Happy International Podcast Day, Memphis! It’s Monday, Sept. 30, and if you’re looking for something new to listen to, we’ve got podcasts covering everything from hard news and sports to food, arts and culture. Browse all of our podcasts here. Or check out the latest episode of Sound Bites, which offers a look into the city’s newest brewery, Memphis Filling Station, plus updates from other breweries around town.

The Shelby County Juvenile Court reopened for employees on Friday after a months-long clean-up of asbestos, lead and mold. Today, the public can go back in to access a few select services. And tonight, Memphis Tigers Coach Ryan Silverfield, fresh off a win over Middle Tennessee, will speak to the Memphis Touchdown Club. See what else is coming in This Week in Memphis.

THE NEED TO KNOW

Chris Reyes, co-founder of the Baron Von Opperbean immersive experience, worked inside the old Mud Island River Museum on Tuesday, Sept. 24. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)

Matter of time: The Mud Island River Museum closed in 2018, and inside, old exhibits and paperwork have been collecting dust. But artist Christopher Reyes, his mom and others have been busy sorting through those things lately as they work to transform the museum into “Baron Von Opperbean and the River of Time,” an “immersive, interactive entertainment experience” with a steampunk vibe. The first phase of the project should be open to the public next spring, so our own Bill Dries stopped in to check out the progress and found old Mud Island concert contracts, a pair of creepy old mannequins and a music exhibit that no one can figure out how to turn off. 

Thanks, suburbs: For as much as some Memphis city-dwellers (myself included) whine every time our commute takes us “out east” to the suburbs, it turns out we’ve got good reason to thank Arlington, Bartlett, Collierville, Germantown, Lakeland and Millington. “If it were not for the six suburbs, Shelby County would be losing population,” said Bartlett Area Chamber of Commerce President John Threadgill. The Shelby County suburbs have seen big growth over the past two years in gross regional product, median home values and sales- and property-tax revenue. So, here’s to you, suburbs! (Now maybe I’ll stop complaining when my Trader Joe’s runs take me all the way out to Germantown.)

Former U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords spoke with President Joe Biden during an event with Vice President Kamala Harris and others in the East Room of the White House on Sept. 26. (Susan Walsh/AP)

Mayor backs Biden gun reform: President Joe Biden signed an executive order last week to restrict new gun technologies, like devices that convert regular guns into machine guns. The order also calls for research on how to make active shooter drills in schools more effective and less traumatic. Memphis Mayor Paul Young attended the event, and he had high praise for the president’s “bold action.”

Officer Latoya Burress worked at the University Crime Information Center at the University of Memphis on Sept. 20. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian)

Real-time crime: Crime on the University of Memphis campus rose about 10% from 2022 to 2023, with car thefts driving much of the increase. But starting this fall semester, the campus cops have a new way to try and bring those numbers down. The new University Crime Information Center features a video surveillance wall that’s linked to cameras across the main campus, on the Park Avenue campus, Downtown at the law school and even at the U of M’s Lambuth campus in Jackson, Tennessee. 

QUOTED

“As a board, we made a decision to hire Dr. Marie Feagins, and if I’m being honest with you, it was a mistake.”

— Althea Greene, former Memphis-Shelby County Schools board chair
Greene said the above in a letter to the MSCS board last week, as the board met to discuss a rubric for evaluating Feagins’ performance as superintendent. Since she took over the district in April, Feagins cut hundreds of jobs but created new positions in an effort to move more employees into classrooms. She’s now looking at closing and consolidating schools.

THE NICE TO KNOW

Owner Carlee McCullough has been renovating the Mahogany River Terrace space for two years. (Brad Vest/Special to The Daily Memphian)

Meal with a view: “Baron Von Opperbean and the River of Time” (see above) isn’t the only new thing on Mud Island. The long-vacant River Terrace restaurant has been transformed into Mahogany River Terrace, the second restaurant from the owners of East Memphis’ Mahogany. The menu features upscale Southern dishes with a dash of Creole and a lot of seafood (plus, plenty of vegan options). But the Mississippi River is the star of the show, and the space was redesigned to complement the sweeping views. In other food news, we dish the recipe for Chef Michael Patrick’s famous Cheeseburger Soup, which gives new meaning to the soup-and-sandwich concept. (More like a sandwich-in-soup, no?).

Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant stood on the sidelines before a game against the Dallas Mavericks on March 20, in Memphis. (Brandon Dill/AP file)

Ja gets up: There’s a new larger-than-life, airborne Ja Morant Downtown. The new mural from Nike, located across from FedExForum, is part of the company’s push to sell its new Ja 2 sneakers, released last week. On it are the words “I get up,” a new Morant slogan that’s also featured in a Nike commercial highlighting the star player’s journey from a suspension scandal and season-ending shoulder surgery to his impending return to the basketball court. (Now, cue that Chumbawamba song.)

University of Memphis quarterback Seth Henigan laughed with Brandon Thomas after a touchdown during a Sept. 28, game against MTSU. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian)

Tigers bounce back: The Memphis Tigers, who suffered a big loss to Navy last week, redeemed themselves with a 24-7 win over Middle Tennessee at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium on Saturday night. The Tigers’ offense got off to a slow start and went scoreless in the first quarter, but two second-quarter touchdowns gave them some momentum. Despite the win, star quarterback Seth Henigan finished the game with no touchdown passes for the first time in his career with the Tigers. But he says he’s just fine with that. In bigger-picture Tigers news, our own Tim Buckley looks at what’s next now that the Tigers have turned down the Pac-12. It seems University of Memphis athletic director Ed Scott is too proud to beg another big conference to let the Tigers in.

MJG (left) and 8Ball attended a ceremony Saturday at Park Avenue and Airways Boulevard, where an honorary sign renaming the intersection for them was unveiled. (Brad Vest/Special to The Daily Memphian)

Down on crunk street: In their 2004 hit “You Don’t Want Drama,” Orange Mound-based 8Ball and MJG rapped the words, “Ball and G, part of the streets, ‘cause the streets are a part of us.” That line has new (literal) meaning after the corner of Park Avenue and Airways Boulevard was renamed 8Ball Boulevard and MJG Avenue on Saturday. 8Ball and MJG both attended the renaming ceremony, along with Reps. Antonio Parkinson and G.A. Hardaway and Memphis Mayor Paul Young. 

Big Star drummer Jody Stephens is the band’s last living member. (Jim Weber/The Daily Memphian file)

Eye on the arts: In his latest installment of The Essential Memphis Library series, The Daily Memphian’s Chris Herrington shines a light on Big Star’s “Radio City,” the rock band’s 1974 album that he calls their “power pop apotheosis.” (There’s your word for the day: Think of it as the band’s highest and best work.) His column comes just a day before Big Star’s Jody Stephens will join members of R.E.M., the Posies, the dB’s and Wilco to perform the album in its entirety at Crosstown Theater. In other music news, we’ve got a look at October concerts you won’t want to miss, including a nostalgic “dirty mackin’ R&B” show with Tyrese, Ginuwine and Tank. And in more art news, here’s a look at visual art exhibitions opening in museums and galleries next month.

THIS WEEK’S WEATHER

Here comes the sun after a hurricane-heavy weekend. Pull out those hoodies for the chilly nights, and follow our friends at MemphisWeather.net for updates throughout the week.

I’m off to celebrate podcast day on my morning run. Have a good one!

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