We're # 2

Memphis is right behind Austin, Texas in interesting places to visit, according to the travel web site Trip Adviser.

Article here...http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g55197-Memphis_Tennessee-Vacations.html

Pic O' the Day

Singin' for Jesus

Last Sunday, after having brunch with friends, they hop on the trolley and I say goodbye... and as I often do, I wander around. Mel's visiting family and I'm alone, free to poke around, undeterred,  wherever I want.

As I'm walking down Main St. taking pictures of whatever catches my eye, off in the distance I hear a gloriously spiritual voice resonating from down Court Square way so I wander toward the singing to investigate.

I sit on a park bench and enjoy this ladie's beautiful voice as she does A Capella renditions, using a disposable cup with the bottom removed to amplify her voice, wailing hymns unknown to me. No one in the park pays a bit attention to her, but that doesn't stop her from smiling and rejoicing in  those songs from the depths of her heart.

After a bit I decide to move on and because most of the folks in Court Square on a Sunday morning  are homeless and in need of some cash, I reach in my pocket for a few bucks to give her. I'll have to admit, I was taken aback when I offered her money and she shakes her head, smiles, and says in a very kind voice, "God bless you, but I don't do this for money, I'm singin' for Jesus. I'll say a prayer for you kind sir.", she gives me another sweet smile and she goes right back to singin' for Jesus. I say thanks, take her picture, give her a hug and walk away.

Humbled, I continue my saunter south towards home, but after just a few steps...  It hits me... I have this really good feeling, this lady has given me something, it's a nice feeling, and I smile all the way home.

You never know where the next smile may come from.

Cheers,

Istaboa

Pic O' the Day

Our backyard

The Old Tennessee Brewery

Gold Crest 51

Interesting perspective...

Day in the life of New York... In miniature.


The Sandpit from Sam O'Hare on Vimeo.

Pic O' the Day

Since 1932

Nothing's Easy anymore.
They closed their doors last month after 80 yrs in business.

Still walking around Memphis.

Pic O' the Day... Soul Burgers and hangin with the Tivolians

Not a damn thing to do with boats, but yesterday, this scene caught my eye while walking around uptown and I felt it just needed to be a photograph. Nice colors, me thinks.

For lunch, Mel and I decided it was about time we tried one of Memphis's iconic Soul Burgers at the quintessential dive bar — Earnestine and Hazel's.

It really was very good. Not like the gourmet burgers that most of the upscale restaurants offer up these days, it's more like an old fashioned, regular sized, (you can actually put it in your mouth), juicy cheese burger that was topped with grilled onions and oozing the correct combination of grease and meat juices, served on a warm toasted bun. The Soul Burger reminded me of the burger's my big brother and I once enjoyed at Spott's Drug Store and Soda Fountain in West Memphis.

A little different than what we encountered in Felicia Suzanne's kitchen.

Hicks, the fellow who was grilling our burgers, was quite an outgoing and approachable guy. He asked if we had ever been to Earnestines and Hazel's and told us to walk around and check it out.

We did... this is a pic from one of the rooms upstairs. You can see why many movies have been shot here. This is funk you can't fake. This funk is real. This is Memphis Milieu with a capital M.

Lonely Planet review for Earnestine & Hazel's 

One of the great dive bars has a 2nd floor full of rusty bedsprings and claw-foot tubs, remnants of its brothel past. Climb the creaky stairs to shoot the breeze with Nate, a courtly gentleman who regales you with tales of Memphis past as he pours you a Miller Lite – he works the upstairs bar on weekends. The Soul Burger, the bar's only food, is the stuff of legend. Watch out for ghosts. Things heat up after midnight.

So to finish off our day of culinary adventure we caught a trolley uptown to the restaurant "Flight" where we dined with our long time friends Deanna and Clayton, aka—Crew Tivoli. They've just returned from a Fall Color Cruise on the Tennessee River. We enjoyed hearing the tales of their trip and their company as well.

Well, that's about it for now, still enjoying being urbanites... thanks again for checking on us.

Oh yeah, some of you have probably noticed we've changed the look of this blog. The thinking is simple's good, so simple it is. More changes coming...

Cheers,

Istaboa
 

R.I.P. Bernard Lansky

 You gotta admit... Elvis looks extremely cool in this shot. Bernard did an incredible job.

 Cut from The Commercial Appeal:

Bernard Lansky, the co-founder of Lansky Bros. Clothing who was known as the "Clothier to the King," died early Thursday morning at age 85, according to his family.
Lansky, who outfitted Elvis Presley during his time in Memphis, was recognized for influencing the fashion of "The King" and, therefore, the fashion of rock and roll.
Lansky Bros. is believed to be the first store in Memphis to carry peg-leg pants, Levi's and white-tailed tuxedos.
Founded in 1946 at 126 Beale St., the store was a destination for other iconic musicians including Johnny Cash, David Porter and Rufus Thomas.

F'n Anarchist!

Pic O' the Day

Midway Marina

Fulton, Mississippi

Pic O' the Day

Early one morning at Joe Wheeler State Park Marina in Alabama, I watched this fellow wrestle this huge Catfish in. He was very excited and proud that someone has actually witnessed him landing this big guy. It took him about a half hour.