In our city, âsoulâ isnât just a word. Itâs a feeling, itâs a movement, itâs a vibe. As Memphians, we wear soul with pride. Our city isnât just the birthplace of musical icons or the city where food, music, and culture come to life.
Our cityâs soul is described by generosity that knows no bounds and the thousands of Memphians building community with each other on the daily. Itâs the activism that stirring in our hearts, pushing each other and the world to see better and do better. Itâs in the limitless innovation fueling insatiable curiosity and so, so much more. Memphis has always been a place of big hearts and even bigger ideas, where the spirit of soul finds its home. So, when youâre seeing your fellow Memphiansâ faces across the city, youâre seeing a mirror reflecting our collective pride.
Weâll be sharing stories of how your fellow Memphians connect with our city through food, fitness, music, and so much more! Be sure to keep an eye out for billboards across the city featuring some familiar faces!
Meet Tara M. Stringfellow
Tara M. Stringfellow is a former attorney, Northwestern University MFA graduate, and two-time Pushcart Prize nominee whose debut noveland national bestseller Memphis was a Read with Jenna pick and longlisted for the Women’s Prize in Fiction. A cross-genre artist, the author was Northwestern Universityâs first MFA graduate in both poetry and prose and her work has appeared in Collective Unrest, Jet Fuel Review, Minerva Rising, Womenâs Arts Quarterly and Apogee Journal, among others. After having lived in Okinawa, Ghana, Chicago, Cuba, Spain, Italy, and Washington, D.C., she moved back home to Memphis, where she sits on her porch swing every evening with her hound, Huckleberry, listening to records and chatting with neighbors.
Tara’s Favorite Places to Write
The Beauty Shop Restaurant in the Cooper Young District
When I need to treat myself on Friday afternoons, I head to The Beauty Shop, sit at the bar with my laptop, and write for hours. I always order the same lunch: the warm farmer market salad with shrimp and an espresso martini. Female-owner, warm and inviting, I love the atmosphere of this restaurant and Iâve met the loveliest folk while sitting at the bar. The service staff are the definition of Southern hospitality and Iâm usually one of the last to leave this charming spot.
Novel Bookstore in East Memphis.
Another great writing spot for me is Novel Bookstore, mostly because they are the only bookstore I know that have a restaurant, Libro, inside. I sign copies of my novel Memphis and my poetry collection Magic Enuff as I sit at the bar and write. Theyâve got a delicious brunch. Itâs also lovely to write being surrounded by books; I usually leave with a new novel. And the amazing staff have always supported me as a new novelist. Novel feels more like home to me than a bookstore and I cannot recommend visiting this Memphis spot enough.
Caption by Hyatt in Downtown Memphis
This hotel lobby is gorgeous, filled with lots of light, making the bar space and surrounding tables a perfect place to write for hours. And a plus, thereâs often live music in the lobby. Iâve seen Jeremy Stanfill swoon a crowd. I highly recommend this downtown spot thatâs both chic and Southern down to earth at the same time.
In Memphis, soul is woven into the fabric of everyday life, and people like Tara M. Stringfellow remind us why this cityâs spirit is so special. Memphians draw from the cityâs unique blend of warmth, creativity, and resilience. Itâs this same energy that fuels our stories, drives innovation, and encourages connection. As we continue to celebrate the faces and places that make Memphis extraordinary, we invite you to discover your own soulful experiences and share in the pride of our community. Keep an eye out for more stories that showcase how we all bring our soul to the city we love!
