In 2008 and 2009, Calhoun’s regulars sent out e-mails and Facebook messages, asking everyone to vote for Michele as the best bartender. Furthermore, they asked people to vote for her as best server too – since it’s a small place, Michele comes out from behind the bar to serve the tables as well. For 2010, however, they’re taking it a step farther – they’re asking their regulars to vote for Michele in all 120+ categories in the Flyer’s Best of Memphis poll.
“It’s completely justified,” said Mike King, one of the regulars at the bar. “Best Grizzlies player? Sure, Michele doesn’t get on the court and play basketball, but she keeps our beers full while we watch the Grizzlies on TV at Calhoun’s. I’d say that makes her part of the extended Grizzlies team. Best dry cleaner? I saw Michele wipe up a beer someone spilled on the bar the other night, and by the time she got done, it was pretty darn dry.”
Another regular, Shane Paris, said he supports the campaign. “Michele’s a lock for Best Florist,” Paris said. “Why, I remember one time someone brought a plant in here, and Michele must have watered it for 6 or 7 days before it died. Best User Car Dealer too… I’m sure at some point in her life, Michele bought a car and sold her old one, so there you go, used car dealer. And Michele told me that when she was a kid, she had one of those K-Tel Mr. Microphones that amplified your voice through the radio. So there you go, Best Local Radio Personality.”
Regular Robert Maloney added, “It may seem like a bit of a stretch to vote for Michele for Best Twitterer, considering she doesn’t even have a Twitter account. But if you think about it on a deeper level, how could it be anyone but Michele? She’s mastered the Zen of tweeting by not tweeting. By saying nothing, she has in fact said everything.”
King continued, “Best Memphis success? I’d say it would be this beautiful PBR that Michele just put in front of me. Biggest Memphis failure? That Michele didn’t win all the categories in last year’s poll.”
Voting continues through July 30. Voting can be done online at the Flyer’s website.