Claim OwnershipThe Sidebar with Eric Barnes
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The Sidebar, hosted by Eric Barnes from The Daily Memphian, focuses on arts, culture and everything in between in Memphis, including interviews with people shaping the city and sometimes an exploration of topics stranger, funnier and more surprising than you might expect to hear.
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Marina Pacini — the former chief curator for the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art —talks about plans for the museum's plans for an exhibition marking the Memphis College of Art's history and impact.
When the historic Annesdale Mansion suffered through a fire in January, more than a few people worried whether the house would be restored. But Bill Townsend, who bought the house in 2023 and did a nearly $2 million renovation, has assured everyone that Annesdale will be restored. Host Eric Barnes is joined by Bill for this week's episode of The Sidebar. They talked not just about Annesdale, but also Townsend's major commitment to Memphis, especially nonprofits and community organizations here.
In a world where technology sometimes seems to have overwhelmed music, the world of Memphis Youth Symphony Program is refreshing. The organization's executive director, Jenny Davis, joined Eric Barnes on this week's episode of "The Sidebar" to talk about the group's programs and its history. Davis, who was a flutist and music teacher at Rhodes, also talked about the increasingly competitive realities of life as a musician trying to make it as a professional.
Alicia George really enjoys talking to people. Which is good, given her new role as co-executive director of Indie Memphis, which has big plans for a rebooted film festival in the fall. As Indie Memphis bounces back from a year without its signature film festival, Alicia joined Eric Barnes on this week's episode of "The Sidebar" to talk about the organization's future.
Artist Brantley Ellzey joins Eric Barnes on this week's episode of "The Sidebar" to talk about work, his life and his Crosstown Arts exhibit, titled "Reflection + Ritual + Refuge."
Jee Vahn Knight, the CEO of BVO, talks about the attraction's opening on March 7, the next phases of expansion and how their business model works.
Sarah Leach, The Daily Memphian's director of fundraising and development, joins Eric Barnes on this week's episode.
For Lakenna Booker, Memphis Merit Academy is about so many things — helping young kids with literacy, creating a thriving school for parents and their children, investing in her neighborhood, and more. Booker, who is the executive director of Memphis Merit Academy, joined Eric Barnes to talk about the charter school she founded in Parkway Village in 2019.
Lauren Ready has spent decades as a documentarian and TV journalist. Now she's become an author, using her foundation in journalism to help business leaders and others to, as she says it, reveal deeper truths. Ready joined Eric Barnes to talk about her first book, "Ask Like a Leader: A Method for Revealing Deeper Truth and Turning Blind Spots into Breakthroughs." Ready, who is also the co-founder of Forever Ready, a video production that works with many local nonprofits and business, spent many years as a TV journalist. And her documentaries have won numerous awards.
Virginia Reed Murphy, founder of Everystory, joins Eric Barnes to talk about the organization's name change and how the mission stays the same.
Katie Smythe of New Ballet Ensemble joins Eric Barnes to talk about turning the old Humes Middle School into a school focused on the arts for middle and high school students. - a project with a scale that is incredibly ambitious. The funding needs are massive and the timeline is not short.
Nick Barbian joins Eric Barnes on The Sidebar to talk about the goals for the outdoor venue located at Grind City Brewing in North Memphis.
Alex Matlock, the founder and current president of the Mid-South Latino Chamber of Commerce, and Sylvia Leon, the group's executive director, join Eric Barnes to talk about the impact of the federal influx of law enforcement.
Cequita Monique is a jazz singer as well as the founder of the First Sunday Jazz Jam Pop Up Series.
Dr. Lisa Beasley, associate professor at the UTHSC College of Nursing, joins Eric Barnes to talk about how the job of nursing has changed, the proactive work nurses do in underserved neighborhoods, and more.
Klondike Smokey City CDC is working to mow and maintain yards, build a pocket park and turn 150 vacant lots and empty homes into assets in the community.
Maggie Schaumleffel, director of ministries for Barth House Episcopal Center, joins host Eric Barnes. They discuss the center's outreach to the colleges and universites in the area, as well as how it supports students of all backgrounds and religions with problems they face today.
Women's Foundation for a Greater Memphis President and CEO Shante Avant joins host Eric Barnes. They discuss the resources that the Women's Foundation provides to community-based services, the focus on lifting women and children out of poverty in the Memphis area and the upcoming fundraising event, Power of the Purse.
Host Eric Barnes is joined by Cindi Younker, Buckman Arts Center director, to talk about this season's upcoming events and what attendees can expect from the performances.
Parke Kennedy joins Eric Barnes to talk about her new role with the Germantown Performing Arts Center and the fundraising and effort that goes into their series and performances.
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