Memphis Flipside

Good Eats You Should Get to Know

Your DisplayName here! — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:46:26 GMT

There’s no shortage of good restaurants in Memphis. From fine dining to dives, from global cuisines to Southern specialties, we’ve got a bit of everything. But with so many choices, some excellent eateries go under the radar. They’re not hidden, mind you. The diners who frequent them swear by them, but you won’t find many of them raved about in every city guidebook under the sun, and when you mention them to even a lot of locals, you’ll often hear “I’ve never heard of that place” in response.

So, if you’re tiring of your go-to list of restaurants and need something new, here are a few recommendations sure to delight your palate. (And, if you’re someone who already enjoys some of these places, hopefully you’ve already told your friends.)

BBQ

Payne’s BBQ – 1762 Lamar Ave. (Open 11:00am-6:30pm Tue.-Sat.)
Located in an old gas station, Payne’s serves up downright delectable, no-frills BBQ for a low price. The smoked sausage and ribs won’t disappoint, but the chopped BBQ sandwich is Payne’s must-have item. Topped with mild or hot BBQ sauce and a unique mustard-based coleslaw and stuffed with tender pork, the sandwich is arguably the best you’ll find in town. Add some beans and a canned soft drink to your order, and you’ve got yourself a delicious meal for just over six bucks. If you have any room left for dessert, be sure to try an apple tart.

Cozy Corner – 745 N. Parkway (Open 10:30am-5:00pm Tue.-Sat.)
The mecca of all-things smoked, including the house specialty Cornish hen and bologna, Cozy Corner proves when BBQ is done right, it is indeed an art. In addition to the mouth-watering Cornish hen and bologna, sink your teeth into succulent, fall-off-the-bone ribs, tender, flavor-packed sliced pork shoulder, peppery smoked sausage, chicken, and more. For a side, try the BBQ spaghetti.

Mexican

Las Tortugas Deli Mexicana – 1215 S. Germantown Rd. (Open 10:30am-8:00pm Mon.-Sat.)
Featured in the July issue of Food & Wine, Las Tortugas certainly isn’t unknown—the line that stretches to the door and sometimes out it during the lunch rush is proof enough of that. Still, for everyone I know who frequents the deli with fervor (myself included), I meet plenty of people who’ve never heard of it. Jose “Pepe” Magallenes and his son Jonathan are passionate about sharing authentic central Mexico cuisine—fresh ingredients bought daily, no cheese dip, no sour cream—with others. A host of delicious entrees, including braised pork shoulder, red fish, shrimp, beef, and chicken, are served in corn tortillas or in tortugas (a sandwich with homemade bread) and dressed with avocado, tomato, queso fresca and chipotle mayo. Other can’t-miss items include chicharron de quesco, molletes, and an assortment of fresh fruit drinks.

Tienda Guadalupana – 4976 Summer Ave.
Guadalupana offers a variety of delicious breakfast and lunch/dinner dishes, ranging from foods familiar to most diners—huevos rancheros, tacos, burritos, quesadillas, fajitas—to some more exotic (for folks from north of the border, anyway) fare like barbacoa (sheep), la tripa de res (beef tripe), and lengua (cow tongue). The entrees come in generous portions with sides of rice and refried beans. Wash down your meal with a Mexican Coke (sweetened with sugar cane, not corn syrup).

Greek/Korean

Petra – 1761 Madison Ave. (Open 11:30am-1:30pm and 5:30pm-8:30pm Tues.-Sat.)
You can find Greek eateries in town like Petra Café (great gyros) and Raffi’s Deli (check out the incredible beer selection) and Korean restaurants like New Seoul and Du Won Jung, but you won’t find another place like Petra, a tiny restaurant in an old gas station in Midtown, that serves Greek and Korean cuisine. Whichever cuisine you’re in the mood for, you’ll find plenty of choices to sate your appetite. For Greek, try the hummus, falafel, pastichio, and mousaka. For Korean, you can’t go wrong with the bim kim bop, pho soup, stir fry, or teriyaki chicken kebab. And for dessert, you can choose among baklava, a Grecian sundae, or Greek custard pie.

Desserts

Cheesecake Corner – 113 E. Ge Patterson Ave.
Head downtown to indulge in the finest cheesecakes you’ll find in town with flavors ranging from customary cheesecake to more eclectic choices like coconut rum and vanilla chocolate fudge.

Jerry’s Sno Cones – 1657 Wells Station Rd.
Yes, I mentioned Jerry’s in the “Ways to Beat the Heat” blog not long ago, but I can’t help giving another nod to the best place in town to cool off with a treat and feel a bit like a kid again. For my money, the root beer supreme (supremes are alternating layers of soft serve ice cream and snow cone) can’t be beat.

Turning Back the Clock Rock

Your DisplayName here! — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 16:04:05 GMT

Several classic rock acts roll into Memphis in August. And, of course, August in Memphis means it’s time to celebrate the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll with Elvis Week.

Mud Island - www.mudisland.com/concerts.asp

If you can’t seem to get your fill of ‘70s and ‘80s tunes, then Mud Island Amphitheatre has plenty to sate your musical appetite.

Combining two female rock icons, the “Call Me Invincible” tour comes to Mud Island on Saturday, August 1, featuring Pat Benatar and Blondie (fronted, of course, by Debbie Harry). The two boast a combined ten platinum albums and 27 Top 40 singles on Billboard’s Hot 100, including smashes like “Hit Me With Your Best Shot,” “Love Is a Battlefield,” “We Belong,” “Heart of Glass,” “The Tide Is High,” and “Rapture.” Tickets are on sale now for reserved seating and GA bleachers for $52.50 through Ticketmaster and the Mud Island Amphitheater box office: 901-525-1515.

Having sold 47 million albums in the U.S. with the help of classic hits like “Lights,” “Anyway You Want It,” “Open Arms,” “Separate Ways,” and “Don’t Stop Believing Journey is still going strong after thirty years, with Arnel Pineda filling the big shoes left by the band’s long-time, legendary lead singer Steve Perry. The band visits Mud Island on Saturday, August 8. GA seats are $55.00; reserved seating $75.00. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster and the MIA box office.

Creating a unique, sophisticated jazz-rock style, Walter Becker and Donald Fagen made Steely Dan into one of the most successful and critically-acclaimed bands of the ‘70s, mixing impeccable musicianship with an ear for melody on hits like “Do It Again,” “Reeling in the Years,” “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number,” and “Peg.” Since reuniting in 1993, they’ve toured extensively and released two studio albums one live disc. The band wheels into Mud Island on Saturday, August 15. Reserved seating and GA bleachers are $62.50. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster or the MIA box office.

Live at the Garden - www.liveatthegarden.com/

Mud Island isn’t the only place to catch classic rock juggernauts in August. Heart will shake up the Garden on Saturday, August 15. Driven by sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson, Heart became one of the biggest bands of the past thirty years, with hits ranging from hard rock (“Magic Man,” “Crazy on You,” “Barracuda”) to folk (“Dog and Butterfly”) to soft rock and power ballads (“These Dreams,” “Never,” “What About Love?” “Alone”). Tickets are on sale for $39.00 through Ticketmaster. You can follow the link from Live at the Garden’s concert information page.

Elvis Week – www.elvisweek.com

It’s not too late to get your tickets to join the tens of thousands of people from across the globe who will come to Memphis to celebrate the life and music of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll from August 8-16. This year’s events include the Elvis Film Fest at Studio on the Square, a tribute artist contest, a scavenger hunt at Graceland, The Genuine Elvis book launch, the 27th annual Elvis Presley Run, Walk, Rock & Roll benefiting United Cerebral Palsy of the Mid-South, Elvis 1969: A Celebration Concert (a multi-media show mixing live music, video, and audio recordings), and the traditional candlelight vigil at Elvis’s gravesite at Graceland. For ticket information and a complete list of events, check out the website.

The Birthplace of Rock ‘n’ Roll and the Home of St. Blues

Your DisplayName here! — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 17:13:32 GMT

St. Blues Guitar Workshop – 645 Marshall Ave. www.saintblues.com

Just a stone’s throw from where Elvis made history at Sun Studio sits St. Blues Guitars whose original co-founder, Tom Keckler, has created guitars for a veritable Who’s Who of rock ‘n’ roll royalty including the King himself. An affable and enthusiastic man, Keckler (or TK) was gracious enough to spare some time to fill me in on the history of St. Blues and his life as a luthier when I stopped by the shop earlier this week.

Early on Keckler didn’t aspire to create a celebrated line of guitars—he just liked to tinker. He was always hands-on guy, customizing cars and motorcycles as a young man, trying to make, as he says, “what was good even better.” Playing in local bands, he extended his ingenuity to customizing his guitars. His reputation grew when he joined Mike Ladd at Mike Ladd’s Guitar City. The store, which was located across the street from Graceland, was the place for local guitarists in the ‘60s.

But it didn’t remain simply a local favorite.

In 1968, during Led Zeppelin’s first U.S. tour, Jimmy Page sought the duo’s customizing expertise. Impressed by their work, he enlisted Ladd and Keckler to convert several Les Pauls and recommended their work to his friends. As word of their work spread, so did their impressive list of clientele. They even created a customized guitar for Elvis, which he used in Aloha from Hawaii.

In 1978, Keckler left for Los Angeles to form the original Schecter Guitars with David Schecter and Tom Anderson, but the Bluff City drew him back in 1983 when he joined Charlie Lawing and Chris Lovell, the co-founders of Strings ‘n’ Things, to form St. Blues Guitars. When it came time to design their first guitar, Lawing and Lovell suggested using a guitar Keckler had given them back in the mid-‘70s that he had built from a trashed Telecaster and a Les Paul Jr. The “Tele-Paul” as they had dubbed it was renamed the Bluesmaster and became the signature model of the St. Blues line. Soon Eric Clapton, Bono, Glenn Frey, Billy Squier, Billy Gibbons, Joe Walsh, Albert King, Marshall Crenshaw, Bo Diddley, and others were letting it rip on their own Bluesmasters.

When the cost of parts rose substantially in 1989, St. Blues ceased production of its guitars, focusing instead on custom work. But in early 2006, looking to capitalize on the interest in St. Blues guitars that persisted among musicians even 17 years after production ceased, Bryan Eagle, a Memphis businessman, bought the trademark. Eagle had the marketing savvy to promote the brand, but he knew he needed someone with guitar know-how to provide insight on new designs and be a hands-on man in the workshop.

Who better, then, than Tom Keckler?

With over 40 years experience crafting and customizing guitars, Keckler, the company’s consultant and master luthier, shows no signs of slowing down. From 5:00-12:00 Monday-Friday, he runs TK’s Guitar Services, and then from 1:00-3:30, he’s in charge of things in St. Blues’s retail storefront. In addition, he hits the road for tradeshows to promote the St. Blues line. And, as in the early days, some of the best promotion comes from musicians in the national spotlight playing a St. Blues. Memphis’ own Zac Meyers, lead singer of Shinedown, plays a Bluesmaster on stage, and according to Keckler, there’s video of Keith Urban rocking out on one at a recent show in Atlanta.

The St. Blues line up consists of six standard guitar models, one bass, and four models that comprise the new Workshop Series. With the six standard models and the bass ranging from $969-$1,175, St. Blues offers a combination of high-quality craftsmanship and affordability that’s hard to beat. For guitarists looking to splurge a bit, the Workshop Series guitars are handmade in the U.S.—routed and finished in Nashville and assembled by Keckler in Memphis—featuring boutique woods and components, nitro cellulose finishes, and custom designs. The WS guitars run from $2,199-$2,399. For a detailed look at each St. Blues model, click here: Saint Blues Guitar Workshop :: The Line-Up

Whether you’re looking to buy a new guitar, need an old one fixed up, or just want to get a first-hand look at some classic guitars and vintage memorabilia—and if he’s not swamped, chat with TK himself—head down to St. Blues. You’ll wish you’d gone sooner.

Fireworks and Food for the 4th

Your DisplayName here! — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:12:04 GMT

Fireworks have been a part of Independence Day celebrations since they were used to celebrate the first anniversary of our nation’s independence in 1777 in Philadelphia. But, of course, fireworks aren’t the only thing synonymous with 4th of July celebrations. Food is too—namely grilling and desserts. Here’s a look at the 4th of July fireworks displays in the Memphis area this weekend as well as a couple of links to sites chocked full of tasty recipes that will wow your family and friends.

Fireworks

July 3
Bartlett and Collierville get a day’s jump on the 4th’s festivities. Bartlett will host its “Star Spangled Fireworks Extravaganza” from 6:30 – 10:00 p.m. on the lawn of the Bartlett Performing Arts & Conference Center and Appling Middle School (Hwy. 70 and Appling Road). There will be a little something for everyone: a car show, face painting, games for children, concessions, and more. The Bartlett Community Concert Band and John Angotti will provide musical entertainment. Fireworks will begin at 9:30.

Held at H.W. Cox Park, Collierville’s 24th annual Independence Day Celebration will feature food, games, and the music of the Soulsations. The town will also be giving away 10,000 glow stick flags. The event will kick off at 6:00 with fireworks starting at 9:30.

Not all 4th of July Celebrations entail sitting on lawn chairs. Join nearly 3,000 runners at the 11th annual Firecracker 5K Run/Walk benefitting St. Jude (http://www.firecracker5k.com/). And it’s not just about the running. The post-race activities include a dance, a pool party, and live music from the Soul Shockers. Go to the website to register.

July 4
Head downtown to W.C. Handy Park and Beale St. for the Red, White, and Blues, the biggest 4th of July celebration in the city. Elvis tribute artist Michael Hoover will kick off the event at 5:00 by singing “The Star Spangled Banner.” A host of great food and music will follow, including Big Jerry, Gary Hardy and Memphis 2, and Mercury Blvd, leading to the fantastic fireworks display over Tom Lee Park beginning at 9:30.

Check out the fireworks from atop the Peabody at the Fireworks on the 4th Rooftop Party. Running from 6:00-11:00, the party, hosted by Q107.5’s Manny and Riley, will include a summer picnic buffet with drinks from MilllerCoors Memphis and music from Memphis’ own Ingram Hill, who are touring in support of their second major label release, Cold in California. Tickets for the party are $20/person and you must be at least 21 to attend. For more information call 901-529-4000.

If partying downtown isn’t your thing, you can celebrate the 4th at Germantown’s Family Fourth Celebration in Municipal Park. At 9:00 a.m. the Lions Club will host a fishing rodeo. At 5:00 p.m. the evening’s activities will get underway with games, a moon bounce, a petting zoo, and live music. Fireworks begin at 9:10. For more information (maybe you’re wondering what exactly a fishing rodeo is) call 901-757-7376.

Food
Looking to put a twist on your traditional 4th of July spread, check out these websites for some mouth-watering recipes:

Taste of Home
Eating Well
Food Network
cdkitchen

Beat the Heat in the Bluff City

Your DisplayName here! — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:55:35 GMT

With the heat index now reaching triple digits, two things are certain: someone will ask you the annoying question, “Is it hot enough for you?” and you’ll be looking for ways to enjoy the summer without a bout with heat exhaustion. Luckily, Memphis offers some ways to stay cool during the scorching months.

Take a Dip

Summertime means swimming. Here’s a quick look at Memphis’s municipal pools courtesy of www.cityofmemphis.org:

Indoor Pools:

Bickford Aquatic Center	235 Henry Ave.	578-3732
Hickory Hill Aquatic Center	3910 Ridgeway Rd.	566-9685 547-8018
Orange Mound Comm. Srv. Ctr. Pool (ages 55+ only except during Summer season)	2590 Park	576-6622
Raymond Skinner Pool (physically challenged only)	712 Tanglewood	272-2528

Outdoor Pools:

The City's outdoor pools will open Saturday, May 31, 2008 and will close on August 2, 2008. Pools will be open Monday - Saturday from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. All pools will be closed on Sunday. Admission to all outdoor pools is free.

Outdoor Pool Photo Gallery

Swim Lessons (offered at Charlie Morris, Ed Rice, and Westwood Pools only.)

Swim Lesson for Children Monday thru Friday 6:00 pm - 6:45 pm for 2 weeks. $25.00 a session
Swim Lesson for Adults Monday thru Friday 6:00 pm - 6:45 pm for 2 weeks. $48.00 a session

L.E. Brown Pool	617 S. Orleans	527-3620
Charles Morris Pool	1225 Brown	272-0327
Douglass Pool	1616 Ash	323-3542
Ed Rice Pool	2907 N. Watkins	353-0627
Gaisman Pool	4223 Macon	374-9182
Gooch Pool	1974 Hunter	276-9685
Lester Pool	317 Tillman	323-2261
Pine Hill Pool	973 Alice	947-2978
Raleigh Pool	3678 Powers	372-1930
Riverview Pool	182 Joubert	948-7609
Tom Lee Pool	328 Peach	527-3748
Westwood Pool	833 Western Park	789-6275
Willow Pool	4777 Willow Rd.	763-2917

Mud Island River Walk – www.mudisland.com
Why not cool down in the Mississippi River? No, not the Old Man himself, the 5-block long replica of the river at Mud Island. Make the “1,000-mile journey” from Cairo, Illinois, to New Orleans in just a few minutes and learn some fun facts along the way. Kids (heck, adults, too) can enjoy dipping their feet in the river, wading in the Gulf of Mexico at the walk’s end, or taking a paddle boat ride.

Water Spray Park at W.C. Johnson Park - http://www.colliervilleparks.org/parks/wcjohnson.html
You think running through a sprinkler in the backyard is fun? Then head to the water spray park at Johnson Park in Collierville for a real blast. Children 12 and under, along with their parents, can frolic in the park’s twelve “spray stations” where two touch-activated poles send water spraying from rainbows, elephants, and more.

Icy Treats
There’s no shortage of popular chains in Memphis that can quench your thirst or help you chill out from the summer swelter—Sonic, Maggie Moo’s, Ben and Jerry’s, Cold Stone Creamery, Bruster’s Real Ice Cream, Dairy Queen, Baskin Robbins, TCBY, Starbucks. Though all those places offer their share of tasty ways to cool down, don’t miss these two local gems that have made Memphians happy for years.

Jerry’s Sno Cones – 1657 Wells Station Rd. (http://www.jerrysnocones.com/index.html)
Snow cones (or “sno cones”) are the quintessential summer treat, and there’s no finer purveyor of them in Memphis than Jerry’s. For over 30 years, Jerry’s has served up an array of delicious snow cones, ranging from standard flavors to wedding cake, Fuzzy Navel, Great Balls of Fire (the shop was featured in the movie Great Balls of Fire incidentally), and my favorite the Supreme, which is part snow cone, part soft serve ice cream. Jerry’s also serves up soft serve ice cream in a cone or cup as well as burgers, fries, and the like.

Wiles-Smith Drug Store - 1635 Union Ave.
The oldest independent drug store in town, Wiles-Smith has a traditional lunch counter and a classic soda fountain where you can choose from delectable milkshakes, malts, sundaes, and—during the summer only—lime and orange freezes.

Summer Music: Live and Outside

Your DisplayName here! — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 14:42:36 GMT

Live at the Garden – Memphis Botanic Garden
http://www.liveatthegarden.com/

If the Botanic Garden’s gorgeous 24 specialty gardens alone haven’t been enough to lure you there, then the Live at the Garden concert series should be all the incentive you need.

Train kicks off the ninth season of Live at the Garden on Friday, June 5th at 8:30 p.m. Since releasing their self-titled debut album in 1998, the band has notched eight songs on Billboard’s Hot Adult Top 40 chart and four on the US Hot 100 chart—“Meet Virginia” (#15), “Calling All Angels” (#19), “When I Look to the Sky” (#74), and the smash “Drops of Jupiter” (#5), which earned the band the 2002 Grammy for Best Rock Song. Three of their albums have reached the Top 10 on Billboard’s Top 200 Albums chart.

Thanks to thousands of concerts in North America, Europe, and Australia, Train has built a reputation for outstanding live performances that showcase the band’s versatility, with set lists mixing their hits, some lesser-known album cuts, and even impeccable covers of hard rock classics like Led Zeppelin’s “Ramble On” and Aerosmith’s “Dream On.”

The four other Live at the Garden shows feature classic rock icons—The Doobie Brothers (6/18), Joe Cocker (7/18), Heart (8/15). and The Moody Blues (9/5).

For information on ticket prices, seating (reserved and lawn), and food, click on Live at the Garden’s website above.

Levitt Shell – Overton Park
www.levittshell.org

Perhaps the only thing better than live music outdoors is free live music outdoors—where Elvis performed the first ever rock’n’roll show no less. The Levitt Shell’s spring concert series begins May 28 when legendary Memphis native Jack Clement will take the stage, with renowned Memphis singer-songwriter Jimmy Davis opening. The spring series features music Thursday-Sunday each week. Thursdays feature Americana, Fridays gospel, R&B, and soul, Saturdays children’s music and Latino, and Sundays World Music. For a list of performers, check out the concert schedule on the Shell’s website.

High on the Hog

Your DisplayName here! — Wed, 20 May 2009 20:49:23 GMT

The 2009 Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest enjoyed three days of warm temperatures and gorgeous sunshine, making Tom Lee Park the perfect setting to enjoy all things meat. 238 teams vied for top honors in the pork categories of whole hog, ribs, and shoulder, as well as other categories including Patio Porkers, People’s Choice, sauce, baked beans, booth, t-shirts, and Anything But, which consists of several kinds of non-pork BBQ. Sweet Swine O’ Mine, hailing from here in the Bluff City, earned the coveted Grand Champion trophy (and the $10,000 prize) with its succulent shoulder. For a list of the top three finishers in each category, click here: results.

Local health codes (and the fact the event is a contest) prevent teams from offering samples to the public. But don’t worry, a visit to the barbecue championships offers plenty of opportunities to satisfy your tingling taste buds. On Thursday and Friday, patrons had a chance to sink their teeth into some of the world-class BBQ thanks to the Kingsford People’s Choice Awards. For only $4, visitors were treated to five samples and cast their ballot in the People’s Choice category. Even better, there was no limit to how often visitors could serve as a judge.

Of course, a sea of vendors provided tasty eats as well, ranging from BBQ courtesy of Corky’s and Willingham’s World Championship BBQ and Polish sausages to grilled corn, corn dogs, gyros, funnel cakes, ice cream, and more. Dancing Bull even offered free wine tasting.

The contest also offered barbecue enthusiasts plenty of pointers on how to hone their cooking skills. The Cooker Caravan gave visitors a free guided tour of the teams, cooking tips, and a glimpse of specialty smokers and grillers while the Cattlemen’s Barbecue Sauce Tent hosted “Judging 101,” “Grilling with Live Fire” by Weber Grills, and “Pork 101” by the National Pork Board. Visitors shouldn’t miss a chance either simply to strike up a conversation with some of the competitors as they’re happy to talk about their passion for pork.

Hungry yet? Well, you’ve got plenty of time to wait for the next Memphis in May World Championship. In the meantime go indulge in some of the city’s most mouth-watering BBQ at our renowned restaurants -- www.memphistravel.com/restaurants/ or try your hand at mastering your own backyard barbecue and grilling recipes.

Memphis Music Alive and Well

Your DisplayName here! — Wed, 13 May 2009 20:16:41 GMT

With Craig Brewer’s well-received MTV short series $5 Cover turning a national spotlight on the pastiche of music the city’s local heroes and up-and-coming artists are creating, more people will hopefully begin to recognize Memphis music for its contemporary scene, not only its storied history. The partly fictionalized series, though, offers just a glimpse of Memphis’ vibrant music culture—a culture plenty of folks in the greater Memphis area should know more about. So, this week, let’s take a look at some of the bars, clubs, and cafes where you’re sure to find great live music.

Hi-Tone Café – 1913 Poplar Ave.
www.hitonememphis.com

Open since 1998, Hi-Tone has been voted as the best place to see live music seven straight years by the Memphis Flyer. The venue hosts over 300 shows a year, presenting local and regional favorites like Harlan T. Bobo and the North Mississippi Allstars as well as national artists—Elvis Costello recorded a concert DVD at the Hi-Tone in 2004. Not only is the music great, the food is too. Their specialty pizzas are terrific. For a list of upcoming shows, check out the event calendar on their website.

Newby’s – 539 S. Highland St.
www.newbysmemphis.com

Newby’s is located on the Highland strip just a block from U of Memphis. With a game room, bar/restaurant, patio, and two music rooms, Newby’s has plenty to offer. The 500-person capacity concert hall, used primarily by nationally touring acts, has hosted the likes of Zac Brown, String Cheese Incident, Jason Mraz, Josh Kelly, Pat McGee, and Hoobastank. The smaller music room fits 150 people and usually features smaller acoustic acts. You’ll find music almost any night of the week. Their website calendar has show listings from now through the end of June.

Otherlands – 641 S. Cooper St.
www.otherlandscoffebar.com

One of the Mid-South’s best venues for intimate live music, Otherlands is a haven for songwriters of many stripes—folk, Americana, country, rock, blues, singer-songwriter, and more. They host music every Friday and Saturday night, ranging from renowned local and regional talents such as Jimmy Davis, Dan Montgomery, and Jed Zimmerman, to up-and-coming musicians. Otherlands offers indoor and outdoor seating and sells an assortment of delectable coffee drinks, teas, beer, bagels, muffins, soups, and sandwiches. The cover for music is $5.

Young Avenue Deli – 2119 Young Ave.
www.youngavenuedeli.com

Located in the heart of the Cooper-Young District, Young Avenue Deli offers an unbeatable combination of award-winning food, a wide variety of beer, and an eclectic mix of the best local and nationally touring bands, including Dinosaur Jr., Lucero, Giant Bear, Hope Clayburn, The Glass, and others. Unlike some of the other music venues in town, Young Avenue Deli doesn’t have regularly scheduled music nights, so be sure to check their online calendar.

The Buccaneer – 1368 Monroe Ave.
http://www.myspace.com/buccaneer_memphis

As your driving down Monroe, just look for the sign with the pirate. This small bar is full of life the later it gets, with plenty of beer at the “Poop Deck” (the name for the bar area) and music just about every night of the week from a slew of local acts as well as some out-of-town bands. For folks who like a little more space, the back patio is a great spot on warm nights to enjoy drinks and still listen to the live music.

P and H Café – 1532 Madison Ave.
www.pandhcafe.com

Monday through Saturday, there’s plenty going on at this wonderful dive bar well into the wee morning hours. P and H hosts music Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, showcasing local and out-of-town bands from a wide variety of genres. Their event calendar usually posts shows for two months at a time and provides links to the bands’ websites. Shoot some pool, order a pitcher of beer, chow down on a delectable cheeseburger or two, and enjoy the music.

Those are just a few places to catch local musicians. Here are some others you’ll want to check out:

Neil’s Music Room – 1835 Madison Ave. (Phone: 278-6345)
The Edge Coffeehouse – 1400 Overton Park
Java Cabana – 2170 Young Ave.
The Cove – 2559 Broad St.
Full Moon Club – 1718 Madison Ave. (Phone: 728-6237)
Murphy’s – 1589 Madison Ave.
Blue Monkey – 2012 Madison Ave. (Phone: 272-2583)

Three Must-See Museums

Your DisplayName here! — Mon, 04 May 2009 18:32:43 GMT

As the museum/park series comes to a close this week, we’ll turn our focus to downtown for a look at three must-see museums.

National Civil Rights Museum - 450 Mulberry Street
www.civilrightsmuseum.org

Located at the Lorraine Motel, the site of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s assassination on April 4, 1968, the National Civil Rights Museum traces the history of the American civil rights movement, offering visitors a poignant encounter with the people and events central in the centuries-old struggle and examining ways to promote human rights globally today.

The museum’s permanent exhibits chronicle 1619 through the present day, with the most attention given to the 1950s-1960s. Through a combination of displays, interactive exhibits, and historic audio and video, visitors get a powerful glimpse at the perseverance of seminal civil rights figures such as Rosa Parks, the “Little Rock Nine,” James Meredith, Martin Luther King, Jr. and the unheralded thousands who struggled for racial equality in the face of hostile bigotry and discrimination. No matter how many times you attend the museum, the stories never lose their impact.

The second portion of the museum, located in the motel, provides a somber examination of King’s final days, his assassination, and the aftermath and eventual capture of James Earl Ray. This section of the museum also contains a tribute to many who have lost their lives in the fight for rights across the world as well as exhibits entitled American Legacy and the Freedom Awards, the latter profiling recipients of National and International Freedom Awards.

Belz Museum of Asian and Judaic Art – 119 South Main St.
www.belzmuseum.org

Founded by entrepreneur Jack Belz and his wife Marilyn, the Belz Museum is home to exquisite, priceless imperial Asian, Judaic, and European art. The Asian artwork, focusing on the Qing Dynasty of China (1644 CE -1911 CE) and earlier dynasties, comprises the majority of collection. The jade and ivory pieces are simply stunning. Even the simplest layman of art appreciation will marvel at the intricacy and brilliance of the work. (The most impressive piece, in my estimation, is the jade dragon ship). The Asian collection also contains several acquisitions Belz made while traveling as well as 80 historical Chinese puppets donated by Wang Yuanfeng, a Chinese film and television producer.

The Judaica collection (literal and historical art relating to Judaism) contains modern Judaic ritual objects and the work of renowned Israeli artists such as Dani Kafri, Nicki Imber and Ofra Friedland.

The museum also houses an assortment of captivating natural minerals and gems and art from several European countries, including Russian lacquer boxes and Scandinavian art glass.

Fire Museum of Memphis – 118 Adams Ave.
www.firemuseum.com

It’s awfully hard to quibble with the Fire Museum’s claim to be “America’s premier interactive fire museum.” Housed in the famous Fire Engine House No. 1 downtown, the museum offers visitors insight into the history of firefighting in Memphis, stepping back in time to explore the time of horse-drawn firefighting and early 20th century firefighting equipment and to examine the most disastrous fires in the city’s history. The interactive portions of the museum are particularly fascinating for children. The Snorkel Basket Simulator gives riders a chance to mimic the experience of riding in a snorkel basket and trying to extinguish a fire. The Escape Maze teaches kids how to safely exit a burning house while the Fire Room allows visitors to experience what it’s like to be in a home on fire. And, of course, no interactive fire museum would be complete without a fire engine for kids to board.

The museum’s displays include a host of antique badges, helmets, and lanterns as well as some of the most legendary fire engines in the city’s history, such as the E.H. Crump Steamer, the 1912 R.A. Utley American LaFrance Pumper, and the 1929 American LaFrance Pumper.

Stax Museum of American Soul Music, Sun Studio, and the Gibson Guitar Factory

Your DisplayName here! — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 15:55:29 GMT

With the Beale Street Music Festival just a week away, it seems only appropriate to focus this week’s installment of the museum-focused series on several local music attractions: Stax Museum of American Soul Music, Sun Studio, and the Gibson Guitar Factory.

Stax Museum of American Soul Music - 926 E. McLemore Ave.
www.soulsvilleusa.com

It would be difficult to overstate Stax Records’ impact on the American music landscape. Trailing only Motown in sales and influence, Stax was a seminal soul label, recording its unique brand of raw, powerful soul and R&B with smash hits from soul icons like Otis Redding, Sam and Dave, the Staple Singers, Wilson Pickett, Albert King, the Bar-Kays, Booker T. & the MG's, Isaac Hayes, Johnnie Taylor, Rufus and Carla Thomas, and many other artists. During the label’s 15-year-run, Stax artists notched over 160 songs on the Billboard Top 100 pop charts and 243 hits on the Top 100 R&B charts.

Stax was responsible for more than just timeless soul, though. Race wasn’t an issue at any level in the company during a time in which segregation was heavily supported in the South. And, as the museum’s website explains, Stax, which was founded by two white businesspeople, Jim Stewart and his sister Estelle Axton, was committed to reciprocating the support it received from its predominately African-American music-buying market: “It utilized its marketing budget to help keep publications like Jet and Black Enterprise operating. Stax financed free benefit concerts with its artists, helped raise money for the needy during the holidays, participated in and helped publicize the federal government "Stay in School" program.”

A tour of the Stax Museum provides visitors with insight not only into the history of the Stax label but also into the history of soul music itself with features like the award-winning introductory documentary and a 100-year-old Mississippi Delta church, which explains the origins of soul. The museum’s varied collection of iconic instruments and apparel includes Albert King's purple Flying V guitar; the organ Booker T. Jones used to record “Green Onions”; Phalon Jones’ saxophone, which was recovered from a lake after Otis Redding and the Bar-Kays’ fatal plane crash; Tina Turner’s gold sequined stage dress; and Otis Redding’s brown suede jacket. You can also surround yourself with soul classics in the Hall of Records, where over 1,100 45s and LPs are on display, and stand inside a recreation of Stax’s historic Studio A.

For information on hours and admission, check out http://www.soulsvilleusa.com/plan-visit/.

Sun Studio – 706 Union Ave.
www.sunstudio.com

Without the passion and creativity of Sun’s owner and self-taught recording engineer, Sam Phillips, another city might wear the title “The Birthplace of Rock ‘n’ Roll.” Originally called Memphis Recording Service, Sun opened in 1950. The next year Phillips recorded what’s considered by many the first rock ‘n’ roll song when Jackie Brenston and his Delta Cats, which featured the song’s writer Ike Turner on the keys, recorded “Rocket 88.”

Two years later a young Elvis Presley made his first visit to make a record for his mother’s birthday. It wasn’t until a year later at the suggestion of assistant Marion Keisker, who recorded Elvis’ first record at Sun, that Phillips brought Elvis in for a recording session backed by Scotty Moore and Bill Black. After an inauspicious start to the session, Phillips knew he’d discovered something special when Elvis and the group struck into an impromptu version of Arthur Crudup’s “That’s All Right.” The rest, as they say, is history.

In the years that followed, Sun Records signed future icons like Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, Charlie Rich, and others. After Phillips sold the facility to Shelby Singleton in 1969, the studio was dormant until 1985 when Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash, and Jerry Lee Lewis united to record Class of ’55. Reopened officially in 1987 as Sun Studio, it has been a hot tourist attraction as well as a working recording studio, drawing many notable artists, including U2, who recorded their 1988 album Rattle and Hum there.

When taking a tour of the studio, you’ll hear about its history from a knowledgeable tour guide, get a glimpse of classic recording devices, listen to ground-breaking recordings, and eventually wind up standing in the studio where the rock ‘n’ roll magic began nearly 60 years ago. In fact, you can even pose with a mic The King himself used.

Gibson Guitar Factory - 145 Lt. George W. Lee Avenue http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Locations/FactoryTours/#BealeStreet

Arguably no other instrument is as synonymous with rock music than the Gibson solid-body “Les Paul” electric guitar. Ever wonder how a Les Paul or other classic Gibson models are made? Wonder no longer. Head downtown to the Gibson Guitar Factory and learn the painstaking process it takes to craft the celebrated guitars as you get an intimate view of the Luthiers as they take the guitars through binding, neck-fitting, painting, buffing, and tuning. And, if you find yourself with an urge to get your hands on a Les Paul or an SG, drop by the retail store after your tour, where you can find a host of Gibson’s electric, acoustic-electric, and acoustic models.