>> OKAY.
>> GOOD, YEAH, OKAY.
>>  I'M ERICK BAKER
AND I'VE SPENT MY LIFE
CROSSING THE SOUTHEAST ON TOUR
AS A SINGER/SONGWRITER.
BUT I RECENTLY REALIZE
I WAS ALWAYS HEADED
TO THE NEXT TOWN,
INSTEAD OF SEEING THE SIGHTS
ALONG THE WAY.
SO I TEAMED WITH MY FRIEND
AERIAL NICOLE
TO CHECK OUT WHAT
WE'VE BEEN MISSING.
♪ THERE'S A PLACE ♪
♪ YOU'VE NEVER BEEN ♪
♪ THAT'S RIGHT WHERE ♪
♪ YOU WANT TO BE ♪
>> WE HOPE TO TAKE YOU
TO PLACES YOU NEVER
KNEW EXISTED
OR WHERE YOU'VE ALWAYS
DREAMED OF GOING.
♪ UNCHARTERED ♪
>> IN 2001, THE MEMPHIS
GRIZZLIES ACCOMPLISHED
ACCOMPLISHED WHAT MOST
NBA FANS CONSIDERED IMPOSSIBLE.
THEY DEFEATED THE TOP SEEDED
SAN ANTONIO SPURS
IN THE WESTERN CONFERENCE
SERIES TO WIN THEIR FIRST
PLAYOFF GAME EVER.
AFTER THE GAME, WHEN POWER
FORWARD ZACH RANDOLPH,
HAD BEEN ONE OF THE MOST
CONTROVERSIAL TRADES
IN THE TEAM'S HISTORY
JUST TWO YEARS EARLIER,
WAS ASKED WHAT HE LOVED
ABOUT MEMPHIS.
HE REPLIED IT'S
A BLUE COLLAR TOWN
AND I'M A BLUE COLLAR PLAYER,
A HARD WORKER.
NOTHING'S BEEN GIVEN
EASILY TO ME
AND NOTHING'S BEEN GIVEN
EASILY TO THIS TOWN.
TO MANY PEOPLE,
MEMPHIS IS A CITY
SEEN THROUGH STEREOTYPES.
FLOODS, BLOODS, BLUES
AND BARBECUE TO NAME A FEW.
BUT FOR THOSE WHO CALL
THIS PLACE HOME,
IT'S DEFINED BY HEART,
HOPE, HERITAGE
AND A PENCHANT FOR HANGING ON.
WE'VE BEEN TO MEMPHIS
A FEW TIMES ON THIS SHOW
AND I'VE HIT THE STREETS
A HANDFUL OF TIMES ON MY OWN,
EITHER AS A TEENAGER OR ON TOUR,
BUT INEVITABLY, I ALWAYS
FEEL LIKE A TOURIST.
I BELIEVE IN MEMPHIS
AND RESPECT THE GRIT
AND GRIME THAT DEFINES
ITS CITIZENS AS MUCH
AS ITS FRANCHISES.
SO THIS TIME I'M LOOKING
THROUGH THE LENS OF A LOCAL
TO GET THE LOWDOWN.
SPEAKING OF DOWN,
DOWNWARD FACING DOG
SEEMED LIKE A GREAT PLACE
TO START.
LOST IN THE GARDEN.
>> MY HUSBAND WOULD TELL YOU
I CAN'T GET ANYWHERE.
BUT I'M ALWAYS WALKING
WITH A PURPOSE.
>> RIGHT, I LIKE IT.
>> SO HE WILL FOLLOW ME
AND I'M LIKE PLEASE
DON'T FOLLOW ME.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE I'M GOING.
>> OH, YEAH, THIS IS BEAUTIFUL.
>> LIKE YOGA, I GOTTA REMEMBER
TO BE QUIET.
I'M A LOUD HIGH ENERGY GUY.
ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT SPECIAL ABOUT
A MAJOR METROPOLITAN CITY
LIKE MEMPHIS
IS ALL THE SPACES
THERE ARE TO EXPLORE.
TAKE SUNRISE YOGA AT
THE DIXON FOR EXAMPLE.
FINE ART, CHECK.
FREE FLOWS, DOUBLE CHECK.
A PLACE THAT STANDS
FOR THE PLURALITY
OF THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE,
AND IS COMMITTED
TO DIVERSITY IN ALL AREAS.
WELL, THAT'S A MOTTO TO MOTIVATE
WELL BEYOND MORNING MEDITATION.
(GENTLE MUSIC)
>> OKAY.
(GENTLE MUSIC)
>> HOW WAS IT?
>> I'M SUPER SWEATY.
I'M VERY SWEATY.
YOGA'S TOUGH,
FOR THIS GUY AT LEAST.
IT DEFINITELY DOESN'T
FEEL LIKE AUGUST.
>> NO, THIS I LIKE THIS
IS RARE FOR MEMPHIS.
IT'S SUPER, SUPER RARE.
>> SO WE DID IT.
>> IT WAS GOOD, WE
DID IT I'M EXCITED.
I'M HUNGRY, I'M READY TO LIKE.
>> BE BAD THE REST OF THE DAY.
>> NO.
>> WE NEVER KNOW EXACTLY
WHAT LIFE WILL HOLD FOR US.
AS MUCH AS WE MAY
HOPE FOR THE BEST
AND TRY TO PLAN FOR THE WORST.
AND AS EASY GOING AS
WE MAY THINK WE ARE,
IT CAN BE DIFFICULT
TO STAY FLEXIBLE,
FOR SOME OF US MORE
LITERALLY THAN OTHERS.
>> IT'S A HARDER WORKOUT
THAN A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK,
YOU KNOW.
>> IT'S THE WHOLE THING.
>> LIKE THAT FIRST FIVE
MINUTES I WAS LIKE DYING.
THANK YOU SCOTT.
OH, LOOK HOW PRETTY IT IS.
WOW, I LOVE IT.
SO YUMMY.
>> WHAT IS IT?
>> IT'S GREEN TEA.
IT'S GOT A LITTLE
BIT OF MAPLE SYRUP.
I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY
WHAT'S ALL IN IT,
BUT IT'S SUPER GOOD FOR YOU.
IT'S GOT LIKE
MATCHA POWDER IN IT
AND THAT'S LIKE SUPER
HIGH IN ANTIOXIDANTS
AND YOU GOT TO TRY
IT, IT'S SO YUMMY.
>>  I'M
TOTALLY GONNA TRY IT.
>> IT'S WEIRD, LIKE
IT'S SUPER HIPPY,
BUT IT'S REALLY GOOD.
>> SUPER HIPPY.
>> IT'S SUPER HIPPY,
BUT IT'S SO YUMMY.
>> I LOVE IT, THOUGH,
THE CALIFORNIA HIPPY GIRL
MOVES TO MEMPHIS.
TELL ME AGAIN HOW THAT HAPPENED.
>> SO, MY DAD, YOU KNOW, I'M
THE OLDEST OF EIGHT KIDS.
AND IN CALIFORNIA,
THAT DOES NOT WORK,
YOU KNOW, FINANCIALLY.
>> YEAH, THAT SEEMS EXPENSIVE.
>> YEAH, REALLY EXPENSIVE.
AND SO WE MOVED HERE TO MEMPHIS,
MY DAD TOOK A JOB HERE
AND I DON'T THINK
ANY OF US THOUGHT WE'D STAY,
YOU KNOW.
BUT IT'S ENDED UP BEING,
YOU KNOW I LOVE IT.
AND WE DIDN'T TRAVEL A LOT,
SO AS LONG AS I GET
TO SEE THE OCEAN,
AND THE MOUNTAINS,
THEN THIS IS LIKE
A GREAT PLACE TO COME HOME TO.
I ALWAYS SAY THAT, LIKE
I'LL BE IN NEW YORK
OR LA OR SOMEWHERE, I'M LIKE
AND THIS LIKE HUSTLE BUSTLE
AND THEN WHEN I LAND HERE
AND I COME INTO OUR AIRPORT,
I'M LIKE ACTUALLY THIS IS
AWESOME TO COME HOME TO.
IT'S A GOOD HOME BASE.
>> TOTALLY.
>> YEAH.
>> MICHAELA'S FITNESS
MAY SEEM TO COME NATURALLY,
BUT IN FACT IT'S BEEN HARD WON
AND SHE KNOWS BETTER
THAN MOST WHEN IT SEEMS
LIKE EVERYTHING IS
FAILING AND ALL YOU WANT
TO DO IS FALL OVER,
IT'S MORE IMPORTANT
THAN EVER TO FIND YOUR CENTER,
GET GROUNDED AND REFUSE
TO GIVE UP.
>> I GOT SICK ABOUT THREE
AND A HALF YEARS AGO.
AND ENDED UP HAVING TO
UNDERGO A SURGERY THAT
BASICALLY DESTROYED
ME PHYSICALLY
AND SO MY FIRST SURGERY.
I'VE HAD 10 IN THREE
AND A HALF YEARS.
WITH THE FIRST SURGERY,
I'D GONE FROM BEING
YOU KNOW A PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE
AND A FITNESS MODEL
TO, YOU KNOW,
I WENT INTO HOSPITAL
130 POUNDS IN SHAPE
AND LEFT AT 94 POUNDS
AND DIDN'T EVEN LOOK
LIKE THE SAME PERSON.
>> OH, MY GOSH, 94 POUNDS.
AND YOU USED THE WORD
DEVASTATED.
YOUR BODY WAS DESTROYED.
THOSE ARE, SO, NOW I
MEAN JUST SEEING YOU
IN FRONT OF ME NOW,
IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE.
I MEAN IT REALLY IS.
I MEAN, YOU'RE STRONG,
YOUR SPIRIT.
I MEAN YOU'RE FULL OF LIFE,
RIGHT.
>> I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR GENETICS
BECAUSE I HAVE NO IDEA, SOMEHOW,
IT'S LIKE THE MINUTE
I WAS START TO GET
A LITTLE BIT BETTER,
MY MUSCLES WOULD COME BACK,
MY STRENGTH WOULD COME BACK
AND I WOULD RESPOND
SUPER, SUPER QUICKLY.
I THINK FROM YEARS OF TRAINING
AND BEING AN ATHLETE
IT CAME BACK SO EASY.
BUT IT KIND ENDED UP BEING
YOU KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE SAID
KIND OF A CURSE.
BECAUSE I'LL SEE 10 DOCTORS
IN AN HOUR
AND 20 NURSES AND EVERY
ONE OF THEM WALKS IN,
OH, YOU LOOK TOO GOOD
TO BE IN HERE, YOU KNOW.
AND YOU WANT TO SCREAM BECAUSE
YOU ARE JUST DYING INSIDE,
YOU FEEL SO BAD.
>> OH, HERE WE GO.
>> DOESN'T THAT LOOK AWESOME.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> SO, SO YUMMY.
THIS IS BACK IN PROBABLY JUNE.
IT WAS AFTER MY SURGERY
AND I STILL HAD A PUMP IN
TO DRAIN FLUID FROM MY CHEST.
I'M IN WHOLE FOODS AND I'M
CHECKING OUT AND ALL OF A SUDDEN
I FEEL, I HAD TO WEAR THIS BELT
THAT WOULD HOLD MY PUMP,
THAT WOULD HOLD EVERYTHING
AND I COULD FEEL IT
SLIDING LIKE DOWN MY WAIST
AND I'M LIKE OKAY,
I'M JUST GONNA EXPAND
MY RIB CAGE AND WALK
OUT WITH MY GROCERIES
AND SO I'VE GOT BOTH
MY GROCERIES IN MY HAND
AND I'M WALKING OUT
AND THE THING FALLS, LIKE FALLS.
AND I'M STANDING THERE
AND I HAD JUST
WALKED OUT THE DOORS
AND I KNOW THAT
WHOEVER'S WALKING IN, I
MEAN, YOU SEE THIS THING FULL
OF LIKE BLOOD AND FLUID
AND IT'S HANGING
IN BETWEEN MY LEGS
AND I'M LIKE THIS
IS FREAKING UNBELIEVABLE.
AND I'M ABOUT TO LOSE
IT AND THEN I JUST
STARTED LAUGHING, I WAS LIKE,
YOU KNOW WHAT,
AND I PICKED UP MY PHONE
AND SHOT A PICTURE RIGHT THERE
IN MY OUTFIT AND I JUST
PUT JUST SO Y'ALL KNOW,
NOT EVERYTHING IS PERFECT.
AND JUST 'CAUSE I LOOK LIKE
THIS TODAY DOESN'T MEAN,
AND THE RESPONSE I GOT WAS
JUST LIKE, YOU KNOW,
PEOPLE WERE DYING LAUGHING
OR THEY WERE JUST LIKE THIS
IS AMAZING OR WHATEVER.
BUT THAT'S MY GOAL
IS TO SHOW PEOPLE
THE REALNESS AND TO SHOW
THEM THAT, YOU KNOW,
A PICTURE DOES
NOT MEAN ANYTHING.
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
>> YOU KNOW, I DON'T
THINK I EVEN REALIZED
IT WAS HAPPENING WHILE IT
WAS HAPPENING, YOU KNOW.
HAVING A BLOG WAS A WAY FOR
ME JUST TO KIND OF WRITE THIS
AND LOOK BACK TO SEE
HOW FAR I'VE COME.
I'VE STARTED GETTING JUST
KIND OF RANDOM EMAILS
FROM PEOPLE, JUST HEY,
YOU CHANGED MY LIFE TODAY.
OR HEY, I EVEN HAD ONE
GIRL THAT WAS LIKE,
I JUST READ ABOUT
YOUR FIRST SURGERY
AND THE SUFFERING
YOU WENT THROUGH
AND I WAS SUICIDAL
AND YOU HAVE GIVEN ME
A REASON TO LIVE.
YOU'VE GIVEN ME A REASON
TO NOT DO THIS
BECAUSE I REALIZE LIKE
MY STUFF IS NOTHING,
LIKE A MAN LEAVING ME IS
NOTHING OR WHATEVER, YOU KNOW.
AND I STARTED
THINKING, YOU KNOW,
IF I CAN TURN MY SUFFERING
INTO SOMETHING GOOD,
THEN IT WAS ALL
WORTH IT, YOU KNOW.
I NOTICED THAT, YOU KNOW
THE MORE VULNERABLE I WAS,
THE MORE OPEN I WAS,
THE MORE READERS I GOT,
THE MORE PEOPLE WERE
RESPONDING AND THE MORE PEOPLE
IT WAS TOUCHING.
>> THANKS TO MUCH NEEDED FUEL
AT CITY SILO, ONE OF
MICHAELA'S FAVORITES,
MY BELLY IS FINALLY FULL.
AND HONESTLY, SO IS MY HEART.
I RECENTLY HEARD THAT HARDSHIP
DOESN'T BUILD CHARACTER,
IT REVEALS IT AND THIS STATEMENT
HOLDS VERY TRUE FOR
MICHAELA AND HER FAMILY.
>> [ANNOUNCER] CATCH
THE AWARD WINNING
GEOFF CALKINS FROM
THE DAILY MEMPHIAN
AND THE GEOFF CALKINS SHOW.
>> TODAY ON THE SHOW,
WELL, FIRST OF ALL,
WE'RE GONNA HAVE IN STUDIO,
A CAMERA CREW, ONCE AGAIN.
BASICALLY I SPEND MY LIFE
BEING TRAILED AROUND
BY CAMERA CREWS,
THIS ONE FROM PBS.
>> SPEAKING OF HEART,
ALL HEART TO BE SPECIFIC,
YOU MAY HAVE HEARD THAT
PHRASE A TIME OR TWO
IF YOU HAPPEN TO TUNE
INTO ANY NBA COVERAGE
FROM 2011 ON.
ALL HEART, GRIT AND GRIME
WAS THE ORIGINAL QUOTE
AND ONE OF THE MEN
SCRAMBLING TO JOT IT DOWN
WAS NONE OTHER
THAN GEOFF CALKINS,
A SEMINOLE SPORTSWRITER
AND MIGRATORY MEMPHIAN
WHO PENNED HIS FAREWELL COLUMN
WITH THE COMMERCIAL APPEAL
IN MAY OF 2018 AFTER 22 YEARS
WITH THE PUBLICATION.
THESE DAYS HE CAN BE FOUND
ON 92.9 FM ESPN RADIO,
AS WELL AS MAKING MOVES
FOR A NEW MEDIA VENTURE.
>> SO HERE WE'RE LITERALLY
SORT OF INVENTING
WHAT THIS THING IS
GONNA LOOK LIKE.
ALL THESE PEOPLE ARE
PEOPLE WHO ARE SORT OF
TAKING A RISK AND
TRYING TO DO SOMETHING
THAT MIGHT ACTUALLY
CHANGE WHAT NEWSPAPERING
LOOKS LIKE SOMEDAY.
>> RIGHT, YEAH.
>> I'VE BEEN HERE 22 YEARS NOW.
SO I THINK I NOW
QUALIFY SOMEWHERE
AROUND THE 19 YEAR RANGE
I BECAME A MEMPHIAN.
>> YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.
>> AT SOME POINT, THEY'RE PRETTY
THEY DON'T HAND THAT
TITLE OUT EASILY.
>> LET ME JUST SAY, WHAT
DOES IT MEAN TO BE MEMPHIAN.
>> IT IS A TOWN THAT HAS
A CHIP ON ITS SHOULDER.
IT IS A TOWN THAT,
IT'S NOT WEALTHY,
IT'S NOT EVERYTHING
DOESN'T COME EASY TO IT.
I THOUGHT WHEN I MOVED HERE
BECAUSE YOU MAY
BE ABLE TO TELL,
I'M AN ORIGINAL YANKEE,
I'VE LIVED IN NEW YORK AND
I'VE LIVED IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
AND I'VE LIVED IN MIAMI
AND I'VE LIVED
IN MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA
AND SO I CAME HERE AND I THOUGHT
THIS IS GONNA BE TOUGH,
'CAUSE I'VE SEEN "THE FIRM"
YOU KNOW.
AND IT'S GONNA BE LIKE THAT.
IT'S KIND OF A TOUGH
TOWN TO BREAK INTO.
IT IS NOT WARM IN THE CLICHE WAY
THAT SOUTHERN PEOPLE
THINK YOU'RE FAKE WARM.
IT REALLY IS A WARM
AND NEAT PLACE TO LIVE
IN THE SENSE THAT
IT WILL EMBRACE YOU.
THERE'S A REASON THAT IT IS
DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR,
PERSON FOR PERSON THE MOST
PHILANTHROPIC CITY
IN THE COUNTRY
AND IT'S BECAUSE I THINK
WITH THE STRUGGLE AND THE SENSE
OF PEOPLE STRUGGLING
COMES EMPATHY AND SO
I THINK PEOPLE CARE
FOR EACH OTHER.
DOES IT HAVE PROBLEMS,
SURE IT HAS PROBLEMS.
BUT WHAT ALWAYS IMPRESSES ME IS
HOW MANY PEOPLE THERE ARE
WHO ARE ADDRESSING,
WHO ARE AGGRESSIVELY
RISING TO THE OCCASION
TO ADDRESS THIS WELL.
>> I LOVE IT.
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
>> THERE'S AN EGG RIGHT THERE,
YOU CAN PUT YOLK OVER IT.
>>  THEN YOU WON'T
MIND ME DIPPING IN IT.
>> GET A LITTLE BIT,
EXACTLY RIGHT.
A LOT OF NBA CITIES,
BEFORE PLAYOFF GAMES,
THEY PUT A T-SHIRT
ON EVERY CHAIR,
SO EVERYONE HAS TO
PUT ON A WHITE OUT
OR WHATEVER IT IS, RIGHT.
>> RIGHT, RIGHT, RIGHT.
>> MEMPHIANS ARE LIKE
THE HECK OF THAT,
WE ARE NOT ALL WEARING
THE SAME SHIRT.
WE ARE NOT DORKY PEOPLE WHO
ALL DRESS IN THE SAME SHIRT.
WE WEAR OUR BOOTLEG SHIRTS,
WE WEAR OUR WHATEVER,
YOU KNOW WE COME AS WE ARE.
WE'LL HOLD THE TOWEL,
WE'LL WAVE A TOWEL,
WE'LL YELL, WHOOP THAT TREK,
BUT WE ARE NOT ALL WEARING
THE SAME DORKY YELLOW T-SHIRT.
THAT'S JUST SORT
OF WHAT MEMPHIS IS.
THIS IS THE FOOD
OF THE GODS, HERE.
EVERY TIME I COME TO THIS PLACE,
I SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT,
I'M NOT GONNA GET
THE POUTINE 'CAUSE
I GET IT EVERY TIME
AND EVERY TIME
I GET THE POUTINE.
>> ALL RIGHT, MAN,
I'M GLAD YOU DID.
>> ISN'T THAT GOOD.
THAT IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE
THINGS ON EARTH, HONESTLY.
IT'S CANADIAN, TOO,
LIKE WHO WOULD THINK
YOU WOULD HAVE THIS CANADIAN
DISH PERFECTED BY MEMPHIANS.
THE CITY REALLY DID USED TO
HAVE THIS INFERIORITY COMPLEX.
OTHER CITIES IN THE SOUTH,
ATLANTA, NASHVILLE,
ARE RICHER, GROWING FASTER,
AUSTIN, LIKE RICHER,
GROWING FASTER.
MEMPHIS TRIED FOREVER
TO GET AN NFL TEAM,
WAS REBUFFED, REBUFFED,
REBUFFED AND THERE WAS
THIS SORT OF WHOA IS ME THING
AND ALONG COME THE GRIZZLIES
WITH A BUNCH OF PLAYERS
WHO WERE SORT OF,
I LEAD A MISFIT TOYS
KIND OF PLAYERS.
AND THEY COME TOGETHER,
THEY WON WITH WHAT
NOW BECAME GRIT AND GRIME,
IT SORT OF BECAME THE
SLOGAN OF THAT TEAM.
I REALLY THINK IT'S NOT
TOO MUCH TO SAY
THAT THE GRIZZLIES
HELPED CHANGE THE WAY
THAT MEMPHIANS THINK
ABOUT THEMSELVES.
AND THAT ERA IS MOSTLY OVER NOW.
ZACK'S GONE.
ANTONY'S GONE.
>> RIGHT.
>> BUT I THINK THE IMPACT
THEY HAD ON THE CITY
AND CHANGING THE
WAY THAT MEMPHIANS
THINK ABOUT THEMSELVES.
I THINK THAT REMAINS.
>> MAN.
>> PLUS THERE'S EGG
ON THE PIZZA.
>> WHEN MORE THAN
30 FUNDING SOURCES
BEGAN TO COORDINATE
IN 2010 TO CREATE
WHAT IS NOW THE
CROSSTOWN CONCOURSE,
THEY SET OUT TO BUILD MUCH MORE
THAN JUST A MIXED USE SPACE.
INSTEAD THEY SOUGHT TO
MAINTAIN THE MANTRA OF MEMPHIS.
TOGETHER WE ARE BETTER.
CROSSTOWN CONCOURSE.
>> CROSSTOWN CONCOURSE.
>> AND WE START, IT'S HARD
TO READ, IT REALLY IS.
YOU REALLY HAVE TO LIKE.
>>  WHAT DOES THAT SAY.
>> CROSSTOWN BREWING COMPANY.
>> YAY,
WHICH I TRIED TO CHANGE
MY LAST NAME TO BREWING COMPANY
AND THEY WOULDN'T LET ME,
SO I FEEL RIGHT AT HOME IN HERE.
>> OKAY, DO YOU GUYS
ACTUALLY BREW HERE.
>> YES, THIS IS A VERY
IMPORTANT PART OF
THE WHOLE CONCEPT OF CROSSTOWN
CONCOURSE FOR US.
WE'RE NOT JUST ABOUT
SELLING THINGS,
WE'RE ABOUT SEEING
THE WHOLE PRODUCTION PROCESS.
>> AWESOME.
>> SO WE DON'T JUST HAVE A
COFFEE SHOP, WE HAVE A ROASTERY.
WE DON'T JUST HAVE A BAR,
WE HAVE A BREWERY.
WE DON'T JUST DISPLAY ART,
WE HAVE ARTIST STUDIOS.
RIGHT, SO IT'S
ALL ABOUT WATCHING
THE MEANS OF PRODUCTION.
THAT'S SUCH A HUMAN NEED
TO WANT TO WATCH THINGS.
>> NOT JUST THE DESTINATION,
BUT THE JOURNEY.
>> YES.
>> LOVE IT.
>> THE CROSSTOWN CONCOURSE
IS A MELTING POT
OF ALL THINGS THAT
MAKE MEMPHIS GREAT.
CULTURE, COMMUNITY AND COOKING
COMING TOGETHER
TO CREATE SOMETHING
THAT IS BETTER TOGETHER
THAN IT COULD EVER BE SEPARATELY
AND IT SEEMS FITTING
THAT THIS SPACE
IS SET ON A SIGHT
WITH SO MUCH HISTORY.
NOT JUST BECAUSE THAT'S
THE NORM IN A CITY
THAT'S SEEN SO MUCH,
BUT BECAUSE THIS VENTURE
IS BOUND TO CREATE HISTORY
AS MUCH AS IT'S LOOKING
TO PRESERVE IT.
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
>> KIND OF WHAT I DO
ALL DAY ALL.
THIS IS LIKE SECRET
LABYRINTH BEHIND THE SCENES
OF CROSSTOWN CONCOURSE,
WHEREIN LIES PART
OF THE ARTIST'S
RESIDENCY PROGRAM.
>>  OKAY, YEAH.
>> AND THIS WAY IS
KIND OF THE SOUND.
THERE'S A SOUND LAB
AND THEN THERE IS SORT
OF A MUSIC ARTIST
RESIDENCY, WHICH I'M
THE INAUGURAL GUINEA PIG
RESIDENT OF.
WELCOME TO MY LAIR.
>> YOU KNOW AS AN ARTIST,
I JUST WANT TO KNOW
WHAT THIS MEANS TO YOU
AND TO WHAT YOU ARE CREATING.
>> WELL, I'M A SECOND
GENERATION MEMPHIS MUSICIAN.
I'VE GROWN UP IN ROOMS
NOT UNLIKE THIS
AND I'VE ALWAYS HAD
A ROOM LIKE THIS SORT OF
IN MY HOUSE WHERE YOU'RE
LIKE CHECKING INTO AN OFFICE.
WHEN I WALK THROUGH
THE FRONT DOORS
INTO THE AMAZING CENTRAL ATRIUM,
I MEAN THE ENERGY OUT
THERE IS PALPABLE.
YOU CAN FEEL IT.
PEOPLE WHO, FIRST TIMERS
ARE JUST SO BLOWN AWAY
BY THIS SPACE.
THAT'S A GREAT, ALMOST
PRODUCTION TECHNIQUE
FOR PEOPLE I BRING
BACK HERE IS JUST
TO LEAD THEM THAT WAY.
I WOULD BRING THEM AROUND
THE SIDE IF I WANTED TO,
BUT IT'S SUPER
IMPORTANT TO GET THAT
AND THEN FEEL LIKE I'M COMING
BACK TO THE SECRET CAVE
WHERE NOBODY ELSE
HAS ACCESS, YOU KNOW,
AND MAKE MAGICAL RECORDINGS
THAT, YOU KNOW,
IT'S KIND OF REALLY,
A DEEP THING, YOU KNOW,
IT'S A FOREVER THING
AND EVERY LITTLE BIT
OF ENERGY AND POSITIVE SETUP
BY GOING THAT WAY, LIKE COUNTS.
SO TO SPEAK.
>> WHAT ARE WE WALKING UP HERE?
>> WE'RE WALKING UP
THE RED STAIRCASE,
THE MOST INSTAGRAMMED
STAIRCASE IN MEMPHIS.
>> TOTALLY.
I SEE IT ALL THE TIME.
>> TO CROSSTOWN ARTS.
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
>> IF YOU'RE FROM MEMPHIS,
YOU KNOW, OF A CERTAIN AGE,
I THINK WE ALL
REMEMBER THOSE TIMES
WHEN IT WAS NOT COOL
TO BE FROM MEMPHIS.
AND IT WASN'T THAT
LONG AGO REALLY.
I THINK WE'VE ONLY
REALLY FOUND OUR PRIDE
IN THE LAST, YOU KNOW,
6 TO 10 YEARS
SO THAT'S WHAT I SEE.
I SEE THE PRIDE.
CHOOSE 901, YOU KNOW,
ALL THESE THINGS.
I MEAN PEOPLE ARE PROUD
TO BE FROM MEMPHIS
AND THEY SHOULD BE.
IT'S A COOL PLACE.
IT WAS ALWAYS COOL, WE'RE
JUST KIND OF THE LAST ONES
TO FIGURE OUT HERE IN MEMPHIS
HOW COOL IT IS HERE.
>> IT'S SO TRUE.
I WAS ACTUALLY BORN
AND RAISED IN FRANCE
AND WHEN I FIRST MOVED HERE,
PEOPLE ARE LIKE WHY
ARE YOU IN MEMPHIS.
I WAS LIKE WHY WOULDN'T
I BE IN MEMPHIS.
>> RIGHT.
>> EVERYTHING IS AT
YOUR FINGERTIPS.
LIKE TRYING TO OPEN THIS
IN PARIS, GOOD LUCK.
>> EXACTLY.
>> YOU DO IT HERE, YOU CAN.
>> RIGHT.
>> YOU WANT TO BE INVOLVED
POLITICALLY, YOU CAN.
YOU WANT TO START A BUSINESS,
YOU CAN.
>> RIGHT.
>> THE MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES
HAVE SEEN A LOT OF FIRSTS
IN THE LITTLE OVER
A DECADE AND A HALF THAT
THEY CALL TENNESSEE HOME.
THEY'VE CLAWED THEIR WAY UP
FROM ONE OF THE WORST TEAMS
IN THE LEAGUE
TO ONE OF THE BEST AND HAVE
THE BATTLE SCARS TO PROVE IT.
BUT EVEN MORE NOTABLE
THAN THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS
CAST UPON THE WALLS
OF THE FEDEX FORUM,
THIS TEAM CATALYZED A COMMUNITY
INTO ACTION AS WELL
AS ADMIRATION.
THEY GRIZZLIES ARE
MUCH LIKE THE FAMILIES
THAT FORM THIS GREAT CITY.
THEY AREN'T IMMUNE TO DIRT,
DRAMA OR BEING DOWN,
AND THEY'RE BOUND TO SEE
GOOD SEASONS AND BAD.
BUT THE POINT IS,
THEY'LL SEE THEM ALL THE SAME
AND WON'T LET IT SET THEM BACK.
THIS TEAM MAY HAVE FOUND
THEIR HOME AT THE FORUM,
BUT THEY LIVE AND BREATH
BECAUSE OF THE BLOOD PUMPED
BY THE HEART THAT IS MEMPHIS.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING
WE CAN ALL BELIEVE IN.
>> WHEN YOU WORK FOR
THE ORGANIZATION,
I THINK EVERYBODY THAT
WORKS FOR OUR ORGANIZATION
FEELS A BURDEN
BEYOND JUST PROVIDING
AN ENTERTAINMENT OPTION.
YOU KNOW, WHICH IS WHAT
BASKETBALL IS IN MOST CITIES.
BUT HERE BEING THE ONLY
PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM
AND BEING SO TIED INTO
THE CITY'S SELF IMAGE
AND THE RECENT SUCCESS
AND GROWTH OF THE CITY
THAT JUST FEEL AND EXTRA
SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITY
THAT WE CARRY MORE THAN
JUST HAVE FUN TONIGHT.
>> YOU'LL SEE MIKE
COLLEY, YOU KNOW,
ON A PUBLIC GOLF COURSE.
YOU'LL TONY IRELAND DROPPING
HIS KIDS OFF AT SCHOOL.
I THINK PEOPLE IN THIS
COMMUNITY CAN RELATE
TO THAT BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT
JUST BASKETBALL PLAYERS,
THEY'RE CITIZENS OF
THIS COMMUNITY AS WELL.
THEY DON'T GO AND
RUN AND HIDE AND LIVE
OFF IN SOME ENCLAVES
OUTSIDE OF TOWN.
THEY'RE RIGHT WITHIN
THE FABRIC OF THIS CITY.
YOU CAN FIND YOURSELF IN
THE PLAYERS ON THE COURT.
I MEAN THIS IS A TEAM FULL
PER PERFECT IMPERFECTIONS.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
IT'S A TEAM AS JASON SAID,
YOU KNOW, YOU'RE NOT
GONNA FIND, YOU KNOW,
THE MOST FIT LOOKING GUY,
YOU'RE NOT GONNA FIND
THE TALLEST GUY,
THE PRETTIEST JUMP SHOT,
YOU'RE NOT GONNA FIND
THE GUY THAT DUNKS IT
AND WIN DUNKS CONTESTS,
BUT THEY'RE GONNA GET
OUT THERE AND FIGHT.
THEY'RE GONNA GET OUT THERE
AND DIVE ON THE FLOOR.
IT'S NOT ABOUT DUNKS,
IT'S ABOUT DIVES.
AND THAT, YOU KNOW,
SORT OF UNDERSCORES
THE MENTALITY OF THIS CITY.
>> A VERY FAMOUS MOMENT
IN THIS TEAM'S HISTORY,
WHERE THEY HAD THESE TOP DAYS
GROWL TOWELS THEY CALL THEM.
THEY SAID BELIEVE MEMPHIS,
WHICH IS A SLOGAN FOR
A LONG TIME, BELIEVE MEMPHIS
AND THE TEAM WAS BEHIND
IN A PLAYOFF GAME
AND ALMOST SPONTANEOUSLY
EVERYONE HELD THESE TOWELS UP
IN A SORT OF A WALL
OF BELIEVE MEMPHIS
AND AT THAT MOMENT,
IT WASN'T JUST I BELIEVE
WE CAN COME BACK AND WIN.
IT WAS REALLY ABOUT
I BELIEVE IN THE POTENTIAL
OF THIS RIVER TOWN THAT
NOT EVERYBODY BELIEVES IN
AND IT REALLY, TO ME THAT'S
WHAT THIS TEAM HAS DONE.
IT HAS GIVEN BELIEF
TO A CITY THAT WAS
IN NEED OF THINGS TO GRAB ONTO.
(BLUES MUSIC)
>> IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING
ABOUT GRACELAND,
THEN YOU KNOW IT'S
AS MUCH AN ABODE
FOR THOSE WHO ADMIRE
THE KING AND HIS
CULTURAL CONTRIBUTIONS
AS IT WAS FOR HE
AND HIS FAMILY WHEN
THEY RESIDED THERE.
JUST LIKE ELVIS' INFLUENCE
GREW OVER TIME,
SO ARE THE GROUNDS AT HIS
FORMER FAMILY RESIDENCE.
WHICH NOW ALSO ENCOMPASS
MULTIPLE MUSEUMS,
DELICIOUS DINING AND
A LUXURY HOTEL THAT PROVIDES
MORE THAN JUST
A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP.
THE GUEST HOUSE AT
GRACELAND ALLOWS
THE LEGACY OF ELVIS TO LIVE ON.
AND IN TRUE MEMPHIS FORM,
IT IMPARTS TO THOSE PASSING
THROUGH THE IDEA OF
UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN,
MAY GOD BLESS YOU
AS HE HAS BLESSED ME.
PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD
ARE COMING HERE.
>> ALL OVER THE WORLD.
THEY COME TO SEE WHAT
ELVIS WAS ALL ABOUT.
>> RIGHT, WHAT WAS HE ALL ABOUT?
>> OH, HE WAS MUCH MORE
THAN MUSIC.
HE WAS ABOUT GENEROSITY.
IF HE WAS DRIVING
DOWN THE STREET
AND HE SAW SOMEONE IN NEED,
HE WOULD STOP AND HELP.
HE DIDN'T HAVE TO BE ASKED.
HE WOULD DO IT ON HIS OWN.
HE WAS HEAR OF SOMEONE IN NEED
AND HE WOULD MAKE SURE
THAT THE NEED WAS SATISFIED.
HE LOVED MEMPHIS.
HE TOLD EVERYONE THAT
MEMPHIS WAS HIS HOMETOWN.
WHEN HE WAS IN SCHOOL,
HE AND HIS COUSIN
AND FRIENDS WOULD
WALK DOWN BEALE STREET
TO LISTEN TO THE MUSIC.
>> WE WERE TALKING
OFF CAMERA, ELVIS ALWAYS
WANTED TO HAVE
A GUEST HOUSE.
>> YES, HE DID.
THE PLANS WERE
ALREADY IN THE PROCESS
OF BEING DRAWN UP.
THIS IS OF COURSE MUCH, MUCH
BIGGER THAN WHAT HE WANTED.
>> ELVIS LOOKING DOWN
AT US RIGHT NOW
AND LOOKING AT THE GUEST HOUSE
AND LOOKING AT EVERYTHING
THAT'S GOING ON HERE
IN HIS NAME,
IF HE COULD ADD ANYTHING
TO THIS, WHAT DO YOU THINK?
>> OH, I DON'T THINK HE
WOULD ADD ANYTHING TO THIS.
I THINK HE WOULD BE
HUMBLED BY THE FACT
THAT 41 YEARS AFTER HE'S GONE,
PEOPLE ARE STILL COMING,
SHARING THEIR PERSONAL STORIES,
DOING WHAT THEY CAN DO
TO KEEP THE LEGACY ALIVE.
>> [ANNOUNCER] WELCOME TO
THE 2018 CANDLELIGHT VIGIL.
WE ARE ALL HERE TONIGHT
CONNECTED BECAUSE OF ONE MAN.
ELVIS AARON PRESLEY.
>> I MUST ADMIT
THAT EVEN AFTER MAKING
THE ROUNDS, I STILL DON'T
FEEL LIKE MUCH OF A MEMPHIAN.
BUT IT'S NOT A MATTER
OF MISSING HOSPITALITY.
NO, THEY HIT THAT ONE
OUT OF THE PARK.
INSTEAD, IT'S THE FACT
THAT THEY SET
THE BAR SO HIGH HERE.
I'M NOT SURE I HAVE
THE GRIT OR GRIME
THAT MAKE THESE FOLKS SO GREAT.
BUT THEN AGAIN, I HAVE
A FEELING THAT THOSE
WHO WELCOMED ME THIS WEEK
WOULD SAY THAT LOOKING AT IT
THAT WAY MEANS
I'M MISSING THE POINT.
BEING A MEMPHIAN
DOESN'T MEAN BEING IMMUNE
TO IMPERFECTION.
IN FACT, BEING A MEMPHIAN
EMBODIES THE ABSOLUTE OPPOSITE.
IT'S BEING STRENGTHENED
BY YOUR SETBACKS.
I BELIEVE IN MEMPHIS.
I BELIEVE THEY'RE A POWDER KEG
AND I MEAN THAT IN THE
BEST SENSE OF THE WORD.
THERE'S NO TELLING WHAT
MEMPHIS IS CAPABLE OF.
WHAT THE FINE FOLKS
OF THIS CITY CAN ACHIEVE.
AND UNLIKE SO MANY CITIES
THAT SLIP INTO APATHY,
MEMPHIS IS JUST ONE SPARK AWAY
FROM EXPLODING INTO ACTION.
(INSTRUMENTAL THEME MUSIC)
