Building upon the title of the 1987 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by the late Peter Taylor, Memphis magazine hosted “A Summons to Memphis” luncheon at The Peabody’s Continental Ballroom on May 30th, kicking off the summer by summoning a speaker to the city who could speak with authority about the role culture plays in shaping a city’s character and economy. Held in conjunction with the publication of the magazine’s third annual “Culture Issue,” Memphis’ first-ever “summons” was issued to New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, who wowed a standing-room-only crowd with his perspective on his city’s post-Katrina renaissance.
As Kenneth Neill, our magazine's publisher and editor, noted, "We could have searched the world over without coming close to finding a more perfect honoree for this first 'Summons to Memphis' event. There isn't a city in America, maybe the world, where culture plays a more critical role in shaping both the civic identity and urban economy of a place than New Orleans."
More than 300 people were lucky enough to attend the first annual "Summons to Memphis." If you weren't one of them, or if you'd like to revisit the event, here's a video of the entire presentation. Enjoy!
