Suhair from the Little Tea Shop on Monroe is on the Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives” this week. Click here for the schedule of shows, and remember we’re on Central Time, so adjust backward one hour.
A reader e-mailed me the names of the piano player and singer from Itta Bena… I met both of them Saturday night but couldn’t remember their names to save my life (thanks to beer). They are Rick Steph and Susan Marshall, and they are both very accomplished musicians and have recorded with some heavy hitters such as Cat Power, Lucinda Williams, and others.
The same reader also told me that the live music in Pearl’s basement on the weekends has been attracting some very nice looking ladies lately.
Yesterday I was contacted by Save the Wetland, an organization that is trying to save the wetland at the north end of Tom Lee Park from being destroyed by construction for the new Beale Street Landing. The person who contacted me listed several reasons why it would be bad to destroy the wetland, including loss of habitat for some species, increased pollution, and destabilization of the riverfront that could lead to erosion. The wetland is the rocky area you will see as you walk the sidewalks nearest the river at Tom Lee Park. Don’t know, I have mixed feelings about this one… the Landing is something I believe will be good for Downtown… but on the other hand it’s a shame to lose the wetlands. I don’t know. Check out Save the Wetland’s site and decide for yourself.
Congratulations to Gus’s Fried Chicken, which made the list of Inc. Magazine’s 100 fastest-growing inner-city companies. Extraordinary growth is a sign the magazine looks for when making its list, and it notes that Downtown Gus’s has had a 129% growth rate since 2003. The article cites the personal interest owner Wendy McCrory takes in her employees as a secret to Gus’s success.
I tried the Happy Mexican for the first time last night… at least the first time since the ownership changed about a year ago. I met my health guru AL there for dinner. AL ordered vegetarian tortilla soup with mushrooms and veggies in broth, and tortilla strips on the side to add to the soup. Except she didn’t add them. No kidding, that was her DINNER. That looked like the most boring meal imaginable. I, on the other hand, had the Enchiladas Rancheros – three cheese enchiladas topped with tender pork tips, cooked tomatoes, onions, bell peppers & enchilada sauce, then garnished with lettuce, guacamole, sour cream & tomatoes. It was gooood. I pointed out to AL how I was getting several of my daily servings of veggies, since the dish had the lettuce, guacamaole, and tomato garnishes. It also had very yummy tasty melted cheese and pork tips. Mmmm pork. I like to look at the enchiladas as a warm-up dish for BBQ Fest later in the week.
AL told me I should check out a fitness boot camp Energy Fitness is starting up. It meets from 5:45 to 6:45 AM Mondays and Wednesdays and runs for 18 classes. Yeah I’d say there’s very little chance I’ll be attending that one. However, it did give me an idea – how about a drinking boot camp? We could use it to get in shape for Pub Olympics at Hoop’s Bar next month. If there’s any interest in this let me know. I figure we can start the drinking boot camp at the Ques Brothers BBQ tent Thursday.
Another extremely early night for me last night… I had two beers at the Saucer after dinner with AL, then made it home by 9:30. Still resting up, because the party starts in two days at BBQ Fest Friends & Family Night.
Even though many of the team members will be absent taking care of BBQ duties, the Rapscallions trivia team WILL have a presence at the Saucer tonight. It may be just me and one or two other folks, but there will be a team named the Rapscallions there. Afterward I’m going to walk down to Calhoun’s for a beer or two. Or three. Or four. Or five. Mmmm beer.
Time to walk to Jack’s and buy my wake-up liter of Mountain Dew. Mmmm high-fructose corn syrup.