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Last night I spent most of the evening on Barton Flats’ rooftop. Got a video of some of the fireworks, which I’ll post later on. After the fireworks, one of my fellow Downtowners came up with a very interesting idea.

“How about a march against panhandling?” he said. He was upset about constantly being panhandled on Beale, and about being swindled by a vagrant posing as a parking attendant. “Everyone down here is sick of it. Let’s have a march along the parade route where they do their begging. It would have to include Beale Street.”

“And it would have to pass by Jack’s Food Store and Easy Way on the Main Street Mall,” I added. “There are always five or six of them out there.”

“And the liquor store at Main and Madison,” said another rooftop attendee. “They hang out there, or in front of the Walgreens across the street.”

Hmmm…. if it got widespread support, a march against panhandling might be a good way to show government leaders how fed up we are all with the problem Downtown.

It’s that time of year again. Every year around the first or second week of July, Downtown Memphis gets some international visitors – gorgeous girls from Eastern Europe who come here on their summer vacation from college. They usually stay until early October. They are legal to work here for up to 4 months – it’s called a J-1 work visa – and they usually get service industry jobs in local restaurants and bars. The most beautiful girls tend to be from Romania, but we’ve also seen Russians, Poles, Ukrainians, Serbs and other nationalities.

They’ll likely be coming around to area restaurants, looking for server jobs in the next week or two. In my experience Romanians and other Eastern Europeans tend to be excellent servers (there was one very notable exception, but she’s no longer a student and therefore not eligible to come back). They also tend to draw new customers in, and turn occasional customers into regulars, because they’re so pretty and charming.

So, if you want to spruce up your business, hire some Romanians. Downtown Memphis will thank you.

I headed out to Trolley Tour about 6 yesterday, starting at the northernmost stop, Shelton Clothiers on the Main Street Mall. I’m not a suit-and-tie person but they still had plenty of stuff I would wear – trendy club shirts, casual linen shirts. They also had some wallets and money clips I liked – may go back and buy one next week. Still dealing with the Costanza wallet.

After that I hit the art auction pre-party at the Orpheum, which was PACKED. So packed that I gave up trying to view the artwork and left, after saying hello to fellow blogger Amy W and to blog readers Mendi and Meredith. Meredith had a tube dress on. I forgot to take a pic though.

Walked down to South Main, and for the first time in almost a year I managed to hit every gallery on the tour. Usually I get caught up talking to people and miss half of them. Saw some pieces in Jay Etkin’s gallery that I would have loved to take home, but they were four grand apiece, so no art purchases for me this month.

At 9 I moved on to Earnestine & Hazel’s for Crash Kole and the BlueSouls, which proved to be the high point of my evening. Here are a couple of pics:

I had planned to only stay for a few minutes, but extended my stay at E&H when the band turned out to be FANTASTIC. Their name describes their music well – bluesy, soulful rock. They played “Who Do You Love,” some Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimi Hendrix’s “Voodoo Chile,” lots of other good stuff. It was loud and rough and perfect for the venue – the music blended in with the smell of soul burgers, the grimy walls full of pictures of celebrities. I stayed over an hour and when they went on break, I walked up the street and recruited a friend to come back and see them.

Attn Sleep Out Louie’s refugees: The next time Crash Kole and the BlueSouls play E&H, I am DRAGGING your asses out. They are that damn good.

So I walked back into E&H with my friend Chuck, and since the band was still on break I showed him the upstairs, which he had never seen. I told him about the building’s history as a brothel. “So you mean, 60 years ago, this is where gentlemen came to pay for some quality time with a lady?” he asked.

“60? More like 20,” I responded. E&H was still a brothel into the 1990s.

While upstairs at E&H, a fellow Downtowner offered us a tour of his condo above the Recording Academy on South Main. I snapped this pic of the South Main District from his roof:

Afterward, I got a ride back up to the Saucer, but it was just stupid packed so I didn’t stay. I headed to EP Delta Kitchen, equally packed. Hung out with some friends on the patio, but after they left I started to tire out… went downstairs, where regular blog reader L told me there was “good dancing tonight” and I really wanted to stay, but I was hitting the point of exhaustion. So I wandered home. Good thing I did too, because one of my consulting clients had an emergency that I had to troubleshoot at 8 in the morning.

Heading out… the tentative plan for today is 1) Flying Saucer; 2) Barton Flats rooftop; 3) my own rooftop; 4) walk down to Main and Jefferson to view Lantana Projects’ exhibit; 5) probably back to my own rooftop (maybe Barton Flats) to view fireworks; 6), 7), 8) and beyond… who knows. Most likely I’ll end up at EP’s again.

Don’t forget, today’s the last day of Tube Top Month. Not that I discourage the wearing of tube tops after today, but this is really a good occasion to send the month out with style. And what says “style” more than a tube top!

Outta here… maybe I’ll see you out tonight.

One of the most unique musical acts I’ve ever seen is coming back to Memphis – the Sauce Boss, at Blues City Cafe Wednesday, July 18 – Saturday, July 21. Slide guitarist The Sauce Boss sings songs about gumbo while he cooks gumbo on stage. At the end of the show, the gumbo is ready and everyone eats.

I saw this guy at Sunset Symphony 2001 – he stole the show. Put this one on your calendar now. He has CDs, recipes and hot sauce on his website.

Sunset Symphony 2001 – if I remember correctly, that’s the year that those one-shoulder tops were a big deal, a precursor to tube tops making a comeback the following year.

Through June 30, there’s a special on a 400 GB external USB 2.0 hard drive – on sale for $79.95 after rebate – at Buy.com. Wow, that’s almost enough external storage to hold all the tube top pics I’ve snapped during June.

– If you’re going to the South Main Trolley Tour tonight and are looking for some post-tour live music, here’s one more option for you: The Prime Cut Band at the Marmalade Lounge, half a block up the street on G.E. Patterson. They gave me this flyer (click the images to view them in a larger size):

Prime Cut plays from 9 PM to 12:01 AM and cover is $8. There are also plenty of other options for tonight that I’ve mentioned – here’s a quick review:

Orpheum pre-art and antique auction party – 6-7 PM
Crash Kole and the BlueSouls – Earnestine & Hazel’s 7 PM
Casablanca at the Orpheum – 7:15
Post-Casablanca party at the Westin

It looks like the Westin will have a post-party for the Orpheum movie series every Friday of the summer. This week they’ll have “Humphrey Bogart” and gin drinks. On deck for the movie series: Raiders of the Lost Ark Friday, July 6; Rocky Horror Picture Show Friday, July 13.

– There’s been some talk of Downtowners getting together and having a giant yard sale sometime this summer, possibly in the vacant lot next door to Earnestine & Hazel’s. All proceeds from the sale would be donated to WEVL. If you have anything you want to get rid of, e-mail me and I’ll put you in touch with the guy coordinating the sale.

– The Memphis Farmers Market will be open this Saturday, as they are every Saturday through October, from 7 AM (ughhhhh) to 1 PM. The theme this week is “Red, White and Blueberries” – it will be the one and only time this summer fresh Mississippi blueberries are available for sale. There will be an Independence Day celebration for the kids, with clowns all morning and a patriotic parade at 10:30. Check the website for full details.

– The CA had a review this morning of The Grill Room, the steakhouse next door to the Daily Grill in the Westin. Normally I’m not a big fan of Koeppel’s reviews, but this is the first I’ve heard about the Grill Room and there’s a lot of useful information. Although steak is their calling card, that lobster martini looks really good.

– The River Arts Fest coming to South Main the last weekend in October now has a website. I’ve been told there may be more info about the festival at Trolley Tour tonight.

– If you go out this weekend, don’t forget that tonight and tomorrow are the last days of Tube Top Month, so be sure to show your support.

I’ll be on South Main tonight – if you read my blog and haven’t met me before, say hello! Looking forward to a fine, fun weekend.

– The last few Thursdays I’ve been going to EP’s around 9:00 for their weekly rooftop party, but this week I’m going to miss it, because THE DEMPSEYS are playing the Saucer! They take the stage at 9:30.

– Other Thursday night events Downtown:
The Super 5 on the Peabody rooftop
Gary Johns on the Madison rooftop
Garry Goin and G3 with Q107.5 at EP Delta Kitchen
Eric Church with Luke Bryan at KIX 106 Country on Beale

And, of course, the Grizzlies will have a big NBA Draft party tonight at the FedExForum.

Whatever you end up doing tonight, remember that there are only 3 days left in Tube Top Month! Be sure to put on a tube top and show your support! (Unless you’re a guy, in which case, please DON’T put on a tube top.)

– If you’re down on South Main for the Trolley Tour tomorrow night, be sure to stop in Earnestine & Hazel’s for some good music. Crash Kole and the BlueSouls take the stage at 7 PM. Crash has played the Russwood Park Grill and Sleep Out Louie’s many times and always puts on a good show.

– The Majestic Grille wants everyone to know that they’ll be open for business July 4 and all of next week. Many Downtown restaurants close the week of the 4th and take their annual vacation… but the Majestic will be open for business as usual every day, serving up tasty food.

That’ll do it for now… back to work.

– Otto reports that the iPhone officially sucks. He has a long list of features left off the $499 iPhone – many of which can be found on phones that are essentially free with service contract. Kind of reminds me how the iPod is the most expensive MP3 player on the market and yet doesn’t come with a voice recorder, FM tuner, etc. … but taken to a whole new level with the iPhone. If you’re thinking about getting one, you should definitely read Otto’s post first.

– One of my favorite things to do every month is pick up an issue of RSVP magazine and make fun of the people pictured therein, at their high-falutin’ society parties. Well, this month I get to make fun of people I actually know – Ptolemy Kat and O-Boy made the July issue.

– Hugh Hollowell reports that one of the entrepreneurial world’s most famous authors, Seth Godin, has made one of his books, The Bootstrapper’s Bible, available for free download in PDF format. I’ve bookmarked it and plan on adding the book to my growing to-read list.

I’ve been reading Hugh for a couple of weeks now, and his blog has gone straight to the top of my bookmarks list. All kinds of good advice and websites to check out. Although, I’m a bit disappointed that my blog didn’t make his list of “blogs that make you think” – sure, those blogs may have great self-improvement tips and business advice, but do any of them have “Tube Top Month”?

– Midtown Ryan and Rachel report that the Westin will have a post-Casablanca party (the Orpheum will show the movie Casablanca) Friday night, June 29, with Casablanca-themed drinks, party favors and music. The party will be held in the Westin’s lobby. Should be a good time, and something to do after Trolley Tour ends at 9. The Westin has only been open 2 months and is already getting a reputation for throwing great parties.

– Been at the Second Street branch office three hours and I’ve only managed to put away 2 Blue Moons. I drink slowly when I work, I guess (and I wouldn’t want to get drunk while I’m working anyway). Gotta go home and call a client, so it looks like the trip to Blues City Pastry will have to wait until later in the week.

Big Foot Lodge will celebrate “Canada Day” all day long Sunday, July 1 – 11 AM to midnight. There will be $2 Canadian drink specials – Sleeman and Molson Canadian bottled beer, and Forty Creek whiskey drinks.

Their ad in this week’s Flyer encourages customers to wear Canadian colors on Sunday. The Canadian flag is a red maple leaf on a white background, so ladies, let me suggest a red tube top, or a white tube top, or a red and white striped tube top, or a white tube top with a red maple leaf on it. Yes, Tube Top Month will officially be over by Sunday, but don’t let that stop you – tube tops are always in fashion.

Sunday brunch crew – we may have to make this an additional stop on the tour.

… today at the Downtown Saucer. YAY!

… and, in keeping with the June theme, here’s a tube top pic.