalsmithing demonstration, and enjoy food trucks, cash bar and live music. Cost is free. Visit metalmuseum.org.

81. Memphis in May Triathlon Celebrating 35 Years - Saturday, March 25, 2017

The Memphis in May Olympic Triathlon, one of the oldest continuous running triathlon events in the United States, is commemorating its 35th anniversary with an exhibition of the 35 annual limited-edition art posters at The Peddler Bike Shop, 517 S, Main St., from Friday, March 31, through May 21.

82. Memphis in May Triathlon Celebrating 35 Years - Thursday, March 23, 2017

The Memphis in May Olympic Triathlon, one of the oldest continuous running triathlon events in the United States, is commemorating its 35th anniversary with an exhibition of the 35 annual limited-edition art posters at The Peddler Bike Shop, 517 S, Main St., from Friday, March 31, through May 21.

83. Beale Street Authority’s Days May Be Numbered - Wednesday, March 22, 2017

The Beale Street Tourism Development Authority would be out of business by May 21 and the city would be charged with hiring a day-to-day manager for the Beale Street entertainment district under a proposal by council member Martavius Jones.

84. Council Receptive To Restoring City Control of Beale - Tuesday, March 21, 2017

The Beale Street Tourism Development Authority would be out of business by May 21 and the city administration would be charged with hiring a day to day manager for the Beale Street entertainment district under a proposal by council member Martavius Jones.

85. Last Word: 'Ono Poke and the Ghost of The Luau, Council Day and $3 Concerts - Tuesday, March 21, 2017

The ghost of the Luau lives on. Loeb has a new tenant for the Shops of Chickasaw Gardens called ‘Ono Poke that features Hawaiian cuisine. And the restaurant will be just about on the other side of Poplar Avenue from where the Luau used to stand with its large concrete Easter Island head, Polynesian dishes and Hawaii Five-O era architecture – not the remake, the real Five-O and the real McGarrett.

86. Council Agenda Includes Final Impasse Vote And Beale Street Management Discussion - Tuesday, March 21, 2017

Memphis City Council members take up third and final reading Tuesday, March 21, of changes to the city’s impasse process and talk more specifically about a move to do away with the Beale Street Tourism Development Authority.

87. DMC Seeks Longer-Term Management of Beale - Saturday, March 4, 2017

The Downtown Memphis Commission’s board of directors voted Friday, Feb. 24, to allow DMC president Terence Patterson to enter into negotiations with the city of Memphis to manage Beale Street on a longer-term basis.

88. DMC Seeks Longer-Term Management of Beale - Tuesday, February 28, 2017

The Downtown Memphis Commission’s board of directors voted Friday, Feb. 24, to allow DMC president Terence Patterson to enter into negotiations with the city of Memphis to manage Beale Street on a longer-term basis.

89. DMC Seeks Longer Term Management of Beale - Saturday, February 25, 2017

The Downtown Memphis Commission’s Board of Directors voted Friday, Feb. 24, to allow DMC president Terence Patterson to enter into negotiations with the City of Memphis to manage Beale Street on a longer-term basis.

90. DMC Seeks Longer Term Management of Beale - Saturday, February 25, 2017

The Downtown Memphis Commission’s Board of Directors voted Friday, Feb. 24, to allow DMC president Terence Patterson to enter into negotiations with the City of Memphis to manage Beale Street on a longer-term basis.

91. DMC Seeks Longer Term Management of Beale - Saturday, February 25, 2017

The Downtown Memphis Commission’s Board of Directors voted Friday, Feb. 24, to allow DMC president Terence Patterson to enter into negotiations with the City of Memphis to manage Beale Street on a longer-term basis.

92. DMC Seeks Longer Term Management of Beale - Saturday, February 25, 2017

The Downtown Memphis Commission’s Board of Directors voted Friday, Feb. 24, to allow DMC president Terence Patterson to enter into negotiations with the City of Memphis to manage Beale Street on a longer-term basis.

93. DMC Seeks Longer Term Management of Beale - Saturday, February 25, 2017

The Downtown Memphis Commission’s Board of Directors voted Friday, Feb. 24, to allow DMC president Terence Patterson to enter into negotiations with the City of Memphis to manage Beale Street on a longer-term basis.

94. Last Word: 'Sun Records,' Ole Miss's Lack of Control and Haslam in 2018 - Friday, February 24, 2017

I am not going to be one of those people who at this late date in the history of television dramas based on real people points out every departure from reality. The first episode of the CMT television series “Sun Records” Thursday was a scene-setter and introduction of sorts to an ensemble cast with plenty of opportunities to name that place in Memphis. That usually means a pretty complex story line to come and there are more than enough memorable characters in the story of Sun.

95. Last Word: Binghampton Gateway, Beale's Baggage and SoundStage Memphis - Thursday, February 23, 2017

You’ve seen stories here about how difficult it can be to assemble land and financing for a hotel project. Supermarkets have proven much more difficult to pull off at least in Memphis where food deserts are a problem in several parts of town.

96. City Council Wades Deeper Into Beale Street Controversy - Thursday, February 23, 2017

The lead partners of the Chicago-Memphis group that wants to manage Beale Street acknowledge they made mistakes earlier in their careers.

But Kelvin Willis and Dwain Kyles of 21 Beale Street say they deserve a chance to manage the district and have been treated unfairly by the Beale Street Tourism Development Authority, which ended contract talks with them in October after a year of negotiation.

97. Last Word: How Do You Get On The List, Sedgwick & Thornwood and Musicals - Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Monday was Presidents Day and thus a holiday at City Hall. But for the occupant on City Hall’s top floor it was anything but a holiday. The list Memphis Police made for who has to have a uniformed police officer next to them to go anywhere in City Hall is turning into a controversy over possible surveillance of citizens participating in the last year or so of protests around the city.

98. Events - Tuesday, February 21, 2017

The city of Memphis Office of Business Diversity & Compliance Outreach will host “Diversity Programs 201: Certification Round Up: First Steps to Certify with the City of Memphis” Tuesday, Feb. 21, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Renaissance Business Center, 555 Beale St. Discover the importance of certification, learn about the city’s diversity programs, meet certifying agency representatives and start the application process on site. Cost is free. Register at eventbrite.com.

99. City Council to Take First Vote on Impasse Changes - Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Memphis City Council members take their first vote Tuesday, Feb. 21, on changes to the city’s impasse ordinance.

The ordinance is a set of rules governing how the council settles deadlocked contract talks between the city administration and municipal labor unions without the council venturing into negotiations between the two sides.

100. Events - Monday, February 20, 2017

The city of Memphis Office of Business Diversity & Compliance Outreach will host “Diversity Programs 201: Certification Round Up: First Steps to Certify with the City of Memphis” Tuesday, Feb. 21, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Renaissance Business Center, 555 Beale St. Discover the importance of certification, learn about the city's diversity programs, meet certifying agency representatives and start the application process on site. Cost is free. Register at eventbrite.com.