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>> Female announcer: This is a
production of WKNO, Memphis.
Production funding for this
program is made possible in part
by...
>> (instrumental music)
♪♪♪
♪♪♪
>> Shannon: Hi, I'm Mamie
Shannon.
Welcome to "Local Color."
Thanks for coming this week.
>> Ford: I'm happy to be here.
>> Shannon: I know you are and
I'm happy that you're here, too.
Hey -- I understand that you got
to interview the guys from
Company d.
>> Ford: I did.
I was so glad they came in.
They have a wonderful new show.
And they have a lot of guests
artists that they had to talk
about.
It's going to be fun.
>> Shannon: I've heard a lot
about the Company and I can't
wait to hear your interview.
I got to interview Salil Parikh
from the 10th India Fest.
>> Ford: I can't believe it's
been ten years.
>> Shannon: I know.
I go every year.
>> Ford: Yes, we go, too.
It's the food and then the
shopping.
The shoppings pretty great.
>> Shannon: Yeah and the music
and everything.
But you know, that's a pretty
cool interview and I can't wait
to get to that.
And then also, I got to
interview Melissa Peterson.
She came and talked to me about
Downtown Dining Week.
>> Ford: So Downtown Dining --
that's the 2012.
It's whatever the year is.
>> Shannon: Whatever the year
is, that's the price for a
three-course dinner from all
these restaurants that
participate.
So for $20.12 -- some of them
Yeah and so that's pretty cool.
And then also she went to Whole
Foods.
Now, I go to Whole Foods for
specific items but it's kind of
intimidating to me.
You know, so I'm hoping she's
going to demystify it for us a
bit.
>> Ford: All those grains.
>> (laughter)
>> Shannon: So what else do you
have going on?
>> Ford: There is a lot of
>> Shannon: Okay, talking about
theatre -- Let's just go ahead
and go to the bumper because
we've got some theatre
happenings that are really cool.
Check 'em out.
>> (instrumental music)
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♪♪♪
>> Ford: Tony, I'm so glad
you're back in town and I know
Darlene is really glad you're
back in town.
>> Horne: It's always good to be
back in Memphis.
>> Ford: Hi, I'm here today with
Darlene Winters who's artistic
director for Company d and
Director of her current show,
Tony Horne.
The show is called "Let it be a
Dance."
When can I go see it?
>> Winters: November 1 at 7:00
at the Buckman Performance Arts
Center.
>> Ford: Tell me a little bit
about the company.
>> Winters: The company is a
nationally recognized dance
group of individuals with down
syndrome.
We have about 24 dancers in the
Company and we are literally
leaping in to our 13th year.
>> Ford: That's so exciting.
So what's the age range of the
dancers?
>> Winter: 15 to 32.
>> Ford: How often doe the
Company meet?
>> Winters: We meet twice a
week.
The older ones have four hours
of rehearsal a week and the
younger ones -- approximately
three.
Of course, now I'm preparing for
the show.
It's a marathon.
It's every day.
>> Ford: Your with Darlene every
day in dance classes, as well as
rehearsals -- right?
>> Horne: We have morphed them
all together so we have dance
class rehearsal warm-up all as
one.
And I am always there.
We're working on this show
diligently.
This is a revival actually.
Company d did the show last year
with great success.
It was in the fall and I missed
seeing it but this year, I'm a
guest director.
And we are telling a story
through dance, through text, and
through visual aids such as the
lights and the scenery.
And it is based on a wonderful
book called The Dancing Man by
Ruth Bornstein.
So this is a great book and a
show for families.
>> Ford: Darlene has been
talking about this book for
years.
And you finally have brought it
to the stage.
I know you're excited to see it
come.
And what was the process of
bringing it to the stage?
>> Winters: Actually, it's been
almost three years.
Each summer we have a three week
workshop -- very intensive at
Hutchison School.
And the first summer we embraced
it just through video and
photography and a lot of
exploration of vocabulary and
language to bring the dancers
in, too.
Because the book has dark and
dreary, as far as the feeling
tone of and then the spirit of
the dancing man.
So, yes.
>> Ford: Great -- Now you're
working with multiple directors
on this project.
This is a hard project because
you have a director with the
overall vision.
You have the dancers who have
been together for many years
dancing together but then you
have multiple directors.
Who are your guests?
>> Winters: The exciting part is
-- I have three.
Three wonderful -- Kevin Thomas,
Collage Dance Collective.
He is a phenomenal director and
choreographer.
And he's relatively new in town.
I think he's just finished his
fourth season here or third
season.
And he's also very much involved
in the community -- going in to
the schools and teaching dance.
And he has a new studio.
So he has brought the element of
ballet and there is a beautiful
piece the dancers are doing to
Adagio with some lifts.
And we're very excited about
that.
>> Ford: Who else is working on
the project?
>> Winters: And Wayne Smith,
Project Motion.
He's also an educator.
He teaches dance at the
University of Memphis and at Ole
Miss.
His element is modern but also
he's brought more of an
international flare with his
piece that is what we refer to
as the jig.
>> Ford: And then your final
artist that's working on the
project with you?
>> Winters: Tarrik Moore -- He's
the artistic director for Udig
Dance Academy.
Tarrik has been nationally
recognized for the dancers that
he's trained.
So he's bringing another element
of what is known in Memphis as
jookin combined with a little
hip-hop.
And each different genre of
dance is taking the dancers to a
whole different level than they
have been exposed to before.
>> Ford: So on November 1 at
7:00 at the Buckman Performing
Arts Center you can see Company
d doing a theatrical piece that
includes three different genres
of dance called "Let it be a
Dance" based on The Dancing Man.
Did I capture it all?
>> Horne: That's it in a nut
shell, yes.
>> Ford: Thanks so much for
coming in.
>> Winters: I just have to say
it's been wonderful having Tony
by my side and directing because
it takes a lot to pull all this
together -- a lot.
>> Ford: And he has that
theatrical vision for it.
Great -- Well, thank you so much
for coming in and telling me
about it.
I appreciate it.
>> Shannon: I know that everyone
has their way of going to India
Fest but mine is: I get there at
10:00.
I park my car, go in, find
something for breakfast.
Then immediately go and get
henna.
Last year I got the henna that
goes up around your hand, around
your thumb.
I think she said it was some
kind of wedding henna design.
And then I go and shop, put my
shopping finds in the car, then
come back and have lunch.
Now, this is the 10th Annual
India Fest.
And it is going to be November 3
from 10:00 until 7:00 at the
Agricenter.
And I'm here with Salil.
Thank you so much for coming.
>> Parikh: Thanks for having me.
>> Shannon: You're welcome.
So tell me what can we expect
this year.
>> Parikh: India Fest -- It's
the 10th year that we've had an
India Fest now.
Of course, it's going to be a
lot of food, a lot of fashion
things.
There's going to be cultural and
entertainment stuff going on.
There's going to be a kid's
corner for kids where kids can
have interactive games.
They can learn more about India
there.
There's going to be henna for
the kids.
It's those temporary tattoos.
And for you.
I think it will be good for the
kids because they can learn more
about India.
There will be sessions on how
tow rite their names in Indian
languages.
So that should be pretty fun.
There's going to be a cooking
demonstration going on all
throughout the day.
>> Shannon: Okay now -- Let's
back up and slow down because
India is a country with how many
people?
>> Parikh: It's over a billion
people.
>> Shannon: And it's a third of
the size of the United States?
>> Parikh: A third of the size
of the U.S.
>> Shannon: And there are 18
states -- 18, 20 states.
And what's so cool about India
is your states are just not
borders -- they're different
cultures, different languages,
different beliefs, different
traditions with in each state.
>> Parikh: That's exactly right.
I almost think of India as being
like Europe if Europe was one
country because there are
different languages in every
state and there are different
cultures and customs.
And actually the variety is
almost as big as it is between
Polish and Spanish -- talking
about Poland and Spain.
So there's a lot within country.
There's a lot of rich heritage.
>> Shannon: And you know its
cool to be from India right now.
You've always thought it was
cool to be from India.
But, you know what I mean.
It's like Indian culture is on
the forefront of people's
curiosity.
And I love the event because I
love learning about the
different cultural diversity
within the country.
Now the food is very important
to me.
How many different food vendors
will you have there?
>> Parikh: I think there will be
over 15 different vendors.
And there will be vendors that
will be providing certain
regional foods.
And we have vendors -- local
vendors, different restaurants.
But we also got people from home
from different states who are
going to be producing food.
So it should be really good.
>> Shannon: Tell me about Raga
Boyz.
This is a separate ticketed
event within the event.
But tell me about Raga Boyz.
My daughters excited about that.
>> Parikh: Raga Boyz -- It's a
group of brothers.
Young handsome kids who are from
South Asia and they're coming
here for this event.
And they emphasize a lot of
fusion.
Very good -- It'll be a lot of
fun.
>> Shannon: Now you've told me
that you're going to have
entertainment throughout the day
but you told me you were going
to have a competition.
>> Parikh: There's also going to
be a competition.
We have that every year between
different states.
And it's local artists in
Memphis.
They get together and they
practice for many months.
There will be a non-competitive
session.
But there will also be a
competitive session.
The competitive session is
really a lot of fun because
these people are very talented.
>> Shannon: Oh, I'm so excited
about that.
Now that's different this year,
isn't it?
>> Parikh: We've had that for a
few years.
It just keeps getting bigger and
bigger.
>> Shannon: Oh my goodness.
Well, now tell me about in the
artists bazaar.
You've got clothes, jewelry,
arts, crafts, music, CDs, home
décor.
>> Parikh: That's exactly right.
We've got all bases covered.
We've got some of the newest hip
fashion, if people are in to
that.
They want to buy some new
evening wear.
We'll have that there.
There will be lots of different
kind of jewelry and the
accessories that go with that.
A lot of latest music -- So it
should be a lot of different
things for everyone.
>> Shannon: And now the Hindi
Calligraphy -- Is there someone
there that not only shows you
how to write but tells you what
it means?
>> Parikh: Oh, yes -- There
will be somebody there to show.
>> Shannon: Are you going to
have the yoga corner this year?
>> Parikh: Yoga corner -- I
think we have the yoga corner
this year, too.
We're trying to get that.
So that should be good.
>> Shannon: Well, you know, I
like it because India Fest is an
opportunity for you guys to
celebrate your culture but thank
you so much for celebrating it
with us.
>> Parikh: Well, thank you.
Thanks for having me.
>> Shannon: Well, now listen --
It's at the Agricenter.
And there's parking all over the
place -- correct?
>> Parikh: There's parking all
over.
That shouldn't be a problem.
We're going to have several
parking attendants there to lead
people in.
>> Shannon: Thank you so much.
I can't wait to see you.
Coming up next, Elizabeth
interviews John Doyle from the
Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum.
Thank you so much.
>> (instrumental music)
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♪♪♪
Cawein: We've got something new
to talk about in the music scene
in Memphis but it's not a brick
and mortar building that you can
go visit.
It's actually entirely virtual
and capturing and cataloging the
history of Memphis music.
And here to talk to us about it
is John Doyle who's the
executive director of Rock 'n'
Soul Museum.
John, thank you so much for
being here.
>> Doyle: Thanks, it's great to
be here.
>> Cawein: Okay, so tell us
about the Memphis Music Hall of
Fame.
>> Doyle: It's a long time
coming but not soon enough.
It's probably something that the
city should have undertaken 40
years or more ago but finally,
the time is right for us to do
it.
And Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum
has been working on it for about
six or seven years.
It came out of a strategic
planning session of the museum
of how we could better advance
our mission of preserving and
telling the story of Memphis
music and perpetuating it's
legacy.
And we've got an incredible
Smithsonian developed exhibit
but for us to each outside and t
do something stronger, we
decided to undertake the
formation of the Memphis Music
Hall of Fame which as a native
Memphian is something I've heard
talked about for decades.
And the time is right and
fortunately with our role
telling the complete Memphis
music story, it gave us the
opportunity to reach out with
other partners we work with in
the community -- the Music
Commission, Music Foundation,
the other not for profit
entities like Stax, Graceland,
Sun Studios, Center for Southern
Folklore, Beale Street Caravan.
And for us to all come together.
And believe it or not, despite
the fact that people are coming
to various ones of us buying
tickets and things like that, we
work collaboratively because
tons of tourists come to our
city for music pilgrimage.
And so it's great for us to come
together to not just tell our
own stories the way that we do
whether we're a Stax museum or
whether we're Sun, but to really
pay tribute to the icons that
put us on the map.
They really gave us all of our
jobs and literally not only put
Memphis on the global musical
map but totally changed the
cultural complexion of the
entire world.
>> Cawein: Completely -- So you
had this really cool event on
Tuesday, the 16th.
You had this big announcement of
all the inductees but there's
another event that's coming up
that we should know about.
So what's on the radar for later
in November?
>> Doyle: We've just announced
the inductees.
It's time to pay tribute to
them.
And we had a very incredible
nominating committee come
together last spring.
Great authors, historians,
nationally recognized
filmmakers, a lot of Grammy
winners who came together.
We didn't necessarily want
Memphians doing the choosing.
Although, a lot of us who are
Memphians were there in the room
to answer questions to pull
information.
But we didn't want to get in to
Memphians choosing Memphians
just because -- not that there
wouldn't be a fairness but
obviously, someone who is so
incredibly knowledgeable who is
strong in the music community .
But obviously someone like a
Rufus Thomas who is on the
inaugural class will go in and
so we never wanted it to be
finger pointing.
Native Memphians -- we have a
tendency to do that.
So we identified through this
nominating committee last spring
25 inaugural inductees.
It's a pretty large group but
even with as large a group as it
is for the first year, we're
already hearing -- but what
about.
>> Cawein: I heard 'what about
Chips Moman' the other day.
That was the first one I got.
>> Doyle: Yeah and this is the
fun part of it.
Since it was announced on that
Tuesday, it's been the great
conversations -- What about
Chips Moman?
What about Johnny Cash?
What about Carl Perkins?
What about The Gentrys?
And it does go on and on.
>> Cawein: This is just the
beginning,
>> Doyle: Yeah and that we're in
a city to where we're doing that
as opposed to how are we going
to fill it up.
You know, I've said many times
in this process, if we were
Oklahoma City or if we were
Boise, we would end up five
people and we would be through.
But the event that you're
talking about which is Thursday,
November 29 at the Canon Center
for the Performing Arts.
And as much as all this dialogue
is going on in this conversation
and 'what about' and 'should it
be' and everything like that,
it's the time for Memphians to
buy a $30 ticket.
That's what tickets start at.
The Canon Center for the
Performing Arts -- that Thursday
night.
And to really come out and pay
tribute to these folks.
It's time for us to not just
talk about it -- not just let
them reside in history but to
really celebrate.
And so although I'm glad there's
still talk about 'what about
this person,' 'what about this
person,' -- I hope that
Memphians, and I can say this as
a native Memphian, that we don't
critique but that we celebrate
and we congratulate these folks
that are going in.
I had someone say, "Well, how
did the nominating committee
choose this person over this
person?"
It's not a contest, folks.
It is years and years of us
honoring luminaries of the music
industry that we should have
doing for decades.
And so let's start doing it and
let's do it for decades because
we will be doing it for decades.
>> Cawein: So quickly, let's
tell people where they can find
the Hall of Fame online.
>> Doyle: Online we have a
phenomenal website that was
designed by a company called
Simple Focus.
It's online at
memphismusichalloffame-dot-com
which is pretty easy.
>> Cawein: They can check it out
there and they can also visit
the Rock 'n' Soul Museum at
memphisrocknsoul-dot-org -- is
that right?
>> Doyle: Exactly -- And
eventually there will be a cool
interactive gallery where people
will be able to access stuff
about these things.
On the website you can read the
bios.
You can see videos.
You can sample their music.
It's a cool site.
>> Cawein: Thank you so much for
being here, John.
We really appreciate it.
We're excited to check out the
Hall of Fame.
And y'all check out some music
events that are coming up here
in Memphis in the next couple of
weeks that I don't want you to
miss.
>> (instrumental music)
♪♪♪
♪♪♪
>> Shannon: Downtown Dining
Weeks is coming up November 5 -
11, downtown Memphis.
And I'm so glad I got Melissa
back with me.
I've missed you so much.
>> Peterson: I've missed being
here.
>> Shannon: I really have.
And Downtown Dining Week started
to encourage folks to come
downtown.
>> Peterson: It was a time, you
know, when they were
traditionally slow.
A slow week and the restaurants
all got together to kind of
market themselves as -- Hey,
come visit downtown.
And it's worked out to be a real
fun week.
>> Shannon: And this is 2012.
So a three course meal is
$20.12.
Can't beat that.
I would suggest you make a
reservation.
>> Peterson: It's become so
popular that it is a good idea
to make a reservation.
>>Shannon: So this year we've
got who?
We've got --
>> Peterson: Majestic,
Felicia's, Lunchbox Eats -- Have
you been there?
Love it.
Blue, Itta Beena -- Oh, it's
like a test or something.
>> Shannon: But now look, this
is the thing that I like.
They're not going to announce
the full list until right
before.
>> Peterson: And you know, some
of the chefs do special things
that aren't on their regular
menu just for this.
Some of them do -- It's a single
course or dinner for two for the
$20.12.
It just depends on the
restaurants.
Sometimes it's dinner for two
because something like Kooky
Canuck might do dinner for two.
I don't know that they actually
are but it just depends on the
restaurant because they've got
lunch restaurants.
They've got City Grocery -- City
Market
So lots of different things that
they can try.
You know, I'm so amazed.
We've been here five years and
I'm amazed that there's still
people I talk to and they go,
"Oh, I haven't been Downtown in
20 years."
This is a great reason to come
Downtown.
>> Shannon: And you know what I
like?
It's all week.
So you can do a restaurant a
night unless you're real
adventurous.
You could do two a night.
>> Peterson: Oh, I've never done
that.
But it also makes Downtown kind
of hip and happening.
You know, Downtowns great
whenever there's an event -- an
Orpheum play or something
happening at the Forum.
And this in itself kind of makes
it an event because all the
restaurants will be busy and
you're bound to run in to
someone you know.
>> Shannon: So where are you
going?
>> Peterson: Well, you know, I
live Downtown.
And I'm a huge proponent of
being Downtown and walking to
restaurants.
And we go to almost all of them.
But we do have some favorites.
We go to SOB a lot -- Lunchbox
Eats.
My husband is thrilled that
there's a new Central Barbeque.
I don't know if that's on the
list yet.
Majestic -- We go there a lot.
You know I'm a hamburger addict.
>> Shannon: I have not been to
Eighty3 and I have not been to
SOB -- South of Beale.
>> Peterson: I just came from
SOB.
>> Shannon: Okay -- What do I
need to get there?
>> Peterson: I'm a big fan.
They have great entrees and
little flatbread pizzas but I'm
a big fan of all their side
dishes.
So I mix and match their side
dishes.
So my favorite at the moment is
the duck fried rice with an egg
on it and their maple bacon
brussel sprouts.
>> Shannon: Oh my gosh -- That
sounds so good.
That sounds so good.
Can't wait.
>> Peterson: And it's one of
those great things where they
all get to know you.
They see us in there every week
and so they tell me when the new
Ghost River beers on tap.
It's kind of like "Cheers" where
everybody knows your name.
>> Shannon: Okay -- November 5 -
11 Downtown Dining Week.
Don't miss it.
>> (instrumental music)
♪♪♪
♪♪♪
>> Shannon: Let's go to Melissa
at Whole Foods and hopefully she
can demystify the process of
this store for me.
>> Peterson: Hey -- I'm here
today at Whole Foods with the
produce manager, Matt.
Hey, Matt -- What's different
about your produce department
versus a regular grocery store?
>> Shaeffer: One of the things
is that most of our products --
We carry a wide variety of
organic product.
And it's certified organic from
the farm all the way to your
basket.
You know, we're the only company
in the nation that's certified
organic.
>> Peterson: So that means what?
-- no chemicals.
>> Shaeffer: No chemicals -- no
herbicides, pesticides.
And it's all natural product.
>> Peterson: Hey, Ray.
So tell me what's the best thing
there is about the bulk
department here at Whole Foods.
>> Kelley: The best thing about
the bulk department is if you
have items that you buy as
staples in large quantities, you
can save a lot of money by
buying in bulk.
It creates a lot less waste --
you know, packaging waste.
>> Peterson: And what kind of
things do you have here?
>> Kelley: Well, we have rices,
grains.
You know, a good selection of
like beans, flours.
Over to the other side we have
like our nuts and seeds.
>> Peterson: You're not like a
regular grocery store.
How are you different?
>> Lux: Here at Whole Foods
Market, we cater to the
individual with special diets.
Right now a lot of people are
having issues with gluten-free.
We have a wide variety of
gluten-free items.
They're all marked clearly with
a gluten-free tag.
So you can come in, see what you
want, grab it and get out.
>> Peterson: Both prepared food
and ingredient -type food, as
well?
>> Lux: Absolutely, yes -- We
always list all our ingredients
on all our hot bar, on
everything to the baking aisle.
We want to be 100% transparent
about our ingredients.
So if you have a special need,
you know on the front end.
>> Peterson: It's kind of an
amazing store.
There's a lot going on in here.
There's stuff for people who
cook, stuff for people who don't
cook.
How can it be a less
intimidating experience to come
in and get the Whole Foods
experience?
>> Lux: Here at Whole Foods
market, every Thursday night we
do a Thursday night tasting tour
from 5:00 to 7:00 PM.
You can come in, tour the store
with your taste buds, try what
you like, -- ask departments
what's in season, what they
like, how to prepare an item.
And again, you get to taste it.
>> Peterson: Okay, this is my
favorite place in Whole Foods.
This is the cheese counter.
This is Aaron.
We call him the cute cheese guy.
Aaron, there's a lot of cheeses
here.
How do you help me navigate it?
>> Dallas: Well, we have a lot
of great cheeses.
We also have a great staff that
has a lot of extensive knowledge
that knows specific about what
regions and specific kinds of
cheeses that we have.
We also have a lot of exclusive
cheeses that are not available
to the rest of the community
that we get from France
directly.
One of the favorite lines I have
is Herve Mons cheeses.
They have a lot of great, great
specific cheeses for the
holidays.
And any customer can come in and
try any of these cheeses that
you see.
We have over 150 in the case
currently right now.
And you guys can come in and try
them out at any point.
>> Shannon: Tracy, we've covered
a lot of ground today.
>> Ford: There's a lot going in
Memphis.
>> Shannon: I know.
I'm really excited about
"Twilight of the Gods."
>> Ford: I know.
I want to see "La Boheme" at
GPAC.
>> Shannon: Well, now I'm going
to go back.
Do you know anything about
"Twilight of the Gods?"
>> Ford: You know what? -- I
heard that your son is in it
playing Rasputin.
>> Shannon: Kennon is Rasputin.
>> Ford: Well, you know, who
doesn't want that on their
resume?
>> Shannon: Absolutely.
>> Shannon: Now "La Bohemme" --
that's at --
Where are they playing?
>> Ford: It's at GPAC.
It's Opera Memphis -- right?
>> Shannon: Yes.
>> Ford: Yeah, that's exciting.
That's going to be a wonderful
production.
>> Shannon: And Playback Memphis
-- They're always doing such
interesting pieces.
>> Ford: Absolutely, absolutely.
They take real-life stories and
turn them into theatre.
It's going to be wonderful.
>> Shannon: So what time do you
want to go to India Fest?
>> Ford: I don't know,
>> Ford: I want to get there
early because then you get the
best food choices and you don't
have to wait in line so long for
henna.
>> Shannon: Well, you know, I've
already admitted it.
I eat twice at India Fest.
I have breakfast and I have
lunch.
>> Ford: It's my son's favorite
food.
>> Shannon: Mine, too.
And then you know Veterans' Day
-- I love the parades but I
really wish that they were on
the weekend.
I mean I know Veterans' Day is a
specific day but I wish that
they were on the weekends so the
school kids could get out
because when I was a kid, it was
>> Ford: What we do at Hutchison
is we have a separate assembly.
>> Shannon: Well, that's cool.
>> Ford: Yeah.
>> Shannon: And the Masks of the
-- how do you say it?
>> Ford: It's day of the dead
masks celebrating Halloween.
>> Shannon: Absolutely.
Thank you guys so much for
joining us.
Please go out and enjoy your
Local Color.