Memphis Magazine

“Each time I visit, I take those little cards with art they distribute to accompany the exhibits,” writes senior editor Abigail Morici. “I hang them around my room in a sort of poor woman’s gallery wall for those days when I just need to see a little bit of art and can’t get away.” Just one of the many reasons why Abigail chose Dixon Gallery and Gardens as the place in Memphis that means the most to her. We bet it’s a favorite with readers, too.

The Dixon Gallery and Gardens In 1974, Hugo and Margaret Dixon bequeathed their home, art, and gardens to the city for a museum. and Memphis has been grateful ever since.

Every year in our City Guide, we compile a list of our city’s “movers, shakers, and other news-makers.” We break up the Who’s Who selection into various categories: arts, sports, politics, philanthropy, and more. This year, we even have a special category for “General Quackcellence.” (Think about it, and you’ll guess who that is.) Did you, or somebody you know, make the list? Well, read on.

2024 Who’s Who in Memphis Our annual guide to our city’s movers, shakers, and other news-makers.

When asked to write about a place that made Memphis unique for our “My Memphis” section of City Guide, Jon Sparks took about 10 seconds to decide that A. Schwab fit the bill. This isn't just a store; it’s a Memphis institution. “If you need something for that hard-to-please someone,” Jon writes, “then quit overthinking it: Simply stand in the middle of the store, close your eyes, and point. Whatever you’ve fingered, buy it.”

A. Schwab This Beale Street landmark is not so much a place you go to get what you want as it is a place to find what you never imagined you needed

When we asked our staff to contribute essays for our August City Guide about places in Memphis that made this city unique, Bruce VanWyngarden decided to stretch the (geographic) boundaries of that assignment. As he says here, the Wapanocca National Wildlife Refuge, an easy drive across the river, is another world. Visit it with him here.

The Wapanocca National Wildlife Refuge Just across the Mississippi River from Memphis lies another world, where you can see the Mississippi Delta in a near-primeval state.

Historic Clayborn Temple, a landmark of the American Civil Rights Movement, has been undergoing a complete renovation. New stained-glass windows feature the portraits of five Memphians who played key roles in the 1968 Sanitation Workers Strike, helping to bring the past into the present.

Letting in the Light Clayborn Temple’s new stained-glass windows tell the story of our city’s past, with a look toward the future.

While Anna Traverse was visiting a college writing class, a student noted that our editor-in-chief had written quite a bit about Overton Park’s “Old Forest.” With good reason, she observes in this month’s City Guide: "I’ve spent time among these trees, and it still feels like a magic trick to me: that I can drive two miles from home, walk into the Old Forest, and feel utterly removed from time, from work, from worry, and grow briefly, deliciously lost in the woods." Read more here.

The Old Forest In the heart of Overton Park is an oasis, a respite, a refuge, a gift, and it’s a huge part of what makes Memphis feel like home to me.

Oh sure, lots of people claim to be Memphians. After all, there's plenty of interesting things going on here these days. But how many of you really KNOW the city, deep down inside? Well, our history columnist Vance Lauderdale has decided to test your Memphis knowledge with a quick test. You don't even have to study for it — but it helps if you've been reading his "Ask Vance" columns. So, take the quiz, and review your score.

So ­—You Think You’re a Real Memphian? Well, prove it by passing the official Vance Lauderdale Trivia Test.

When we invited our staff to come up with one specific place that made Memphis special to them, Chris McCoy had an immediate response: the Summer Drive-In. In business since 1948, and one of a declining number of outdoor theaters in America, McCoy explains his choice simply and directly: "The drive-in remains one of Memphis’ best and simplest treasures.”

The Summer Drive-In The drive-in remains one of Memphis’ best and simplest treasures.

An accomplished actor himself, Jon W. Sparks says there's nothing quite like the experience of live theater, and for our City Guide, he presents a guide to the main theater companies in town, as well as the three major dance organizations.

There’s Nothing Like Live Theater A guide to the performing arts in Memphis.

For the August City Guide, we asked our staff writers and editors to share their feeling about places in Memphis that truly make this city unique. Our executive editor, Michael Finger, wrote about the Crystal Shrine Grotto in Memorial Park Cemetery, a folk-art creation that has been featured nationally and — based on the inscriptions in the guest book — draws visitors from around the globe.

The Crystal Shrine Grotto In the heart of Memorial Park, it’s a religious shrine with traditional Christian iconography — but surrounded by scenes that are … otherworldly.

For our August City Guide, Alex Greene provides an overview of this city's burgeoning classical music community, which is embracing innovation — from musical selections to themes to venues — in every possible way.

Music of the Ages (and Ages to Come) The Bluff City’s thriving classical music community is embracing innovation on all fronts.

For a place that makes Memphis truly special, our managing editor Frank Murtaugh chose Larry Finch Plaza, a landmark on the University of Memphis South Campus, for his “My Memphis’ essay in this month’s City Guide. “Its a reminder of how one life can lift so many others,” he writes, “whether it's near a basketball court or not.”

Larry Finch Plaza The statue of the legendary basketball player and coach makes Memphis a better version of itself, and lifts me with every glance I take.

In his long career, Memphian Burton Weil made a fortune by buying distressed companies and “turning them around.“ Wanting to help the community, he came up with the Burton Weil Family Foundation, which will fund tuition for select students from the University of Memphis and University of Tennessee Health Science Center in hopes of “cultivating young minds.” Senior Editor Jon W. Sparks tells about the remarkably generous gift from this “Local Treasure.”

Local Treasures: Burton Weil’s Vision for Memphis Students A new university endowment is designed to cultivate the community’s brightest young minds.

From history to mystery: Susan Bacon earned well-deserved praise for her first novel, “The History Teacher." Jesse Davis thinks she'll do it again for “The Art Collector," which he calls “a tragic tale of family, consequences, and contemporary art.”

The Art of Mystery Susan Bacon’s “The Art Collector” tells a tragic tale of consequences, family, and contemporary art.

Memphis means different things to different people, so we asked our staff to choose one aspect of our community that makes it special to them, for a section in our August City Guide that we called “My Memphis.” Alex Greene selected the Memphis Listening Lab in Crosstown Concourse. “What the MLL lacks in portability (you can’t check out anything),“ he writes, “it makes up for in eclecticism and expansiveness.”

The Memphis Listening Lab What the MLL lacks in portability (you can’t check out anything) it makes up for in eclecticism and expansiveness.

Social media can be echo chambers, and the reverberations just won't stop. When you’ve had your fill of all the noise, our editor-in-chief suggests you enjoy the silence. It's easy: Just log off , even for a little bit, and spend time reacquainting yourself with Memphis the place, not just Memphis the collection of ideas.

Turn Down the Noise. Listen to the Music. When you’ve had your fill of social media, log off and spend some time reacquainting yourself with Memphis the place, not just Memphis the collection of ideas.

Our August City Guide presents one hundred of this city’s movers, shakers, and other news-makers. To convey the unique spirit of our city, we write about our favorite places in “My Memphis.” Plus, stories on the classical music scene, the restoration of Historic Clayborn Temple, and guides to the visual and performing arts. Vance Lauderdale even tests your knowledge of the city with a special history quiz. It’s on newsstands and heading to your mailboxes. But you should subscribe at memphismagazine.com/subscriptions.

Overton Square’s Golden India, our most recent Classic Dining destination, opened in 1998, owner Harpreet Singh, 33, tells Michael Donahue.

“A family member owned the restaurant at that time,” says Singh (pictured, slide 1). Bagga Singh, the cousin who owned the restaurant, wanted to sell it so he and his family could move to Seattle. Like Bagga, Harpreet’s family is from Punjab. “We moved from India,” he says, “and either we had to get a job or find something of our own.”

They chose the latter path.

Harpreet’s mother, Mangit Kaur, did the cooking. His dad, the late Satnam Singh, worked in the front of the restaurant. He also bought the groceries and did “whatever he could do other than cooking.”

Harpreet, who has two sisters, began working at Golden India when he was 14. He continued there while majoring in finance at the University of Memphis, where he graduated in 2015, then took over the restaurant after his father died four years ago. “I had to take a step,” he says. “Either give it to someone else or run it. So, I did whatever I could.”

Read more in our July issue or at memphismagazine.com.

In 1959, a Greek immigrant named Peter Limberakis opened Limbros Restaurant downtown, and it soon became one of the most popular eateries in town. “I always dreamed of coming to America,” he told reporters, “and now I’m here, I like it better than my dreams." Vance Lauderdale tells the whole story here.

Ask Vance: Limbros Restaurant Our history expert solves local mysteries: who, what, when, where, why, and why not. Well, sometimes.

The Memphis housing market has seen its ups and downs in recent years, but we spoke with members of the Memphis Area Association of REALTORS® who believe the future looks bright indeed. PLUS: A complete list of the members of the Multi Million Dollar Club.

The State of the Local Housing Market As Memphis’ residential real estate market recovers, sales are up, with some potential bumps in the road ahead. PLUS: The members of the Memphis Area Association of Realtors’ Multi Million Dollar Club.

Starting small — literally — Memphis organizations like Homes for Hearts, My Sistah’s House, and Hospitality Hub are helping to create dwellings for folks who might not otherwise have their own homes. In our July cover story, read about the organizations — and the residents whose lives they have helped make better, like Tracy Logan, pictured here with dog Marley. Photography by Mike Kerr / courtesy Homes for Hearts, courtesy My Sistah’s House, and by Jon W. Sparks.

Memphis author Tara M. Stringfellow has followed up her bestselling novel, “Memphis” with a poetry collection, “Magic Enuff.” “I see poetry as a form of protest,” she says, “as my own revolutionary way to get out my anger at the injustices this country deals Black folks — it’s a way of channeling my rage.”

Tara M. Stringfellow’s “Magic Enuff” casts a spell. Tara M. Stringfellow’s “Magic Enuff” casts a spell. by Jesse Davis July 22, 2024 8:00 AM RSS Print × Expand The first time I interviewed author and former attorney Tara M. Stringfellow, she told me that after her now-bestselling debut novel Memphis was published (in 2022 by Penguin Random Hou...

ON VIEW NOW: The “Delta Triennial” at the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts (AMFA) in Little Rock.

This contemporary art exhibition spotlights emerging and established artists across the Mid-South, representing a range of diverse media and addressing a breadth of contemporary issues. While each of the participating artists has a physical connection to the Delta––past or present––their work reflects the richness, complexity, and interconnected nature of the region.

Established in 1958 as a juried exhibition, the “Delta Triennial” has evolved much like the region to reflect broader shifts happening in the cultural landscape. After receiving a record-breaking 1,200 applications, the Museum selected works by 46 artists (including West Tennesseans Paula Kovarik and John Roberts) for this year’s exhibition.

Plan your trip to Little Rock now – this free exhibition is on view through August 25.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/4bwqocw

Teresa Liles wanted a larger kitchen, but there was only one area of her home that provided the necessary space — the carport. That’s not “something a lot of people could imagine,” says Dewayne Gammel, owner of Renovate Memphis, but his design and construction team made the remarkable transformation. Read all about this unusual project in this month’s “Remodel Memphis” column by Alex Greene.

Remodel Memphis: The Kitchen of Her Dreams With the help of Renovate Memphis, Teresa Liles looked at her carport and started thinking big.

Few things are more aggravating — and harder to treat — than back problems, which can range from pulled muscles to spinal issues that affect the nerves in your arms and legs. In our “901 Health” column, we talked with pain specialists about the best ways to treat these issues, and prevent them from happening in the first place.

901 Health: Back Attack! How do we fight — and better, prevent — muscle spasms?

For this month’s “Sips” column, Bruce VanWyngarden visited the Global Café in Crosstown Concourse. There, manager Juan Viramontes served him a “Mangorita,” a drink so large it almost takes two hands to hold it. “I take a sip and — bam!" writes Bruce. “It’s really good. This is a drink with a punch.” Don’t say we didn’t warn you. Enjoy!

Sips: Thinking Global Juan Viramontes manages a restaurant that helps the immigrant community — and he makes a magnificent margarita.

Beale Street is always crowded, but on a certain day in April, nearly all the visitors looked ... familiar. Find out why these special tourists had wandered so far away from the North Pole.

When Santa Clauses Came to Town Jolly Old Elves from around the world spread the Yule spirit on Beale.

For this month’s “Classic Dining” adventure, our man-about-town Michael Donahue enjoyed a meal at Golden India, an Overton Square restaurant that’s been a family affair for a quarter-century.

Classic Dining: Golden India The Overton Square restaurant has been a family affair for more than 25 years.

In the heart of Germantown — on busy Germantown Parkway, in fact — the charmingly named restaurant Petals of a Peony offers all the comforts of a genuine Chinese home. On a recent visit, Alex Greene observed, “For a delectable moment, I had taken a trip far from the city I knew, sampling the subtleties of a place my hosts called home. That, I realized, was the best feeling any meal can offer.”

Petals of a Peony In the heart of Germantown, but all the flavors — and freshness — of a genuine Chinese home.