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.

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)

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.