Yesterday was a wonderful day. My iPhone tells me I took 16,356 steps and walked 7.2 miles. That’s the most I’ve walked in one day on any day in the past year. BY FAR. Time permitting, I’ll come back and say more about that before the end of this post.
Yesterday morning I went on the Historic Memphis Walking Tour for my first day at the new job. That’s a tour I am told I will soon be leading myself, and they wanted me to get the feel of it as presented by an experienced tour guide.
Prior to the tour, I thought, “I wonder if I’ll learn anything new?” After all, I’ve lived in Memphis for 36 years, Downtown for 21 of those years, and I’ve written a blog for 19 of those years I was pretty sure I knew it all, or nearly all.
I was so wrong!
The tour was OUTSTANDING. I’d estimate 60-65% of it was either completely new to me or added depth to topics I already knew about. We walked down Beale, up Main, through Court Square, through Fourth Bluff, down Cotton Row on Front Street, through the Cotton Exchange Building lobby, and over to the Peabody just in time to see the ducks march out of the elevator.
Would I recommend it to someone who lives or works Downtown? Absolutely, absolutely! In fact, you’re missing out if you don’t take this tour.
I will let you know dates and times once I start leading this tour.
Today I get to go on a second tour, the Discovery Tour, a bus tour that includes a sampling at Central BBQ. You bet I’m looking forward to that!
I went to my first South Main Trolley Night in more than a year last night and I’d like to share a few highlights.
I gravitated toward Feelin’ Memphis at 509 S. Main as soon as I got to the Arts District. Unfortunately I didn’t get to see my friends Tawanda and Cordell, who are in Florida for a wedding. I still had an awesome time browsing though. That is the COOLEST place to go if you’re looking for fun, hip, Memphis-y stuff.
Feelin’ has a wide variety of iconic Memphis images on coasters. Great way to spruce up your living room and they are inexpensive gifts to give.
They have a variety of BBQ rubs, sauces, and seasonings. I want to mention Robinson Smokehouse’s products in particular because Anwar is a friend.
It was also good to see Pink Pig Apparel back on South Main. Feelin’ Memphis sells that brand now.
Puppy Party in Bar Hustle inside Arrive Hotel today: (click for a larger, more readable image)
It was kinda sad to walk down G.E. Patterson east of Main. Walking Pants Curiosities has packed up and moved to Beale. Cheesecake Corner is gone too. Anyone know if they moved too? The storefronts between Arcade and Max’s are empty. That block has always been so vibrant.
It’s also kinda sad to see that some South Main businesses chose to close at their regularly scheduled time and not stay open late for Trolley Night. The event is a license to print money if marketed right by the SMA and by individual businesses.
I got to check out South Point Grocery for the first time. What a beautiful neighborhood grocery store. The prices were more competitive than I thought they would be.
Got to hang out with friends outside South Main Sounds last night, including Mark who books the bands there. That was a real treat.
It was very neat to walk around and identify myself as “a local blogger AND tour guide.” This new job is part of who I am more than any job since I taught at the university.
I wish I could’ve stopped in Max’s Sports Bar or Longshot for an icy cold beverage, but finances do not permit. I’m working now but have not been paid yet, and even after that it will take me several pay cycles to get caught up on rent and bills. I literally did not have enough cash on me to buy a beer last night. It made me feel like an outsider.
All right, let’s see if there’s any news to report.
It’s National Chicken Wing Day.
It’s also a day of celebration for University of Memphis fans: International Tiger Day.
Wow, Memphis 901 FC won’t be home again until August 23! They are on the road at Pittsburgh today.
Grizzlies PF/C Jaren Jackson Jr. hosted a youth camp this week.
Musician and sound therapist Matt Petty will host Vibes from the Vines: The Sentient Sound of Plants in Memphis this Monday at 7 PM at The Broom Closet. $20 per person. There will be no late entry to this class.
Want to play a role in distilling some of Memphis’ finest booze? Old Dominick is hiring a Production Assistant.
Alexis Jade + The Gemstones play Slider Inn Downtown tonight at 7.
That’s it. Gotta get to work. Due to tight finances I doubt I’ll be at Bardog today after I get off around noon. Back tomorrow with more news.