Cooper Young First Thursday Night Out is when area businesses stay open late and dish out a world of discounts on everything from sushi to antiques. People from all over Memphis come to Cooper Young to enjoy our little neighborhood’s quirky charm on this night once a month from 5 – 9 pm.

While some of the area restaurants and bars host live music, we also host live music at our gazebo area located at the corner of Cooper Street and Young Avenue. At this time, we are looking for singer-songwriters and bands to play from 6 – 9 pm starting in April.

If you are interested in playing at this event, please contact Tamara Cook at 276-7222 or cyba@bellsouth.net.

By Tamara Cook
The 2011 Cooper-Young Festival Art Invitational and Kickoff Party will be held Thursday, September 15, from 6-9pm at the David Perry Smith Gallery located at 703 New York Street. The Art Invitational features the work of artists who live and work in the Cooper-Young Historic District. This free event allows artists the opportunity, at no cost to them, to showcase their work in a gallery setting. Plus, all the proceeds from the sale of their art goes back to them. This year’s Invitational will feature two dozen artists, and the work will remain up during the Festival weekend.
David Perry Smith will be the curator of the show. David has a Masters in Art History from Ohio State University and has been in the gallery world since graduate school in 1987. There will be a variety of works including sculpture, paintings, photography, paper, glass, craft art, and wood pieces. Some of the artists that will be on-hand to discuss their work are Astrid French, Mary Long-Postal, Nick Canterucci, Colleen Couch-Smith, Arline Jernigan, Mollie Riggs, Darla Linerode-Henson, Dan Spector, Jason Miller, Jane Croy, and Elizabeth Alley.
Nick Canterucci, longtime resident of Cooper-Young, is the winner of the 2011 Festival Poster Artist contest. Nick’s submission for the poster art was a pink and clear late model Apple iMac computer shell with images of Cooper-Young attached to the screen. Nick’s theme for the piece is fun in the 21st century. Nick explains that he wanted a high tech, yet pop art feel for his poster art offering. Nick’s iMac art will be sold during a silent auction over the weekend. The Festival poster design is by Billy Riley of Combustion.
There will be complimentary wine and beer bars and live music by local singer songwriter William Charles. The event is free and open to the public, so mark your calendars for September 15 and enjoy our historically hip little enclave in Midtown.
This event is sponsored by Coors Light. For more info visit cooperyoungfestival.com.

By Tamara Cook

The CY Festival Artist Invitational 2011 reception is Thursday, September 15 from 6-9pm at the David Perry Smith Gallery, 703 New York. This art show celebrates the work of artists living or working in the Cooper-Young area, and will remain up the entire Festival weekend. The Cooper-Young district boundaries are Central to Southern and McLean to East Parkway. All sales from the work submitted go to that artist. There is no fee required to be in show.

If you live or work in this area and would like a piece of your work considered for this year’s Art Invitational, please contact David Smith at 901-606-9690 or email him at davidperrysmithmemphis@gmail.com. Due to space restraints, we cannot consider overly large pieces.

By Tamara Cook

Cooper-Young Festival celebrates the 2011 poster artist, Nick Canterucci. Nick, a current resident of Cooper-Young, is a self taught artist dating back to the late 1950s in Michigan. Over the years he has studied and worked in collaboration with many artists within the Ann Arbor and Memphis art communities. Nick is known for his eclectic folk art and his piece for the 2011 Poster Art is no different.

This year’s poster art is a pink and clear late model Apple iMac computer shell with images of Cooper-Young attached to the screen. Nick’s theme for the piece is fun in the 21st century. Nick explains that he wanted a high-tech, pop art feel for his poster art offering.

In the summer of 2010, Nick celebrated his first show in 30 years, Bellatrix, which was closely followed by another show, Pyjamarama, in early 2011. Pyjamarama was a group of crude American folk art pieces created under a pseudonym, William S. Paley. Nick attached some of these works to various telephone poles throughout the Cooper-Young area. Nick said, “These pieces from my Pyjamarama collection were taken from the poles as soon as I could put them up.” In his most recent show, The New Frontier, Nick used classic compact Macintosh computers and later iMacs as the medium for his art. The New Frontier celebrated how the technology of the early Macintosh computers changed the way people used technology and started exchanging information. Look for another Memphis show by Nick titled Polaris in the winter of 2011.

The 2011 Cooper-Young Festival Poster will be available to purchase early September at the CYBA offices, the night of the Art Invitational, or the day of the Festival in the Community Association booth. The original iMac artwork will be for sale the night of the 2011 Art Invitational at David Perry Smith Gallery on Thursday, September 15 from 6-9pm.

By Tamara Cook

Celebrate the best party of the summer in Cooper-Young at the First Thursday Night Out on July 7 from 5–9pm. First Thursday Night Out is when CY’s independent business owners stay open late, offer discounts, and provide free, live music throughout the neighborhood. With over 15 restaurants, 23 retail/antique shops, and local artists Billy Moore, Rene Nickel, Darla Linerode-Henson, and others lining the sidewalk with their art, you can’t go wrong.

At the gazebo this month we welcome The Vynals with their smoking hot, high-energy mix of hit songs from the 60s, 70s, and 80s. The Vynals themselves are an eclectic group of Gen-Xers and Baby Boomers from diverse backgrounds and places who somehow came together in Memphis. Come enjoy the songs you love from a group that can deliver them just like the originals!

If you have an appetite for more live music as well as good food and drink, you have several options in the area. Swing by Lou’s Pizza Pie and enjoy music by the Candy Company and happy hour domestic beer with any large pizza order. Sweet Grass Next Door has drink specials all night as well as live music from 8–10pm. Bob and Susie Salley will be singing at the Celtic Crossing patio starting at 6pm, where there will also be half-priced combos and beer specials. Café Ole has margaritas specials and DJ Lil Eggroll spinning tunes at 9pm. Central BBQ has half-off BBQ nachos and beer specials as well as live music on the patio. Java Cabana has open mic night and cold coffee specials. The Beauty Shop is rolling out their new summer menu with small plates of heirloom vegetable dishes supporting local farmers. Over at Do, check out their new cold noodle plate and their discounts on sushi rolls.

There is more to do in CY than eat, drink, and groove. How about shopping, sipping, and snacking? Join the Barefoot Bride and Mid-Town Acupuncture for another evening of bubbly fun with local designers, makeup artists, tanners, cupcakes, wedding planners, champagne, and the ever popular “Man Cave.” Painted Planet has 50% off all gallery jewelry and local artists painting “live” as well as refreshments. Loudean’s has their summer FLAX shipment in, so stop by to visit and to take a look at their collection of handmade hats. The Purple Door gallery and tea shop will be open with special story weaver, Rev. Dr. Toolie Rogers. ArtJAMn is hosting a benefit party to support the CY Community Farmer’s Market – join in the fun and help paint a peach for a minimum donation to the cause starting at 6pm. Toad Hall Antiques has a new shipment of summer-themed gifts and accessories at 10% off during their Sip and Shop party from 5–8pm.

Snap, crackle, and pop on over to Cooper-Young this July for some great summer fun.

By Tamara Cook
The CY Business Association is excited to announce Visible Live Music Mondays starting on June 6 at 6pm. Music Mondays at the gazebo, located at the corner of Cooper St. and Young Ave., will be every Monday in the month of June and July from 6-8pm. All entertainers will be students, alumni, friends, or teachers of Visible Music College.
Visible Music College understands that creative young people need a place to develop technical and artistic skills. Visible is an independent college designed to prepare artists, technicians, and business professionals for skilled, relational service in the arts industries and the church.
Come down to Cooper-Young this summer and join in the Visible revolution.

By Tamara Cook

Cooper-Young Night Out is when business owners stay open late and offer up live music venues throughout the area along with special events, drawings, and discounts on shopping and dining in this popular hip-storic neighborhood. This month’s Night Out is Thursday, June 2 from 5-9pm. For the first time in CY, we welcome the three woman band named Sibella. Sibella’s sound is reminiscent of the Indigo Girls and Jack Johnson with a splash of cello and congas. The intellectual styling of Sibella’s music encourages an upbeat and engaging musical experience. Come and enjoy music by Sibella at the gazebo from 6 to 9pm.

This month we have some special events taking place around the neighborhood. At Tsunami, get in on the Iron Shaker competition which begins at 6pm. Guests pay an entrance fee of $15 which includes some snacks and tasting of two drinks. The boys against girls bartender teams competing will be handed a mystery basket containing one liquor and an ingredient to pair with it. Both teams will have full bar access to work their magic with. Liquor representatives will be on-hand to discuss the drinks and guests will vote for one of the teams. This fun adult event will be held on the bar side of the restaurant.

Midtown Acupuncture and the Barefoot Bride Boutique located at 917 South Cooper Street are hosting a “Champagne Beauty Hour” from 5-8pm complete with a fashion consultant, makeup artist, professional trainer, spray-tan artist, and others. Get in on seminars discussing weight loss, beauty, and fashion as well discounts on products and services. Check out the sale on wedding and formal wear starting at $10. There is a Waterslide Party for all children, 12 years of age and younger, at Midtown ATA this month. Get a jump on summer water fun for only $5 per child from 6-9pm. Bring a towel, some dry clothing, and splash away at 2166 Central Avenue.

It’s live music with Scott Grimes and Yazoo Brewery Pint Night at Sweet Grass Next Door from 8-10pm. Join Bob and Susie Salley for some tunes on the Celtic Crossing patio at 6:30pm and DJ Lil Egg Roll at Café Ole starts at 9pm. Painted Planet and David Perry Smith Gallery are both open tonight showcasing new art for the month of June. For the inner animal lover in you, stop by Imagine Vegan Café located at 2156 Young Avenue and enjoy a meat-free dining experience that the locals are raving about. Soul Fish Café and Young Avenue Deli both have a buy one adult entrée, get a child entrée free special as well as trivia night at the Deli. Cortona has expanded their patio dining and are offering drink specials.

Whether you’re old or young, it’s always fun in Cooper-Young!

By Tamara Cook

Café Ole Restaurant will host an art auction benefiting Louverture Cleary School in Haiti on Saturday, May 21 from 5-8pm. Join us for live music by Frank Montelone and his Boz’s Soggy Bottom Boys along with free appetizers and a cash bar. All paintings for the auction are coming directly from Haiti; the silent auction is from 5-8pm and a live auction starts at 7pm.

The Louverture Cleary School, a Catholic, tuition-free boarding school, serves only the poorest of poor students. Through donations, LCS has recently grown to be able to feed, house, and educate 350 students annually at the low cost of $7 per student per day. Ninety percent of LCS graduates have a steady job or attend college upon graduation. The students of Louverture transfer their knowledge to more than 200 children and adults through after-school literacy programs. So far, five graduates have become doctors and fifteen more are in medical school to help fight the disease and high death rate that faces the population of Haiti.

All proceeds of this event will go directly to Louverture Cleary School. For more information or to make a donation, call 901-210-7463 or go to haitianproject.org.

Café Ole is located in the Cooper-Young Historic District at 959 South Cooper Street.

By Tamara Walker

The CY Business Association is looking for musicians to play every first Thursday at the gazebo area in conjunction with the Cooper-Young Night Out event. If you are a solo musician or in a band and would like to play at this event, please contact Tamara at 901-276-7222 or cyba@bellsouth.net. Your picture and a short bio will be sent to all area media as well as posted on our Cooper-Young Historic Facebook page and our cooperyoung.biz website.
In addition to musicians, we have artists from the Memphis Arts Collective as well as CY area artists that setup free booths in and around the gazebo area during each of our Night Out events from 5-9pm. If you would be interested in setting up a free space at one or all of our Night Out events, please contact Tamara at
901-276-7222 or cybabellsouth.net.

By Tamara Walker

Come party in Midtown at the Cooper-Young Night Out third anniversary on Thursday, April 7 from 5-9pm. Cooper-Young is the largest historic district in Memphis and is known for its eclectic mix of restaurants, retail shops, antique venues, art galleries, and bars. Every first Thursday of the month businesses stay open late to serve up discounts on everything from vinyl records to BBQ nachos. Joining us this month are the artists of the Memphis Arts Collective and CY neighborhood. Approximately a dozen artists will display their wares at booths on the sidewalk at the corner of Cooper Street and Young Avenue. Some of the artists that will be joining us are Rene Nickel, Dinah Makowsky, Chuck Parr, Billy Moore, Angie Cooper, Lisa Blake, and Jennifer Hyatt.
Starting at 5pm at the gazebo, the Dancing Fire performance team, consisting of belly dancers, break dancers, poi artists, hoop artists, jugglers, and drummers, will entertain with their unique artistic abilities that are enhanced by the manipulation of fire props. Their moves are set to music producing a one-of-a-kind performance that should not be missed. At 6pm Odd Normality, an instrumental group, will perform original music derived from rock, jazz, funk, classical, and bluegrass roots. Their unique and versatile sound doesn’t fit any mold. They’re here to create something new, funky, and very cool.
CY is full of restaurants offering sweet deals for Night Out. El Diablo, the newest taqueria/tapas shop by Chef Ben Vaughn located at 938 South Cooper, is offering $1 tacos all night long. Another addition to the CY restaurant scene is Sweet Grass Next Door at 937 South Cooper. Ryan Trimm’s new neighborhood bar will be open and offering drink and appetizer specials. Young Avenue Deli and SoulFish Café are offering a free child entrée with the purchase of an adult entrée, and don’t forget that it is Trivia Night at Young Avenue where they have beer discounts galore. The Beauty Shop has discounts on their appetizers, and Do Sushi actually creates a different sushi roll special to celebrate each Thursday Night Out event. Café Ole has happy hour margaritas all night long as well as DJ Lil Egg Roll starting at 9pm. Scoop up some half-price nachos and beer specials at Central BBQ. Cortona has their patio lit up and is the perfect place to enjoy all the Night Out music and fun, plus David is offering discounts on beer and wine.
Live music abounds throughout Cooper-Young during Night Out. At 6pm Susie and Bob Salley will be playing Irish ballads and country covers on the patio of Celtic Crossing with Jeremy Stanfill starting at 10pm. Over at Lou’s Pizza, enjoy Candy Company starting at 7:30pm and buy one pizza, get the second half price. Make you own music at Java Cabana during their Open Mic Night and get discounts on coffee drinks.
If you are in the mood to shop, Painted Planet has 50% off gallery jewelry plus complementary refreshments. Toad Hall Antiques has a shop and sip party for their guests where you can browse their newest Easter gifts, decorations, and home furnishings. House of Mews has 50% off approved cat adoptions and 20% off all retail purchases. Underground Art is offering buy one piercing get the second for half price, so bring a friend! And you can work off those extra Night Out calories at Inbalance Fitness where group fitness classes are half price and you can get $2 off any punch card purchase.
Hope to see you in Cooper-Young for all of the music, art, food, and retail fun!