Month: March 2005

LETTERS: ON CHERI DEL BROCCO

Post author By Flyer Readers
Post date March 19, 2005

Reader reponse to columnist Cheri DelBrocco’s column “Bush’s Privatization Guru: a Nine-Year-Old!” has been brisk. Here’s a sampling:

Subject: mad as hell

mad as hell was excellent
tell CHERI DELBROCCO to keep up the good work

luis collie
(no address indicated

Hi:

I wanted to tell Ms. Delbrocco that I liked her column on the nine-year old shill for privatization, but her email address couldn’t be found. After searching through some web pages for it, I know why! Please relate to her my appreciation for her views and her temerity in expressing them in–I’m sorry to stereotype here–Memphis. I was compelled to write because her final line about The Emperor with No Clothes, resonates with my bumper sticker I affixed to my car, made myself: “W: Emperor with no clues.”

By the way: no crank here. Just a left-coast college professor reading Buzz Flash on a Tuesday night, and this is the first of her writing I’ve read. Good stuff!

Sincerely,

P. Kevin Parker
Associate Professor
Orange Coast College
Costa Mesa, CA
President,
Academic Senate
kparker@occ.cccd.edu

Subject: good editorial

I read your editorial (linked through www.buzzflash.com) on the 9-y old

social security ‘expert’. It was a nice editorial. When I read these

rare editorials that call into question Bush’s ethics and/or policies I

always try to email the author and congratulate them, because I assume

the right-wing hate machine sends plenty of hate-filled emails….I

think the authors should know there are people out there who appreciate

and support the all-too-rare dissenting public voice.

Pat Heiden
(no address indicated)

Re: “MAD AS HELL”

I, as much as anyone, appreciate the vehemence of Cheri Delbrocco’s anti-Bush article. However, the first paragraph of her article is offensive to me — both as a linguist and as a native ‘country boy’. To suggest that Bush’s inarticulateness is, IN ITSELF, a sign of ‘stupidity’ is, in a word, stupid.

Non-standard or regional pronunciations — such as “nucular” or “Amurika” — are NOT an indicator of inferior intellect. There is no evidence to back that up. (And a writer in TENNESSEE, of all places, should appreciate this as well as anyone.) Likewise, the use of accidental, awkward utterances, such as “misunderestimated”, points to ‘inferior intellect’ no more than race or economic class do.

Ms. Delbrocco should try to avoid such elitism next time. The choir she preaches to might enjoy it, but it’s insulting and alienating to inarticulate, smart people everywhere (good, honest, hard-working folks who happen not to have been born with ‘silver tongues’). If there are other reasons to label Bush ‘stupid’, then, by all means, she should knock herself out.

David Donnell
Brooklyn, NY
(smalltown Missouri native)

Why would W exploit a nine-year-old in his quest to destroy Social Security? The answer is obvious: To believe that private accounts are a good idea, it helps to also believe in Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny. Once the harsh realities of this world are understood, a person can’t possibly be in favor of this ruinous plan. A plan, I might add, that hasn’t even been articulated publicly, presumably because the large, gaping holes in it won’t stand up to public scrutiny.

I hope this kid uses whatever money he is being paid wisely, he’s going to need it in about 55 years.

Jamie Cowan
(no address indicated)

News The Fly-By

FIT TO GOVERN

Post author By Chris Davis
Post date March 18, 2005

This month’s Memphis Health & Fitness Sports magazine features Shelby County mayor A C Wharton working out in suit pants and a dress shirt. Maybe his tie was getting a little too wide? — Chris Davis

Plante: How It Looks

Politics Politics Beat Blog

FORD ORDERED TO SHOW CAUSE

Post author By Flyer Readers
Post date March 18, 2005

Long (l) and Harding (r) disagree about John Ford
as Lee Ann Murray bides her time.

NASHVILLE -ÑThe members of the state Election Registry gave themselves every chance to be as lenient Thursday in the case of John Ford as the Senate Ethics Committee had been on Wednesday. But, whereas state Senator FordÕs Senate colleagues essentially wrote him a pass, the members of the Registry backed and filled themselves into the most decisive action against Ford so far.

It was a long time coming, though, after the failure of three early motions Ñ one directing citizen complainer Barry Schmittou to flesh out his bill of particulars against Ford and two more mandating that Ford show cause why the Registry should not regard certain of his campaign expenditures as improper.

It was only when member Karen Dunavant made a show-cause motion which made no reference to the Schmittou complaint that the Registry formally put the onus on proof on Ford. The senator has 30 days to demonstrate why his expenditures, notably his apparent use of campaign funds to pay for a daughterÕs lavish wedding, do not merit sanctions from the Registry.

The successful motion by Dunavant, a Republican appointee from Memphis, came as something of a surprise. Up to that point, she had seemed reluctant to turn the screws on Ford. During the discussion of the wedding video, she lamented, ÒLovely girl! ItÕs too bad she has to go through all this.Ó

The only dissenting vote on DunavantÕs motion came from Nashville lawyer William Long, a Republican, who had made the earlier motion throwing the ball back into complainaint SchmittouÕs court.

Ironically, given that Ford is a member of one of TennesseeÕs dominant Democratic families, it was Long who emerged as the senatorÕs chief defender Thursday, while the Registry member who seemed most aggressive in seeking further action against Ford was George Harding of Lebanon, a Democratic appointee. Harding had been the author of the two previous motions for show-cause procedures, and he and Long sparred over the propriety of seeking further action.

“I’ve known Sen. Ford for almost 30 years,Ó said Long, who went on to suggest that without the senator and his records on hand it was improper to proceed. Echoing statements made by members of the Ethics Committee the day before, Long suggested that media pressure was the true cause of the various inquiries under way.

Harding expostulated at one point: ÒYouÕre just trying to get this thing put off because Senator Ford is a friend of yours.Ó Long asked for, and at length got, an apology for those words.

Schmittou, who is well-known on Capitol Hill for his protests against various governmental actions, professed himself satisfied after the hearing and opined that the Ethics Committee could have used somebody like Harding on Wednesday.

The bottom line: John Ford, as of Thursday, was officially on the bubble. But regardless of his ultimate fate with the Registry, the greater danger for the Memphis state senator lay ahead, with whatever consequence ensues from a parallel F.B.I.investigation of conflict-of-interest issues relating to FordÕs consulting activities.

Ford Gets a Pass, A C Gets an Argument

The Shelby County mayor had a showdown for real with members of the General Assembly and got some serious backtalk for his pains. The state Senator had what amounted to a mutual back-scratch session with members of the Senate Ethics Committee, who basically offered him forgiveness for what he Ð and they Ð seem inclined to regard as Òoversights.Ó

John’s Reprieve

Ford, who had been summoned to testify before his colleagues on the Ethics Committee, had a real boost going into his moment of truth. He had heard himself lionized in the Senate, just before adjournment, by soul-music legend Isaac Hayes during the course of the Memphis entertainerÕs response to an official Senate resolution in his honor. John Ford is Òmy friend,Ó Hayes pronounced, and Ford, making the most of the moment, went on to claim that he, his brother Harold, and his brother (former state Representative) Emmitt were all financed in their first races by Isaac Hayes. They were, Ford suggested, virtually HaysÕ creations.

As preambles to what could have been an inquisition, that was about as good as it gets. The Ethics Committee hearing came in the late afternoon, immediately after that edifying occasion in the Senate chamber. There were times during the hearing when Ford, flanked by his two lawyers at a table and facing the committee members up on the dais, seemed nervous, but as things wore on, it became obvious that the barely controlled tremor in his voice was due more to outrage at being haled before his peers.

ÓI have been impugned by others for reasons other than a violation,Ó Ford said early in his testimony. Further: ÒWhat this is all about is my integrity and the integrity of this body.Ó

As bizarre as that might have seemed to those whose sense of the case against Ford was based on TV teases and newspaper headlines, it conformed neatly with advance word from Senate sources that the FordÕs lodge brothers, regardless of party, would close ranks around him.

Long story short: They did. Committee chairman Ron Ramsey, who doubles as the RepublicansÕ majority leader, might have been expected to lead the charge against Ford, and he declined to accept the argument of Ford Ð and, it seemed, Senate clerk Russell Humphrey Ð that senators had liberty to offer late amendments to their financial disclosures, something Ford just did, in the wake of allegations by one Barry Schmittou, the citizen whose complaint against the senator was the proximate cause of the Ethics Committee hearing.

But Ramsey seemed to speak for the body when he ended up using the word ÒmistakeÓ to describe FordÕs original omission of his ÒconsultingÓ arrangements in the Memphis senatorÕs first set of disclosures for both 2003 and 2004. Indeed, the committeeÕs discussion of the matter came to focus on the simple issue of whether the word ÒconsultingÓ should have appeared in the list of the senatorÕs income sources.

ÓI have complied with every law,Ó Ford said. ÒI missed writing one word by error. I didnÕt even realize it.Ó No one on the committee seriously contested that, although Nashville Senator Doug Henry probed a few other issues and came closest to a serious interrogation.

In the end, the committee decided that Ford shoulda come cleaner on the disclosure issue but that another issue, that of the senatorÕs alleged improper use of campaign funds (some reportedly spent on a daughterÕs lavish wedding), was not the committeeÕs purview, nor was a third matter, that of whether Ford actually lived in his district, which was treated, basically, as too complex and inscrutable to judge.

The committee will produce a formal report in something like 14 days, Ramsey said. Ford offered his gratitude for a ÒfairÓ hearing.

The only audible dissenter to this harmony was Schmittou, who asked in vain to be allowed to interrogate Ford and to request documents but was allowed his fifteen minutes, literally, of venting. ÒI am a party to this,Ó Schmittou insisted. ÒIÕm a citizen up here fighting for other citizens.Ó And he took personally RamseyÕs assertion, ÒWe donÕt want this to be a media circus, to be perfectly honest.Ó

Schmittou made it clear later that, even if the Ethics Committee had essentially washed its hands of the Ford matter, he hadnÕt, and would be heard from again. Perhaps more ominously for the senator, the FBI has been looking into the records of FordÕs lucrative relationship with a consulting company and the dimensions of its Ð and his Ð involvement with the awarding of TennCareÕs dental-care contract Ð the potential conflict-of-interest issue that has aroused most red-flag interest. ÒThereÕs nothing for a court of law to decide,Ó insisted Sen. Ford at WednesdayÕs hearing.

A C’s Dilemma

County mayor Wharton has made frequent pilgrimages to Nashville of late, on behalf of proposed revenue measures pushed by his administration and approved by the county commission. He was at it again Wednesday, as the featured speaker at the regularly weekly luncheon of the Shelby County legislative delegation. It was County Government day on Capitol Hill, and other Shelby County officials were on the bill, including Sheriff Mark Luttrell and District Attorney General Bill Gibbons Ð all discussing their desired legislation.

WhartonÕs appearance dominated both because of his rank and because of what he insisted was the urgency of devising some means other than Òthe everlasting escalation of the property taxÓ to fill Shelby CountyÕs dangerously starved coffers. The administration, backed by an 11-0 vote of the county commission, is pushing a real estate transfer tax that would yield some $10 to $15 million in annual revenue, but, like any other tax proposal, that one has met with resistance.

With that in mind, a somewhat testy Wharton put it straight to his audience of legislators.

ÓIf yÕall come up with another bill, youÕll find me marching alongside you,Ó he said. ÒBut this is the only horse I have right now. It may be a lame horse but itÕs still in the race. Other horses havenÕt shown up yet.Ó

As he goaded the delegation to action on his tax measure, the county mayor vowed, ÒIÕll be here by day and in your districts by night. Take the chains off the local hands and let us mold a revenue package that is close to the desires and wishes of the people of Shelby CountyÓ If the county had to pass another property-tax increase, it would, Wharton said, but he suggested that would be Òdriven by what happens or fails to happen here.Ó

Representative John DeBerry protested at that: ÒOne thing I wonÕt accept is anybody saying this delegation is to blame,Ó he said, turning WhartonÕs charge of inaction against county government itself. ÒNothing is happening now that we didnÕt say would happen five years ago, Things got out of hand, and now weÕve got to hold our nose.Ó He said, ÒI request and implore that his delegation be indemnified from blame.Ó

Things lightened up a bit later on, when state Senator Mark Norris offered what seemed like a deal. ÒWeÕre looking for a package that can be put together,Ó Norris said. ÒWe need a comprehensive solutionÉPeople want a [legislative] on their taxes, but they also want a vote on their schools.Ó Norris is a leading proponent of legislation to create a special county school district Ð the Òelephant in the room,Ó as he described it Wednesday. Responded A C: ÒWeÕve had some talks with school officials, and youÕd be surprised at the room for agreement that exists.Ó

That was the one note of harmony in a session that otherwise generated measurable tension.

News The Fly-By

Bush’s Suite Stay

Post author By Bianca Phillips
Post date March 17, 2005

For most ordinary people, a night at a swanky hotel means chocolate on the pillow,
a bar stocked with those little bottles of booze, and
a television that gets more than basic cable. But
when the leader of the free world comes to town, he
gets presidential-sized perks.

In preparation for President George W.
Bush’s Thursday-night stay, The Peabody’s VIP
division met to decide how to decorate his room —
appropriately named the Presidential Suite — and
what food to serve. Before the division meets, they
research each VIP’s likes and wants.

“In the president’s case, we knew that he
was from Texas, so we placed fresh bluebonnets
around the room,” says Peabody general manager
Doug Brown. “We knew the president likes fresh fruit,
so we put strawberries, blueberries, and those kinds
of things in the kitchenette area.”

The president also requested exercise
equipment for his one-night stay. The VIP team also
placed newspapers from Washington in the room so W could stay posted on events in the capital.

Did he have any special requests, like a bowl
full of red M&Ms?

“He didn’t request anything out of the
ordinary or difficult,” says Brown.

The Presidential Suite is on a locked floor
for extra security, and Brown says most celebrities
and political figures request it. Previous guests
have included Janet Jackson, Aerosmith’s Steven
Tyler, Kevin Bacon, Francis Ford Coppola, and
fellow presidents Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan, and Jimmy Carter. Most recently, the Prince of
Monaco called the suite home for a night. At
$1,675 per night, it costs about two months’ rent for
a two-bedroom house.

The presidential party requested 100
rooms, but The Peabody could only give them 54.
Brown says the Secret Service arrived at the hotel about 15 days prior to Bush’s arrival “to
take all the necessary security and communication measures.” Only the 11th and 12th floors
were reserved for the Bushies, so the hotel wasn’t closed off to other guests.

And unlike other high-profile guests and
their high jinks, the room didn’t suffer any shock or awe.

“The president,” says Brown, “was an
excellent guest.”

Politics Politics Feature

POLITICS: George W.’s Un-Op Stop in Memphis

Post author By Jackson Baker
Post date March 17, 2005

CREDIT: JB

ABC’s Jake
Tapper, a self-acknowledged acolyte of the King’s who made his journalistic
bones as an online columnist for Salon, showed off his Elvis-themed tie
Friday, as he – like The New York Times’ Maureen Dowd and several score
other national reporters – filed stories from the car museum across Elvis
Presley Boulevard from Graceland.

That’s as close as most observers – tourists,
protesters, reporters what-have-you – got to the grounds of the late music
icon’s mansion, or to the National Civil Rights Museum, where President Bush,
Japanese Prime Minister
Koizumi, and the rest of their party made an impromptu stop, or to the downtown
Rendezvous Restaurant, where the two heads of state and a largish retinue of
local officials finished off their highly private whirlwind tour of Memphis.

Let’s get that
straight from the outset: Memphis is where they were. That’s worth emphasizing
because the first AP story, by a traveling journalist, managed to mention
Graceland at length without ever indicating where in these United States the
place was.

(Note to Kevin Kane: Can you do your best henceforth to make sure
that stories about Graceland, like those ubiquitous TV spots
promoting St. Jude Hospital, deign to mention the city which hosts both places?
No sense keeping that a secret, is there?)

Another reason
for emphasizing the venue is that Memphians, either the John Q. or the media
variety, got no closer to events for the most part than did residents of
Cleveland or Albuquerque or wherever else who caught the pooled TV coverage on
the evening news.

Four (count ’em, 4) local media representatives were allowed
to accompany the presidential entourage. Eight MATA buses were pulled over to the
western curb of E.P. Boulevard across from the King’s mansion to prevent a crowd
of tourists from having eye-level vision of the house and grounds.

Then the
several score Elvis faithful, along with such protesters who showed up, were
banished to a roped-in area at a considerable distance from the street. Yes,
yes, the protesters had permits to demonstrate on the sidewalk. Fahgidaboutit,
this was a day in which the Secret Service could – and did–overrule all other
arrangements.

What it amounts to was that Bush and his Japanese guest visited three highly real and culturally resonant places which showed up on the nation’s TV sets (and on the White House Web site and in daily blurbs by AOL, Microsoft et al.) only as three photo-op sets.

But they were un-ops, too. In the senses of access and local visibility, Friday’s ultra-cloistered visit was wholly unlike previous ones by the current president’s father, by former President Bill Clinton, or by President George W. Bush himself, who held a more or less open (if selectively stacked) seminar on his planned Social Security changes back in January of 2005.

Not only were the local and national media, Elvis fans, and the city’s population itself held at bay, so were most congressional staffers, even loyal Republican ones. “The state [Republican] office was responsible,” theorized one staffer. “The White House was responsible,” reasoned someone else, from Graceland’s orbit. And “grumbled” would have been an appropriate verb in those and several other cases.

Even the local state, and federal officials who ended up being part of the tour were notified late in the game. Most of them, like the media, received their detailed advisories only Wednesday evening or Thursday morning.

Attendance at the three venues by local dignitaries was in a de facto staggered pattern.

Air Force One was met at the airport by a welcoming party which prominently included Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton and U.S. Attorney David Kustoff, who headed both of Bush’s presidential campaign efforts in Tennessee.

Present at the Civil Rights Museum were Museum president, the Rev. Ben Hooks, and the museum’s board chairman, Pitt Hyde.

The group lunching with the president at the Rendezvous included U.S. congressman Harold Ford Jr. and the two Tennessee senators, Lamar Alexander and Bill Frist.

Present at all events was the president’s chief political strategist, Karl Rove.

Vignettes from the day included: Kustoff, who in a few short months has achieved a level of G-Man gravity that his predecessors never quite came by (or maybe never aspired to), standing sentinel outside the Civil Rights Museum alongside a Service Service agent; a Democratic operative who phoned a reporter he assumed to be with the touring party, offering $200 for a photograph of District Attorney General Bill Gibbons with Bush. (Helpful hint: Call Gibbons yourself; he’ll probably give you one for freee.); and the woman from Arkansas who strayed a downtown-block away from her husband to catch a peek of the presidential motorcade and was told by a policeman, obeying Secret Service orders, that she could not retrace her steps to rejoin her spouse until further notice. “Might as well get a divorce,” someone suggested.

Here, courtesy of local pool reporter Zach McMillan of The Commercial Appeal, are two transcripts, furnished by the White House, of reported exchanges of the two heads of state from inside Graceland, where they, along with First Lady Laura Bush, were given an expanded version of the usual tour by the King’s ex-wive Priscilla Presley and his daughter Lisa Marie Presley:

White House Transcript #1:

PRESIDENT BUSH: It is such
a joy to be here to Graceland. It’s my first visit.

PRIME MINISTER KOIZUMI: My
first visit, too.

PRESIDENT BUSH: The Prime
Minister’s first visit.

PRIME MINISTER KOIZUMI:
It’s like a dream, with President Bush and Presley’s daughter.

PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you
all for greeting us. You’re awfully kind to be here.

PRIME MINISTER KOIZUMI:
You look like Elvis.

MS. LISA MARIE PRESLEY:
(Speaks Japanese.)

PRESIDENT BUSH: The visit
here is an indication of how well-known Elvis was around the world. A lot of
people are still singing Elvis Presley songs here in the states and there’s a
lot of people who love Elvis Presley in Japan, including the Prime Minister.
This visit is also a way of reminding us about the close friendship between our
peoples.

And, Mr. Prime Minister,
thank you for agreeing to come here. A lot of Americans are thrilled you’re
here, particularly at Graceland. It means a lot to our country that you would
be that interested in one of America’s icons, Elvis Presley.

PRIME MINISTER KOIZUMI: My
birthday is the same as Elvis.

PRESIDENT BUSH: You and
Elvis were born on the same day?

PRIME MINISTER KOIZUMI:
January 8th.

PRIME MINISTER KOIZUMI:
Even now, I often listen to Elvis CDs.

PRESIDENT BUSH: Still
listen to Elvis CDs?

PRIME MINISTER KOIZUMI:
Sure.

PRESIDENT BUSH: You’re a
pretty good Elvis singer.

PRIME MINISTER KOIZUMI:
I’m not impersonator. (Sings Elvis songs.)

PRESIDENT BUSH: I thought
you were going to do “Blue Suede Shoes.” Thank you.

White
House Transcript #2:

PRESIDENT BUSH: First of
all, the Prime Minister and I would like to thank Priscilla and Lisa for their
gracious hospitality. And we thank the Graceland staff, as well, for arranging
this unusual experience. First of all, my presence here shows it’s never too
late to come to Graceland. Laura and I are — we’ve known Elvis Presley since
we were growing up. He’s obviously a major part of our music history. He had
an international reputation. His reputation was so strong that he attracted the
attention of the now Prime Minister of Japan.

I was hoping the Prime
Minister would want to come to Graceland. I knew he loved Elvis — I didn’t
realize how much he loved Elvis. He not only knows Elvis’ history, he can sing
a pretty good Elvis song. This visit here shows that not only am I personally
fond of the Prime Minister, but the ties between our peoples are very strong, as
well.

And so, again, to the
Presleys, thank you all. And Mr. Prime Minister, glad you joined us. Want to
say a few comments?

PRIME MINISTER KOIZUMI:
It’s like a dream. I never expected President come with me to visit Graceland.
There’s Elvis song: To Dream Impossible. (Singing Elvis song.) (Laughter.)
My dream came true. Thank you very much for — thank you. Thank you very much
for treating me nice, the Elvis song. (Singing Elvis song.) Thank you.

PRESIDENT BUSH: We’re going to go have some barbeque, thank you.

By one of those quirks of circumstances, former city councilman John Vergos, the proprietor of The Rendezvous, where that “barbeque” was to be had, was away on a pre-planed three-week vacation off in Australia .

“That’s where I’d like to be,” was the wistful comment last week from his brother, co-proprietor Nick Vergos, who served as host for the two heads of state and Mrs. Bush at a lunchtime affair which occasioned the erection of a special tent on Second Street to handle the presidential limousine and other elements of the day’s logistical overflow.

Food & Wine Food & Drink

Herb Appeal

Post author By Jesse Yancy
Post date March 17, 2005

Before my ancestors were shipped off to Virginia for lampooning the local gentry and skipping out on big bar tabs, they lived in a beautiful country on the west coast of Britain known as Wales. Wales is a very old part of the world that has long since been assimilated (not without some degree of argument) into the United Kingdom. But, like other members of the U.K., Wales still observes its own saint’s day, the Feast of St. David, which falls on March 1st.

I have Irish ancestors too, but I have to admit I think it’s a real shame that Patrick’s feast eclipses David’s. After all, compared to David, Patrick was strictly low-rent; David was able to make the earth beneath him shift and rise, whereas Patrick’s most notable claim to fame is the single-handed extinction of harmless native reptiles.

The Irish might praise the potato (another import, which throws a suspicious light upon shamrocks), but the Welsh glory in the leek, which has been cultivated in the Old World for millennia. Welsh warriors wore leek leaves into battle to distinguish themselves as early as the days of King Arthur, himself a Welshman, and if the Irish ever wore potatoes into battle, it would have been much later, since potatoes weren’t known there until the 17th century, when the Irish suffered their most humiliating defeats at the hands of the English.

Leeks are basically big, green onions, which places them in the very important culinary family of Alliaceae. All onions, as well as garlic, chives, and shallots, belong to this group of herbs. If you’ll pardon a brief horticultural digression, those wild onions that disfigure your lawn in the very early spring also belong to this family; known in earlier days as ramps, these blots on your landscape were once a folk treatment for rural people in the South, who would stew them to alleviate what they called the “winter colic,” a mild form of scurvy (vitamin C deficiency).

Leeks are often called “the poor man’s asparagus” because of their mild and savory flavor. Leeks take well to any sort of treatment you’d usually reserve for asparagus; they’re a beautiful addition to any stir-fry (working well with sweet peppers), and more formal preparations involve a gratin with a nice cream sauce or Mornay (try either, lightly peppered, simply with toast or as a side to braised pork). They also take a Hollandaise with ease.

But leeks are used mostly in potages. A traditional Welsh dish is a poultry stew with leeks, but as a concession to my cousin Celts from across the Irish Sea, I add potatoes.

Chicken Stew with Leeks and Potatoes

Wash, trim, and cut the white of two leeks into thin slices and mince the greens. Sauté these in butter with a bit of garlic, then stew with a whole fryer, two chopped stalks of celery, and two bay leaves in a weak poultry broth to cover. Simmer until the bird is just done. Remove chicken, skin and bone, chop the meat, and add to the broth. Cook the broth down until a good strength. Boil red potatoes separately until just done, cut into cubes, and add to the soup; season with salt, fine pepper, thyme, and a bit of rosemary. Serve with good bread; I like rye, but soda bread is more traditional.

Cymru am byth!

We Recommend We Recommend

thursday, 17

Post author By Bianca Phillips
Post date March 17, 2005

Legend has it that St. Patrick was one hard-drinking man of God. Supposedly, the tradition of getting smashed on St. Patrick’s Day originated when old Pat told an innkeeper that the devil’s powers would grow stronger if the innkeeper wasn’t more generous with his whisky. So keep the tradition alive this year and tell the barkeep to keep the green coming.

If you’re starting the day early, check out the lunch at PADDY’S MEMPHIS PUB (345 Madison). These folks are serving up Irish stew, shepherd’s pie, bubble and squeak, potato soup, and lots more. If you’re too stuffed to move after lunch, just stick around for Poor Paddy and The Central Standards at 9 p.m.

Bangers and mash is on the menu at DAN MCGUINNESS PUB (150 Peabody Place), and while you’re eating, you’ll be entertained by the Irish dance troupe Innish Acala. They’ll be followed by bagpipe music with Cooley’s House and Gallow Glass Pipes. Festivities kick off at noon, and live music runs through 1 a.m.

You’ll be sure to get a buzz at PAT O’BRIEN’S where green beer and Celtic Cocktails will be flowing like water, while Gabby Johnson rocks out on the heated patio from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. The $6 cover includes your first beer.

Join an annual tradition at KUDZU’S (603 Monroe) as the 4 Heads present their 7th Annual All-Irish Pub Sing-Along at 7 p.m. They’ve even got bagpipes, folks.

At THE BUCCANEER (1368 Monroe), a St. Patrick’s Day Blowout begins while the sun’s still out and runs late into the night. At 4 p.m., Jimbo Mathus and Lightnin’ Malcolm will play while patrons dine on barbecue. Later, a rock show will commence with M.O.T.O., The Mistreaters, and The Rat Traps featuring Jeffrey Novak. The kicker: There’s no cover.

Another all-day, all-night blowout will be going on just a few blocks over at MURPHY’S (1589 Madison), as they celebrate their 31st Annual St. Paddy’s show. The Blessing o’ the Keg starts at 3 p.m. Bands include Big Betsy, Organ Thief, Clanky’s Nub, Chess Club, The Joint Chiefs, Co-Ben, Hedgecreep, Gallow Glass Pipes, and The Irish Eyes of Memphis.

Check out Beanpole, Young Agent Jones, and The Hype at THE HI-TONE (1913 Poplar) as they celebrate St. Pat’s Day with $5 pitchers all night long. Cover is $5.

Of course, there’s plenty going on at all four T.J. MULLIGAN’S locations (8071 Trinity; 2821 Houston Levee; 6635 Quince; 362 North Main). At the CORDOVA location, Snozberry and Super 5 will be playing inside the St. Patrick’s Day tent. And don’t forget the grub. They’ll be serving up corned beef and cabbage with yummy green beer. A $10 wristband will get you into all Mulligan’s locations.

If you’re not too hungover (or if you haven’t been to sleep yet), head over to the NEW DAISY (330 Beale) on Friday, March 18th, for Houlie Fight Night where “leprechauns” will duke it out in wrestling, kickboxing, and boxing matches. It starts at 7 p.m., and there’s a $10 cover.