The Commercial Appeal - Go Memphis
7things to do for Halloween in Memphis
1. Said to be haunted by the spirit of a little girl named Mary (will she make a ghost appearance?), the historic downtown Orpheum theater has scheduled a terror trilogy for the weekend before Halloween, complete with “socially distanced seating.” The fright begins at 7 p.m. Oct. 23, with the big bang (big bite?) of the zombie apocalypse genre, George Romero’s 1968 masterpiece, “Night of the Living Dead”; the movie at 7 the next night, Oct. 24, is Steven Spielberg’s 1975 sharker, er, shocker, “Jaws.” In between, the Orpheum hosts a ghost story appropriate for trick-ortreaters of all ages: the 1995 Spielbergproduced “Casper,” at 2 p.m. Oct. 24. Tickets are an unscary $8 each ($6 for kids 12 and under). Visit orpheum-memphis.com.
2. The biggest Halloween-themed event of the season may be the annual “Zoo Boo,” hosted by Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital and the Memphis Zoo. Held at the zoo from 6-9 p.m. Oct. 23-25 and Oct. 29-31, this year’s event seems to boast as many attractions as the zoo’s zebra has stripes — the “Gallery of Ghouls,” the “Singing Pumpkin Patch“and the “Ghostly Get Down Disco” are among them. Tickets ($15 for non-members) must be purchased online in advance at memphiszoo.org.
3. “Hallowdaze Will Spare No Scare” is the punny headline on a press release from Theatre Memphis, announcing the“Hallowdaze“fun-raiser set for Oct. 23 and 24 at the theater at 630 S. Perkins. On those days, “reservations can be made for photo opportunities on professionally designed sets by the Theatre Memphis resident scenic designer, Jack Netzel-yates. One can choose from the Haunted Victorian set or the Fall Harvest set.” From 12:30-3:30 p.m. on Halloween Day itself, costumed patrons can trick-or-treat from decorated car to decorated car and interact with “all the (g)hosts” in a free event dubbed “Trunk or Treat.” For Hallowdaze reservations (which start at $10) and more information, visit theatrememphis.org/ hallowdaze.
4. It’s easy to be socially distant in a maze — just be careful you don’t get so distant you never find your way out. Anyway, Halloween corn mazes and the like are better suited to safety than in
Memphis’ oldest active cemetery is Elmwood Cemetery, which saw its first burials in 1852. The cemetery was founded by a group of 50 Memphians who each contributed $500 to purchase the initial 40 acres. door attractions, and several of them are open as usual this year. One of the more renowned is the 10-acre Jones Orchard Corn Maze at 7170 U.S. 51 North in Millington, which is open every Saturday and Sunday in October. Although the orchard operates a pumpkin patch and adjacent “haunted” attractions, the corn maze concept is more “inspiring” than “scary”: From the air, the pathways inside each year’s maze resemble a line drawing of a recognizable image; for 2020, the result, according to the Jones website, is “the amazing image of Helen Keller.” Admission is $8, ages 6 and up. Visit jonesorchard.com.
5. Thirty-three years before “Psycho,” director Alfred Hitchcock called “Cut!” to tell the story of the pre-norman Bates knife-wielder known as “the Avenge” (based on Jack the Ripper) in his 1927 silent film “The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog.” The movie screens at 7 p.m. Oct. 29, on the grounds of the Mallory-neely House at 652 Adams in the historic “Victorian Village” neighborhood. Tickets are $8 ($5 for 12 and under), and attendance is limited. Guests are invited to bring chairs and blankets, and food trucks will be present. Visit memphismuseums.org.
6. The Indie Memphis Film Festival concludes Oct. 29 with the haunted haha horror of “House,” a wildly inventive 1977 flabbergaster from Japan’s Nobuhiko Obayashi (who died April 10 at the age of 82). Once under the radar and eternally over the top, the now acclaimed film chronicles the supernatural afflictions inflicted on a group of schoolgirls in the title rural domicile, a fixer-upper with such features as a floating head, a possessed light fixture and a demonic cat. The movie screens at 9:30 p.m. at the Malco Summer Quartet Drive-in, and admission is $20 per vehicle; come early for the non-halloweeny first feature, Regina King’s “One Night in Miami,” at 6:30 p.m. Visit indiememphis.com.
7. All over town, plastic gravestones are popping up in people’s yards like daffodils in the spring. To see the real thing, head to 168-year-old Elmwood Cemetery at 824 S. Dudley, last resting place of celebrity politicians, unidentified slaves, Confederate generals, brothel madams, yellow fever victims, civil rights heroes and some 75,000 other “residents,” as Elmwood officials refer to those buried and interred among its 80 acres of markers, monuments, obelisks and statues. Elmwood hosts multiple events this month (virtual and otherwise), but the most intriguing may be its “Scoundrels & Scandals” walking tour, which runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Halloween, and takes visitors to the gravesites of the cemetery’s more “infamous” inhabitants, where guides will provide the lurid details of lives more likely to have been chronicled in The Police Gazette than in Boy’s Life or Good Housekeeping. The cost is $25, and space is limited. Visit elmwood cemetery.org.
Pasta Carbonara may just be the perfect Italian brunch dish. Eggs and bacon make up the base of the luscious sauce that accompanies this quintessential pasta dish. It's the marriage of breakfast and lunch all in one meal.
That classic along with Italian Sausage Frittatas, Ricotta Pancakes and Polenta & Shrimp Arrabbiata are just a few of the Italian-inspired dishes that are on Cocozza's brunch menu.
Patrick and Deni Reilly call Cocozza a “ghost restaurant.” In July, the couple was not ready to reopen its Downtown eatery, The Majestic Grille. So, they decided to open a takeout and pop-up patio restaurant serving the “Red Sauce” Italian fare Deni grew up eating in New Jersey. On Oct. 9, they opened the restaurant for indoor dining, keeping the Cocozza concept for now. (The Reillys say The Majestic will return when they feel it's safe to open it “in all its majesticness.”)
Weekend brunch was added to the offerings Sept. 19. I met a friend for brunch the following weekend for what turned out to be a lovely al fresco brunch on the restaurant's South Main Street patio.
Start with an Italian-inspired libation such as an Aperol Spritz ($9) or Bellini ($6). That's what we did.
Due its popularity at The Majestic Grille, the Reillys added the “Majestic” Mimosa ($22), a bottle of champagne served with a carafe of orange juice, to the brunch cocktail menu. I personally am not a fan of Bloody Marys, but if I were, Cocozza's version would most likely be a favorite. The “Antipasti” Bloody Mary ($10) is made with Old Dominick vodka and comes with a skewer of Italian meats, cheeses and pickled vegetables. When a server brought one to the table next to us, my dining companion said, “That looks like a meal!”
There are several starters on the menu. We tried the Crispy Eggplant Fries ($7). Tender pieces of eggplant are bat145 S. Main St. 4-9 p.m. Wednesday-saturday; 11 a.m.-2 p.m. for Saturday brunch; 10 a.m.-2 p.m. for Sunday brunch
(901) 523-0523 cocozzamemphis.com 523-0523
Recommended, call (901) tered in a crispy crust that is seasoned with Italian spices. The “fries” are served with a side of marinara for the dipping sauce.
The entrée portion of the menu is divided into sandwiches, “American Italian Brunch Classics,” and traditional brunch entrees. We couldn't decide, so we ordered something from each section to share. (You are supposed to nap after brunch, right?)
At Deni's suggestion, we tried the Pork Roll Breakfast Sandwich ($11).
“Pork Roll or Taylor Ham is taken as seriously in Trenton, N.J., as ribs are in Memphis,” Deni said of her hometown's favorite breakfast meat.
This unique type of ham is served on a breakfast sandwich with egg and provolone cheese, as a garnish on the Trenton Thunderburger ($14) or as an eggs benedict ($12).
The Ricotta & Lemon Pancakes ($12) were light and fluffy with just the right hint of lemon.
Cocozza offers three types of frittatas. We ordered the Italian Sausage Frittata ($12) on the recommendation of our server. This hearty egg dish was packed with flavor thanks to the generous additions of sweet Italian sausage and sautéed peppers and onions. The finishing touch — that made the dish in my opinion — is a drizzle of a house-made white vodka sauce.
And let's talk about that Spaghetti Carbonara ($14) I mentioned earlier. Cocozza's version is as traditional as it can get. The sauce is made from pancetta (Italian bacon), eggs and Parmesan. It's
An Italian Sausage Frittata at Cocozza in downtown Memphis. a classic done right.
When we dined at Cocozza for brunch, we ate outdoors. It was a fun atmosphere on a beautiful and sunny day. Red checkered table clothes and friendly service complemented the experience. I felt like all the COVID-19 safety guidelines were being followed — tables spaced apart, masks on all employees and touchless Qr-code menus. I haven't dined inside yet, but knowing the Reillys' concerns and attention to
A New Jersey Pork Roll breakfast sandwich at Cocozza in downtown Memphis.
details, I would imagine it would be a safe indoor environment.
And on a side note, I took a few pancakes home with me. They were just as delicious the next day reheated in the toaster oven.
Jennifer Chandler is the Food & Dining Reporter at The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached at jennifer.chandler@commercialappeal.com and you can follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @cookwjennifer.
At a glance Cocozza American Italian
Where:
Hours:
Phone:
Online:
Reservations: