By Kylcye Bolden

Off of the train tracks at 3618 Walker Ave., there is a two-story brick building, where what happens inside is unlike anything else on the University of Memphis campus.  

At the Crews Center for Entrepreneurship, U of M students are being mentored through the process of developing their ideas and creating startups. The structure at the Crews Center is much more informal than typical campus services in order to better promote innovation and creativity among student entrepreneurs.

Originally called the Crews Ventures Lab, it was envisioned as an incubator for startups —typically university research for later commercialization.  However, Crews Center director Mike Hoffmeyer, suggested the University reevaluate the function of the operation. 

“An incubator by definition is very exclusive,” he said.  “What I recommended to the university was not to let go of the incubator concept, but to broaden it.  Let’s create our own destiny.”

Expanding the idea of the Crews Center opened the door for it to be an environment for any student who has an idea for a startup, regardless if it is researched based or a cool idea, to utilize and perfect that idea for commercialization.  More than simply that, however, Hoffmeyer feels that the purpose of the center is to influence the entire university to foster a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship. 

Hoffmeyer expressed that the culture of innovation is contagious.  Saying that once people experience it, they get attracted to it and come back with a desire to get more involved. 

The University of Memphis has been busy the past few years with various construction projects to accommodate the ever growing student population. Recently, the Southernwood Apartments were torn down to possibly make way for new dorms, but nothing is set in stone. On Park Ave., another deconstruction project began at the South Campus. The old Veteran's Morgue is being demolished for a new Student Health Center.

Graffiti has become a very popular form of art and expressionism, particularly in the U.S. recently with the emergence of rap and the underground hip-hop scene in New York City. The art form spread quickly throughout all the major cities in the country and can now be found in various forms on the back of countless buildings, dumpsters and overpasses. Though considered to be vandalism when done without permission of a business owner or owner of an establishment, when done right it can be a masterful form of art that conveys the political and social ideas and views of the artist. In the University District of Memphis, there are many walls of buildings with art and graffiti that relate to the area and display differentiating ideals.

The MemFix event at Walker and Highland on April 13 was conducted to showcase what is possible at the intersection by providing examples of how the University District neighborhood can become more pedestrian friendly. The event had pop-up retail stands, music and art and also introduced new ways for pedestrians to interact with the neighborhood. The all-day event offered the community a day to get to know the neighborhood and experience the local arts and entertainment industry.

The latest in the expansion of development near the University of Memphis saw Southernwood Apartments demolished in April. Located at the corner of Southern Avenue and Houston Street, the lot where the apartments stood for a half century is planned to be replaced by a new apartment complex to accomodate the growing student population. No date has been set in stone on when the new apartment will begin to be constructed. 

“The shop is unique in that it is one of the oldest continuously operating local businesses in the Memphis area,” said manager and day-to-day operator Doug Hendrickson. “It has never closed its doors. Also, it is Memphis' only magic shop.”

Cancer takes the lives of people every day. Many people have or know someone who has lost a loved one to the tragic disease. As cancer becomes more widespread, memorials have begun to surface throughout the United States and the world. In November of 2007, Memphis became the 23rd city in the U.S. to build a Cancer Survivor's Park. The park takes people through the journey of battling cancer, as well as offering a place for those who have lost someone close to them to come and reflect. With various sculptures from different local artists, the park gives people hope that cancer can be beaten and that a new life awaits after it has been defeated.

Memphis has long been home to some of the finest dining and southern cuisine in the country. From its world famous barbeque ribs at the Rendezvous to fried chicken from Gus’s, the Bluff City is full of places for locals and tourists to satisfy cravings for just about any food they can fathom.

One of the places that has established itself as a premiere destination for Memphians and out of towners is Pete and Sam’s. Serving up favorites such as lasagna, spaghetti, Italian spinach and BBQ pizza, a dish featured on the Food Network, Pete and Sam’s Italian Restaurant has been a staple in the University District since 1948.

After being discharged from the Army Air Corps, Sam Bomarito returned home to Memphis, where he and his brother-in-law Pete Romeo formed the idea to open a family owned restaurant where people could come and have a bite to eat while relaxing and enjoying good company. Although Pete left the business after just six months, Sam’s experience growing up and working in his uncle’s eatery, as well as watching his mother prepare meals for years, to turn an idea into a success.