Month: July 2007

The Memphis Limelight website has relaunched, carrying humorous news stories with local flavor, kind of like a local version of The Onion.

The first issue is available here (PDF format). The main story is about a group called DAMS – “Downtowners Against ‘Mustang Sally.'” Glad to see a group stepping up and filling this need. Downtown Memphis will be a better place because of them.

311 plays the Mud Island Ampitheatre tonight at 8. Ticket information here. $39.50 plus Ticketmaster’s outrageous convenience charge. Special guests Matisyahu and Particle.

Unfortunately I won’t be attending… too bad, because my favorite blogger/MILF wrote that she’d “do almost anything” if someone would take her.

Looks like I’ve got a full evening ahead of me though… a friend’s plate party at the Saucer at 5, a party at the Lofts at 8:30, and possibly EP’s after that.

I’ve been promoting the after-parties held in the Westin Hotel lobby, on Friday nights in conjunction with the Orpheum summer movie series, for several weeks now… but last night, for the first time I actually made it to one of the parties.

My reaction: Why would people NOT go to these? They put out a spread of free food – chicken skewers with Thai peanut sauce, veggie shish-ka-bobs, boiled shrimp with cocktail sauce, spinach dip, calamari. It was so good I went back for seconds. The drinks at the bar were regular priced – I paid $7 for a Crown and Coke, but he made it in a tall glass and gave me a generous pour. Lots of sofas and chairs where you can lounge around and talk with friends.

You don’t have to go to the Orpheum movies to attend the Westin after-parties – just show up! The movies start at 7:15, so around 9:30 is the time to get to the Westin. Heck, I never go to the movies – nothing against the Orpheum, it’s a great series. It’s just that I’ve never been a movie person. Although, looking back I wish I had gone last night… I read the Wikipedia entry for Rocky Horror Picture Show and remembered that there are Transylvanians in the movie. I like Transylvanians.

While I was there, I talked to Joan the concierge and she told me that the Westin is a pet-friendly hotel (40 lbs. and under). I’ve asked her to send me more details. It sounds like they not only accept pets, they pamper them.

Next on the schedule: Goldfinger, next Friday at 7:15. I’m sure the Westin will have fun creating some Bond-inspired drinks.

If you didn’t read the Commercial Appeal this morning, you missed a review of one of my favorite new Downtown restaurants, Pearl’s Oyster House. Jennifer Biggs got it right on the money – you feel like you’re on vacation in Destin or Key West when you eat there. Be sure to check it out if you like seafood.

I had to go down to the Board of Education this morning to pick up my last paycheck from the City Schools. As I walked through the halls, I stopped to look at one of the bulletin boards, where announcements and sometimes artwork by the kids are posted.

One of the problems is that people keep walking off with the bulletin board’s push pins. So the City Schools posted a sign asking them not to do that:

“PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE PENS”

Pens. With an E.

I hope whoever created that sign isn’t giving the students any spelling tests.

I’ve been watching the news this week, keeping up with the Draft A.C. movement. Concerned Memphians are trying to draft Shelby County mayor A.C. Wharton into the Memphis mayor’s race, believing he’s the only potential candidate who can beat current Memphis mayor Willie Herenton.

If he runs, things could get real interesting… the vote would be split four ways between Wharton, Herenton, former MLGW head Herman Morris, and City Councilwoman Carol Chumney. Given that there are other, minor candidates in the race, someone could win the election with only 25% of the vote. There are no runoffs.

So, who am I supporting for mayor?

Anybody but Willie.

Last election, I voted for Herenton, believing he had done a good job for Downtown Memphis. But since then, he has become arrogant and corrupt. He hasn’t done anything substantial to reduce crime, the #1 issue in most Memphians’ minds. Sure he proposed adding more police, but the move comes with such a big price tag that it will almost certainly never fly. He hasn’t been a LEADER – he hasn’t led the citizens of Memphis to become actively involved on a personal basis in the fight against crime. His most notable accomplishment of 2006 was beating a 63-year-old man in a boxing match.

It’s time for “King Willie” to go. I could live with any of Wharton, Morris, or Chumney as mayor. My first choice would be Wharton, but any of the three would be fine with me.

So, here’s what I’m going to do. As election day approaches, I’m going to watch the polls closely. If it appears that one of Wharton, Morris or Chumney is pulling away from the back, I’m throwing my support behind that candidate. I want to vote for a winner – as long as the winner isn’t Willie.

You know, last year I had a Steve Cohen banner at the top of my blog… maybe I need to make an “Anybody But Willie” banner.

There’s a new flavor of Doritos – Smokin’ Cheddar BBQ. The convenience store at Second and Madison has them.

– Tonight I received a tip on where to find the best ribs Downtown. You can only find them two nights a week, according to my source. Here’s what you do. Go to Handy Park at Third and Beale. Enter the park as everyone else does, off Beale. Turn left.

You’ll see men’s and women’s restrooms. Ignore those. Keep going left.

You’ll see a door. It will appear to be closed. Knock on it. When it opens, order ribs.

Disclaimer: This info may or may not be accurate. But this is what I’ve been told.

– New shopping service downtown. See flyer:

That link is memphisshoppingbag.com. As always, click for a larger image. I saw this poster on the Main Street Mall and photographed it.

– Went to the Saucer and then Blues City tonight. Saw the Dempseys at Blues City. They played “Thunder Road/Summertime Blues” on the first set. I was happy.

Tonight I was asked if I have ever eaten chitlins. I can’t say I have. “That’s the large intestine of a pig,” the barback informed me, “That’s what shapes a turd,” he said. Sounds delicious.

And that’ll do it. Aren’t you glad you stayed up late to read this?

The Downtowner magazine is holding its annual photo contest. Entries are due by July 27 and will be on display in Peabody Place from August to October for judging. Details below – click the image to see it in a larger, more readable size.

Just cleaned out the old photos on my camera… found some taken while I was on the rooftop of Barton Flats on June 30 for the big fireworks celebration. I realized my camera had a fireworks mode and decided to see what it could do. Here are some of the highlights (click the images to see them full size).