I got more information about Auction Avenue’s old name and its new one since my last post. I got an e-mail from a blog reader disputing that Auction was so named because slave auctions took place at a rock at the foot of the street. Rather, said the reader, it was named because of the mule auctions that took place there in the early 20th century. Memphis was once the center of the horse and mule trade in the entire eastern US, and there were stables everywhere in that area. Cool, so Memphis was a transportation hub even before the Memphis Airport (which is a great airport by the way, just ask R.C. Johnson) was built.
The only reason I have to dispute this claim is that there’s a map of Memphis from around 1870 in the lobby of my building, and if I remember correctly, the street was called “Auction Avenue” even then.
As for the new name, it’s actually A. W. Willis Avenue, not Willis Avenue as I reported yesterday. Click here to read about A. W. Willis.
The Majestic Grille has re-done their website. Check it out here.
The Meet the Chef feature in the Commercial Appeal this week interviews Gary Williams, owner and chef of De Ja Vu New Orleans Creole Seafood and Vegetarian Restaurant, at 936 Florida. I still need to check this place out. It sounds delicious. Hmmm maybe I’ll put air in the bike’s tires and ride down there for lunch tomorrow.
Concert announcement: John Mayer returns to the FedExForum March 19, with guest Michael Franti and Spearhead. Tickets go on sale November 21.
I wasn’t at Calhoun’s last night for their weekly poker tournament, but I’ve heard that something has happened that has never happened before… at the end of the 2-hour game, there were still two people left. With high blinds the last 15 minutes (I think they’re 3000/6000 with 100,000 total chips on the table), that isn’t supposed to happen, but I suppose if the lead is traded back and forth, it can. The two players assumed the person with the higher chip count would be declared the winner, but instead, it gave them a 3-minute break and then went to overtime.
Plans for tonight: No idea. I think I’ll play a small tournament on PokerStars, maybe a 180-person Sit’n’Go, and then go out after that. I’ve got a couple photo-based posts to make once I get home and download pics from the camera.