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Month: October 2009
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PILOT-Program for Abandoned Areas?
Say what you will about types of in-fill development, getting people back into the core city is beneficial for Memphis.
Memphis’ population isn’t growing, so as people move out into the suburbs, it means building new schools, new sewers, and new roads for basically the same people who just left the old ones behind. It also means everything is more spread out, so people drive farther, spend more time in their vehicles, use more gas, and spend more of their income on transportation. Not to mention that hollowing out the urban core deflates the tax base, leaving less money for services.
But, with all the reasons people leave the city, how can you lure them back?
- Mitch Easter
Shangri-La founder Sherman Willmott’s annual Memphis Pops! Festival is tonight. This year, the event has been folded into the ongoing Downtown Alley Jams series and is free.
The headliner is alt-rock heavyweight Mitch Easter, whose rich varied career — from fronting indie cult band Let’s Active to helming classic R.E.M. albums — is profiled in this week’s paper by Andrew Earles. Setting the stage for Easter are a couple of local notables: The New Mary Jane pairs former Grifters partners Dave Shouse and Scott Taylor in a new form. And another signature early ’90s Memphis band, The Simple Ones, lead by Shangri-La Records owner Jared McStay, will also perform.
Memphis Pops starts at 6 p.m. and has been moved indoors due to our never-ending rain. It’ll now take place in the back room at Earnestine & Hazel’s, at 531 S. Main.
After being victim to the rain a few weeks ago, the Goner Records installment of the Downtown Alley Jams series has been rescheduled for next Wednesday, November 4th, in the Barbaro Alley near Main and Peabody. The show begins at 5:30 p.m. and will feature a packed triple bill of Mouserocket, Magic Kids, and Harlan T. Bobo.
When I stopped by Wayne’s Candy Co. earlier today, co-owner Kelly Hardcastle was standing in the door. Check out that smile! He’s been selling candy since 6 a.m. this morning.
The Grizzlies try to bounce back from their deplorable opening night showing as they host the Toronto Raptors tonight before heading out on a five-game West Coast road trip. A win tonight could help stablize the team, but a loss followed by a bad road trip could find the season unraveling before when it’s barely begun.
Allen Iverson practiced with the team Thursday but still looks unlikely to play tonight. Look for him to make his Griz debut on the road next week.
I will not be live-blogging tonight but will set up the usual game template here for in-game comments and will likely be making occasional commentary via my Twitter feed. You can follow me on Twitter at @ChrisHerrington.
The Raptors enter the game on a high, having won their home opener 101-91 over Lebron James’ Cleveland Cavaliers. Three potential keys to tonight’s game:
1. “Interior” Defense: On Opening Night, the Grizzlies got torched by probably the league’s best-shooting guard tandem in Rip Hamilton and Ben Gordon. Tonight they’ll face a different but also similar challenge: Probably the league’s best perimeter-shooting frontcourt tandem in Chris Bosh and Andrea Bargnani.
Thursday, October 29, 2009 will probably go down in local political annals as the crucial second day of federal grand jury testimony in the matter of Willie Herenton’s business dealings. Former city attorney Elbert Jefferson, who brought with him a recording of the former mayor discussing the now famous Greyhound Bus land deal, was the main witness.
For most people, even political junkies, that was the crux of the day, after which nothing much — nothing political, anyhow — mattered much. Actually, a great deal went on afterward, and who is to say that the five public events — count ‘em, 5 — that occurred later on Thursday evening, more or less simultaneously, were not equally momentous? Not the participants, surely!
First, at the Homebuilders building on Germantown Parkway, Republican county commission candidate Terry Roland (District 4, Position 3) got ready to meet and greet his public at a reception. Taking no chances, Roland doubled up with a cardboard cutout of himself.
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Terry Roland/Terry Roland
Next, Danny Kail, Democratic candidate for Probate Court clerk, held a fundraiser at 200 Wagner Place downtown. Among the attendees were quasi-namesakes Dan Norwood and Danny Presley (first and fourth in this lineup, from left), along with Bobby Lanier and Judy Palmer. Kail himself is second from left in the picture.
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Danny Kail (2nd from left) and friends
Not far from the Kail affair, at Earnestine and Hazel’s Restaurant downtown, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jim Kyle was meeting and greeting — in his case, members of Memphis’ legal community. Here, Kyle (left) says hello to brand new author D’Army Bailey (right), as Karl Schledwitz adds his own welcome.
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Jim Kyle (left) meets and greets.
Also going on downtown was a forum —“Is Health Care a Right?”— at 80 Monroe Avenue. Participants in the event, sponsored by the American Constitution Society, were (from left) Dr. Arthur Sutherland, Dr. Frank McGrew, moderator Steve Mulroy, and attorney Charles Key.
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Sutherland, McGrew, Mulroy, and Key at health care forum
Finally, members of Shelby County’s Republican community gathered at the Woodland Hills Country for a well-attended dinner/fashion show/talent contest/fundraiser sponsored by the Republican Women of Purpose club. Among the acts (to keep on using the forward-slant key on our computer) was radiologist/broadcasting magnate/Shelby County commissioner/blues harmonica player George Flinn.
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Bluesman George Flinn
- August Wilson
Most people probably equate the name Aunt Ester with the outspoken Sanford & Son character played by the late, great LaWanda Page, queen of the filthy party record. But the name means something else entirely to August Wilson fans. Although Aunt Ester only appears as a character in Gem of the Ocean, this “washer of souls” is the most frequently mentioned character in Wilson’s century-spanning Pittsburgh cycle. Now August’s storied aunt—a mostly invisible character— is being given her long overdue moment in the spotlight.
The August Wilson Center for African American Culture, which opened last month in Pittsburgh, has announced its first theatrical event in the newly completed center: The Aunt Ester Cycle. The show, which runs from November 10 – 22, 2009 “explores the dramatic impact of this legendary character” through productions of Gem of the Ocean, Two Trains Running, Radio Golf and The Women of the Hill, a new work by choreographer and performance artist Ping Chong.
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“A Serious Man”
The Coen brothers continue to grow with their new personal and eccentric film, A Serious Man. Read the Flyer‘s review here.
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lewis black
Local LGBT advocates will gather this Saturday for the first Mid-South Equality Across America event since the National Equality March in Washington D.C. earlier this month.
During the Oct. 31st meetup at Caritas Village at 11 a.m., advocates have three tasks — 1) call Maine, 2) write Congressman Steve Cohen, and 3) write the Memphis City Council.
On November 3rd, the citizens of Maine will vote on whether or not to maintain their inclusive law that allows marriage equality. A “no” vote would maintain Maine’s allowance of same-sex marriages. Local Equality Across America folks will be calling voters in Maine to urge them to vote “no” on this measure.
They’ll also be writing Congressman Steve Cohen to urge him to join 101 of his fellow congressmen by co-sponsoring HR 3567, which would repeal the anti-gay Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).
And finally, the activists will be writing letters to the Memphis City Council, urging them to support a non-discrimination ordinance protecting LGBT city employees.
For more information, check out the Equality Across America – Mid-South Congressional Districts Action Team’s Facebook page.