The messages started pouring in, and by the end of October 2025, Lisa hosted her first meetup in collaboration with OUTMemphis. It was a Sunday queer brunch at Madison Tavern in Overton Square with a turnout of about 50 people.

Next was a cake-decorating class with Belle Saveurs, a cake decorating and event company in Hickory Hill, then karaoke in collaboration with Like Really Creative at DRUS Bar, queer social night at No Comment wine bar, and “speed friending” at Wiseacre brewery downtown. With five events under her belt in four months and more planned, the ideas keep rolling.

“There is so much talent and culture here with the artists, organizers, chefs, musicians, and entrepreneurs. When we come together, the energy is unmatched,” Lisa says.

“We have so many people looking for intentional community—some who need it because they do not have anyone to call family otherwise. There are people who show up to one event alone and the next one with friends, and when I see that, it reminds me of why I started this, especially on the days where organizing can become overwhelming.”

Keva Hentz attended the cake-decorating class and No Comment social night. Though Keva is a self-proclaimed homebody, Lisa’s events helped her venture out to meet new people. After the social night, she and a few other attendees started a group called Ladies Who Lunch. They meet up every Tuesday afternoon for an activity and food. 

Keva says it’s tough to find friends in the queer Memphis community. “It’s because the community is so small. So every time you meet someone, they want to get in a relationship,” she says. “Everyone needs relationships outside of romantic relationships. It’s good for the soul. This time last year, I was home a lot. Now I’m getting out more and doing more things I never thought I would do.” 

Miracle Sanders attended the queer brunch at Madison Tavern and cake decorating with Belle Saveurs. Brunch, she says, was cool and laid back, while cake decorating was more intimate because of the space. Neither event felt romantic or like you had to have your friends there, because everyone worked to make sure no one was excluded.

Events like the ones that Lisa is curating are significant because it’s important for queer people to feel safe, Miracle explains. “There aren’t enough places like that in Memphis that are designated for queer people to be themselves and relax and to meet others on a strictly friendship basis and without pressure,” Miracle says. “There are not enough spaces outside of club or party situations where you can let your hair down after work, vibe, be yourself, and just have fun.” 

Miracle says she encounters spaces like these outside of Memphis where the “energy is different,” especially as a queer person, a female, and a woman of color. At home, she feels like she has to look over her shoulder. 

“You have to be careful where you go, who you’re with, and how you present yourself,” she says. “I think a lot of it has to do with being in the South in general, being in the Bible belt, and the misconceptions of the queer community. I also think it has to do with resistance to change and forward thinking. I think Memphis is getting there, but we’re just a little behind. But I also think that events like these help us get there.”

Lisa spent much of her 20s in Orlando, where she experienced how transformative it is when people feel like they belong somewhere. Many of her Orlando friends moved there because they were no longer comfortable with the families they were born into.

“It’s a big thing—when you don’t have a family—to create a family. We didn’t have anyone, unfortunately, but we found each other. That’s what I want for Memphis. I’m creating a space to find family,” she says.

“Being gay out loud, especially as a feminine-presenting woman, is hard. You hear other people’s opinions about your life all the time. I feel like I can shout about being proudly Black but can’t always talk about being proudly queer.

Bringing people together feels like my purpose. It’s where my skills, my passions, and my heart all meet.”  

As a Memphis native, Lisa has made it her mission to create community while supporting local businesses and restaurants. 

“Local restaurants are the heartbeat of Memphis culture. They’re where stories are shared, where neighborhoods gather, and where community is built,” she says. “Partnering with them allows me to support local businesses while giving people a chance to explore new spaces. It also keeps money circulating in the community and strengthens the relationships that make Memphis special.”

She gravitates toward restaurants that offer surprise and tasting menus, special events, and dinner series. “I love trusting the chefs, trusting the process, and letting myself be taken on a journey. I consider myself adventurous with food, and trying new dishes has become one of my favorite ways to explore the city,” she says.

“Food, for me, is always connected to the love that went into making it, and that’s what keeps me coming back to the places that pour their heart into what they serve.”

Lisa’s speed-friending event at Wiseacre brewery downtown in February was the largest of the events she’s hosted, with about 75 attending. “I knew I needed a space that could deliver on both vibes and flavor. By the middle of the event, people were still pouring in and we eventually had to seat guests outside. We had a few people at the bar that asked to join in. I told them it was a queer event and they said they still wanted to join,” she says.

The Wiseacre event also launched the You’re Worth Celebrating Birthday Club, where they honored seven people. “The entire bar sang happy birthday, and 901 Bakes made us a birthday cake,” she says. 

“It was a beautiful moment of community, joy and gratitude.”

@lisaberrypresents

Lisa’s Top 5
Check out Lisa Berry’s favorite places to eat, drink, and enjoy time with friends!

Petals of a Peony
Various locations
Highlights: Energy and positive attitudes of the Cordova staff

Briza
1350 Concourse Avenue, Suite 181
Highlights: Ambience, appetizers, and attentive staff

Art Bar
1350 Concourse Avenue, Suite 280
Highlights: Never feeling like a stranger!

The Artist Table
412 South Main Street
Highlights: Events, variety of food, and rotation of chefs

South of Beale
345 South Main Street
Highlights: Salads and popcorn

Erica Horton is a freelance journalist who loves to learn and write about almost anything. @chewsipfly

Ziggy Mack is an internationally published photographer about town. When not immortalizing the movements of ballerinas, circus performers, and mermaids, he spends his time finding candid moments involving delectable cuisines and the people that create them. @fomoloop