The high point of my weekend was catching Crash Kole, Bobby Durango, and Josh Lemons at Sleep Out Louie’s Friday night. I snapped a couple of pics; let’s post ’em.
In this second pic, they’re joined by an additional guitarist and Sleep Out’s regular, Brian. Thanks to Mikey the Camera Nazi for snapping this shot:
Aside from that, my weekend has been pretty boring. I took off after their first set to head to the Architects’ Party in Midtown, having been set up with a free ticket thanks to my friends at TradiantCAD.com. It seemed like it was a great party, but you know what? I didn’t know a soul there. I guess from living downtown I’ve gotten used to the concept that I can show up anywhere, anytime by myself and know people. Well, that apparently doesn’t work outside of downtown. I think I got there too early, and I should’ve called friends and coordinated with them. Anyway, I stood around for about half an hour, feeling out of place. A couple of times I pulled out my cell phone and pretended to be talking on it, to try and look like a little bit less of a dork. After about 30 minutes I gave up and left.
The next day, I talked to several people who said, “Yeah, that’s why I didn’t go, because I was afraid I wouldn’t know anyone there.” If all those people had gone, we all would have known someone. Oh well. At the next one (in April) maybe we can make plans.
Saturday I went to the Pink Palace Crafts Fair. Didn’t buy anything, but they had some really cool stuff. I decided that I’d get business cards from the 5 artists I liked best, and post links to their websites on my blog, to give them some free publicity. Well, you know what? Of the 5 artists, one didn’t have business cards, and four didn’t have websites. I don’t get that. I mean, I know it’s a creative undertaking, but it’s also a business. In the world of 2006, they’re potentially costing themselves a LOT of money by not having a website. People will walk through the crafts fair and say, “Oh, this person’s work is really cool, I want to show it to my friends who aren’t here with me” and a website would allow them to do that. If not a full-blown website, at least set up a MySpace page with pics of your work.
Anyway, here’s a link to the one of the five artists who did have a site: Bernie Thomas’ Segmented Wooden Bowls and Lamps. He sells really beautful nut, candy, fruit and salad bowls, and also lamps, made out of segmented wood.
I also want to mention an artist who wasn’t there, but who makes digitally enhanced photos that are as good as or better than anything I saw at the Crafts Fair: Shane Paris. Check out his MySpace page; he and I are collaborating on getting him a complete website. His work has a Memphis/N’Awlins/Alabama/Southern feel to it. Good stuff. If you see anything you like, you can contact him through MySpace.
Anyway, back to yesterday. I went to the Saucer to see my waitresses, then headed to Earnestine & Hazel’s. At the time I got there, the crowd was just starting to transition from the frat/sorority crowd that had been there early to the crowd coming in from Blues Ball. I was leaning against the wall, by myself, drinking a Budweiser. A sorority girl came over and wanted to know who I was – she seemed to be giving off “interested” vibes. I had on a black button-up shirt and dark jeans and my hair is extra long because I’m growing it out for Halloween and I guess I looked mysterious leaning there. Unfortunately she asked the one question that blew it – “How old are you?” – and since I don’t believe in lying I told her “36.” Without another word she turned her back on me and went back to her friends.
Around this time I got a text message from Fluffy, letting me know that the Fluffy/Shorty party had been cancelled. (See the “Not gonna go there” post from Friday night for details.) Which was fine because I had already decided I wasn’t going to go. But I wonder if Shorty heard I’d be attending and flipped her lid and called the whole thing off. Heh. That would be kind of funny if she did.
So anyway, after a while I got bored with the downstairs of E&H, and decided to head upstairs to see what was going on at Nate’s bar. As I maneuvered through the crowd, I nearly bumped into a well-dressed woman and we both said “Excuse me.” And then, as I slid past her, I tripped.
I tripped over a LEASH. The woman had a white toy poodle, about the size of a large squirrel, with her, and she was walking it through E&H on a leash. If I had moved half a foot in the wrong direction, I would’ve stepped right on the damn thing.
The woman gave me a look like, “How DARE you not get out of my dog’s way.” I guess if you’ve spent $250 on a Blues Ball ticket, that gives you the right to abandon common sense and health department regulations and walk your teeny-tiny dog through a crowded bar at midnight. People never cease to amaze me.
And that brings us up to today. I’m going to go buy a Sunday paper (which reminds me: attn Commercial Appeal: it really wouldn’t kill you to throw in a free Sunday subscription as part of my deal) and get Deal of the Week done early so I don’t have to take the laptop with me to Sleep Out’s for Sunday brunch. Guess I can’t get too trashed at brunch today; the Romanians are going home on Tuesday, and at some point today I have to go get the furniture and extra laptop I loaned them.
There’s an article in the Commercial Appeal about the great job the Memphis Fire Department did Friday morning, patrolling downtown and putting out embers that threatened to set blocks and blocks of the city on fire. I agree – great job everyone and I cannot thank you enough. I’m sitting here in my apartment typing this post on Sunday morning because of you.
Congratulations to the Arkansas Razorbacks on their 27-10 victory over #2 Auburn! And on the road, too! Suddenly the Hogs are looking like they have a real chance to take the SEC West this year.
All right… this has turned into a long post. Time to get outta here.