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Month: November 2009
This afternoon, Food News writer Pam Denney and I stopped by the newly opened Farmer’s Market Midtown at 1632 Union.
Owner John “JR” Raney had originally tried his luck with an open-air Midtown market earlier this summer. When that didn’t work out, he decided to take it indoors in a space that was previously a consignment furniture store.
I had the great good fortune to work and converse frequently with Jim Ostrander, the famously kind, and gifted actor for whom the Memphis theater awards are named. But no conversation was more moving than the one and only time when he and I sat down for a formal interview shortly before his life and career were cruelly abbreviated by cancer of the jaw.
“I’ve had 33 years of doing something that I was really good at,” he said. “I was wholly realized as an artist, in full possession of my powers And I used them with full knowledge of what I was doing. You can’t ask for more than that. You can’t ask for that to go on forever.”
Of course he was right, you can’t ask for that to go on forever. But there are a lot of people who loved Jim and want his memory, not just his name, to live on. So I suppose this was inevitable. There is now a Facebook page for friends of Jim Ostrander with lots of pictures archived there for fans to pore over. So if you do the FB thing, and you loved Jim, drop by, sign up, and share what you’ve got.
In July, the Memphis City Council voted to postpone discussion of a citywide non-discrimination ordinance protecting LGBT city workers until after a new mayor was elected. The item was re-scheduled for November 3rd.
But the council won’t hear the matter tomorrow. Mayor AC Wharton has opted to postpone non-discrimination legislation until his administration completes a review of the ordinance’s impact. It should be noted that Wharton supported a Shelby County non-discrimination ordinance during his time as county mayor.
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Turkish Delight
A friend of mine just got back from a trip to Turkey.
No doubt inspired by the many hours I have helped him shop for shoes, or my recent “shoes that pop” posts, or even the shoes I am wearing today …
(And, yes, this does mean I wasn’t wearing any shoes when I took this picture.)
he was kind enough to bring me back a little something … shoes that REALLY pop.
I mean: elf toes, puff balls, gold trim? I’m not sure where exactly I can wear them, but they definitely raise the bar for the rest of my footwear.
Thanks, PD!
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Thirty Days of Rock’n’Roll
With an unprecedented amount of concerts scheduled over the next four weeks, November is shaping up as Get Your Ass Off the Couch and Go Out Month. My bank account is already hurting just considering the expense, but check out these highlights from the calendar at the Hi-Tone Cafe:
On Thursday, Nov. 5th, a solo performance from Small Faces organist Ian McLagan, who, like Booker T. Jones, delivers soulful chords via a Hammond B3. On Saturday night, an appearance from R&B wildman Andre Williams (pictured above), who has somehow managed to outlive cohorts Ike Turner and Nathaniel Mayer. The return of Germany-Canada garage rock duo King Khan & BBQ on Nov. 10th. Japanese cuties Shonen Knife (Nov. 11th) and legendary New Zealanders the Axemen (Nov. 9th). The unlikely, yet oh-so-perfect pairing of Dexter Romweber and Charlie Louvin on Nov. 21st. And, last-but-not-least, homecoming gigs from the like of Harlan T. Bobo (Nov. 25th) and the Reigning Sound (Nov. 14th).
With upcoming Minglewood Hall dates by Neko Case, Son Volt, and Dan Auerbach (Nov. 4th, 17th, and 20th, respectively), this bests even the typical spring influx of touring acts heading to and from SXSW.
Would like to do a preview for tonight’s game but don’t have time on a paper-production Monday, so some quick takes on Griz issues du jour:
Rudy’s Extension: The Grizzlies and Rudy Gay have until midnight tonight to agree to a contract extension and have made some progress according to Yahoo! Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski:
Gay, a 6-foot-9 forward, has been seeking an extension comparable to the five-year, $60 million deal the Indiana Pacers gave Danny Granger(notes) last year. Memphis has offered $50 million over five years in recent days, sources said, but will still need to close the gap before the NBA’s deadline on Monday.
One league source says a shorter contract — three years for $33 million-$36 million — has also been discussed with Gay’s reps from Octagon.
My take: If the Grizzlies are offering 5 years and $50 million, Gay should snatch it up. I think that’s a little too rich for what he’s proven. Anything beyond that is silly. I like Gay, but he needs to upgrade his defense and integrate his offense into the team context a little better before he’ll be worth a contract averaging eight figures per year.
Animator Bill Plympton, an Oscar nominee and Cannes prize winner whose feature Hair High screened at the Indie Memphis Film Festival last month, will be in town tonight for a screening of his newest feature, Idiots & Angels, at Studio on the Square.
Indie Memphis describes the film:
In Bill Plympton’s latest feature, Idiots & Angels, a selfish and morally bankrupt man, wakes up one morning with wings on his back. Even more troublesome than their embarrassing appearance is the wings’ tendency to want to do good deeds. After much ridicule, he desperately tries to rid himself of the good wings, but eventually finds himself fighting those who view the wings as their ticket to fame and fortune. Is Angel’s misguided soul capable of being rescued? Told through Plympton’s trademark animation style Idiots and Angels is a dark comedy about a man’s battle for his soul
The Idiots & Angels screening is at 7:30 p.m. tonight. Admission is $5 or free to Indie Memphis members or Memphis College of Art students. Plympton will conduct a Q&A after the screening.
Plympton will also lecture at the Memphis College of Art tomorrow night at 7 p.m. The lecture is free and open to the public and is being held at Callicott Auditorium.
The trailer for Idiots & Angels:
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Stella Marris: It’s Definitely a Restaurant
Flyer editors (and Hungry Memphis bloggers) Susan Ellis and Pam Denney checked out Steve Cooper’s controversial new restaurant last week. Fancy! And no strippers.
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Ch-ch-changes!
Frank Murtaugh ruminates on Tommy West, Mark McGwire, and other changes that may be store for local sports fans.