The Sidebar with Eric Barnes

Phillip Ashley, the founder of Phillip Ashely Chocolates, discusses the evolution of his business as he's shifted to more branded and business-to-business chocolate sales, including partnerships with Cadillac and other big named brands. 

At its core, Vintage901 is about good food, good wine and the connections people make through eating and drinking together.

For eight years - until she founded the art gallery Sheet Cake in the Edge District in December of 2023 - Lauren Kennedy was executive director of the UrbanArt Commission, an organization which was essential to the spread of so much public art throughout Memphis.

Nykesha Cole joined Eric Barnes on this week's episode of The Sidebar to talk about her work as the arts and culture liaison for Shelby County Government.

Josh Burgess, who founded Lucy J's with his wife, Tracy, joined Eric Barnes on this week's episode of The Sidebar. They talked not only about Lucy's J's support of families working to get out of homelessness, but the many ways big and small that the bakery supports these families.

This week, Christine Weinreich, head of the Memphis Library Foundation, joined Eric Barnes on The Sidebar  to talk about the foundation's work in support of Memphis public libraries. 

Holly has written a new book documenting and describing so many cool and interesting places in Memphis: "100 Things to Do in Memphis Before You Die".

Eric Barnes talked to the organization's new president and CEO, Metise Moore Sr. this week about his plans to expand the reach of the clubs to more young people in Memphis.

Birdcap, who was born Michael Roy, has an exhibit on display at Crosstown Arts through the end of April, with paintings and mosaics inspired by his interpretation of Homer's Iliad.

Rory Thomas, the president of the Memphis Medical District Collaborative, join Eric Barnes on The Sidebar.

The path from working in social work to leading the Urban Art Commission might seem an odd one. But talking to Lakeisha Edwards, the connections all become clear very quickly as she talks about the ways public art not only beautifies a street or neighborhood, but how it impacts the people who live there.

Cyrena Wages has an album preview party at the Memphis Listening Lab on Feb. 1 at 6:30 pm, including songs from her debut album , a Q&A with the album's producer, Matt Ross-Spang, and performances of a few of the songs live with Joe Restivo.

Tim Barker joins Eric Barnes on The Sidebar.

Lauren joined Eric Barnes on this week's episode of The Sidebar to talk about her documentaries as well as the other video production work done by she, her husband, Scott Ready, and their team at Forever Ready Productions. She also talked about her time on local TV and more.

Keith joined Eric Barnes to talk about his work and the people like him who helped make the Wolf River Conservancy - both before he joined and after - what it is today.  

Tommy's advocacy for and articulation of what Memphis could be was at once impossibly grand and totally accessible, possible and doable. Today, a remarkable amount of the strategies and tactics and passion he articulated has come to life in this city.    

The WYXR festival and fundraiser is December 2 at Crosstown Concourse.

The museum's director talks about current and past exhibits, education programs - and irrigation.

As part of a series of conversations about our anniversary on September 18 - including interviews with board chair Andy Cates , columnist Dan Conaway and more - Eric Barnes sat down with our editorial director, Mary Cashiola, and our digital director, Holly Whitfield.

The Memphis filmmaker and artist on his work and the city.

The long-time and much-loved TV anchor talks about her new show on WREG, her career in local journalism and how she saved Eric Barnes from catastrophic embarrassment during a recent mayoral debate. Plus she dances. And sings!

Eric Barnes, Chris Herrington and Holly Whitfield are live in the WYXR studio for a Sound Bites/The Sidebar "Home and Away". 

A look at the Bartlett arts organizations upcoming schedule.

Janet Boscarino founded Clean Memphis to deal with litter. Now, some 15 years since its founding, Clean Memphis is evolving. While they still lead big volunteer efforts to clean up neighborhoods, the group is also trying to focus on more of the root causes of litter.

As part of The Daily Memphian's ongoing series of stories and interviews marking the 5th anniversary, Eric Barnes interviews the technical team behind the news organization.