The 901: Memphis is tired; but resilient city is special, ready to respond
Happy Friday. We've reached the end of a week that will long be remembered as one of the most chaotic and traumatic news weeks in Memphis.
In a column for subscribers, veteran CA reporter John Beifuss says Memphis is a weary, shaken city in the aftermath of back-to-back violent crimes that made national headlines, but now is not the time for resignation.
Here's an excerpt from John's column:
Don’t say “This isn’t Memphis.”
That's like saying a mass shooting at a school or an election-denying insurrection at the Capitol isn’t America.
It’s as Memphis as the Hayes-Porter song thrumming from my radio and the hummingbirds buzzing on my porch.
People like to write "This isn't Memphis" on social media, as a way of expressing love for the city.
The city needs love. But saying this isn't Memphis is no answer.
Denial isn’t a solution.
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Finishing Liza's Run
Memphians are already leaning in, with hundreds of runners responding by "Finishing Liza's Run" at 4:20 this morning to honor the memory of the Eliza Fletcher, the 34-year-old mother and athlete who was abducted on the U of M campus early last Friday morning and was found dead three days later in South Memphis. Our Gina Butkovich has the story on the run and photographer Christine Tannous has the moving video and compelling images here.
Southern Heritage Classic weekend in full swing
If you hear great music, see folks dancing and the aroma of good eats is filling the air around Tiger Lane, you know the Classic is here. The Jackson State and Tennessee State marching bands are getting ready for the Saturday halftime show. And, yes, there's a big game at 6 p.m., with former NFL stars Deion "Prime Time" Sanders and Eddie George on the sidelines. Bob Mehr has a rundown of the Classic events.
Downtown Sheraton to get renovated
The owners of the Sheraton Memphis Downtown Hotel are looking to invest $226 million in the property, renovating the existing facility and building a second tower next door, according to public documents, Corinne Kennedy reports.
Proposed plans show 300 hotel rooms could be added via a new tower and significant changes could be made to the existing hotel at 250 N. Main St. There have been discussions about expanding the hotel for years.
Memphis Music Hall of Fame inductions return Sept. 15
It’s been three years since the Memphis Music Hall of Fame last inducted a new class of honorees. But following an extended pandemic pause, the event will return on Sept. 15, with the Hall enshrining eight more music legends, just in time to mark the organization’s 10th anniversary.
This year’s Memphis Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony will once again take place at Downtown’s Cannon Center for the Performing Arts. And no one is happier to have in-person festivities back than John Doyle, the president and CEO of the Hall, Bob Mehr and John Beifuss report.
Memphis restaurant openings in August
From locally owned establishments serving sushi, coffee and a gold-crusted Tomahawk steak to three national chain restaurants, here are six new Memphis-area restaurants that opened in August, Jennifer Chandler reports.
Have a great weekend, everyone.
Mark Russell is executive editor of The Commercial Appeal. You can reach him at mark.russell@commercialappeal.com or 901/288-4509. You can also follow him on Twitter: @MarkRussell44
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Latest on Memphis: A tired city and finishing Liza's run
