Other commitments kept me away from Grizzlies media day yesterday, but I did have time in the morning to tape an episode of Commercial Appeal columnist Geoff Calkins’ new WKNO show Sports Files With Geoff Calkins. This episode was a roundtable discussion of the Grizzlies with myself, 730 Fox Sports’ Chris Vernon, and Commercial Appeal editorial page editor and original season-ticket holder Otis Sanford joining Calkins.
The episode airs on WKNO, channel 10, at 6:30 p.m. tonight.
This year’s Gonerfest, the seventh installment of local garage/punk label Goner Records’ annual musical festival, was perhaps the biggest and most eclectic to date, drawing bands and fans from all corners of the world to Memphis for five days of rock ‘n’ roll insanity.
I’m also ashamed to admit that, despite my status as a nearly life-long Memphian, this year was my first Gonerfest experience. I must say that the festival did not disappoint. Aside from the array of really good bands (my favorites from the festival being Destruction Unit, So Cow, and the Oblivians), one thing that really struck me was the fully engaged and enthusiastic crowds, which were unlike anything I’ve seen at a Memphis club-show before.
Goner’s Eric “Oblivian” Friedl spoke to the Memphis Flyer on Monday about Goner attendees, his favorite bands from the weekend, and the future of Gonerfest itself.
Memphis Flyer: How did you do this year, numbers-wise?
Eric Friedl: I don’t have final stats, but Friday and Saturday were the biggest crowds I’ve seen at Gonerfest, and the biggest crowds I’ve been in at the Hi Tone. That was insane.
What bands did you enjoying seeing live the most? Did anybody surprise you with how good they were?
It’s weird, because I know some bands are going to be great. Most of the most enjoyable moments are delivered by the bands you aren’t as familiar with. So . . . Guinea Worms, Dave Cloud, James Arthur’s Manhunt, Red Mass, U.V. Race, and Outdoorsmen were my favorites of the bands I didn’t know so well. I just started making a list of other favorites and it was basically the rest of the bands. Guitar Wolf at Gonerfest was the best for personal impact.
There’s no need to be alarmed.
City Council members in the public safety and homeland security committee discussed proposed changes to the city’s alarm ordinance, including a measure that would require home security companies to submit a list of new alarm installations to the city.
“One of the things that’s unclear in the current ordinance is if someone is operating an alarm without a permit,” said council member Kemp Conrad. “Before, we would not necessarily have known if someone did that.”
Home owners are required to pay a small fee and obtain a permit to operate an alarm system. Under the proposed ordinance, the alarm companies would give the homeowners all the forms needed to get the permit at the time of installation. If the resident didn’t register the alarm in 30 days, they would be contacted by the Metro Alarm Office and could be indicated a lower priority call should their alarm go off.
Part of the reason for the amendment is to curb false alarm calls.
Not everyone was happy with the changes. Councilman Joe Brown said that he would file a lawsuit against the city if he was a citizen.
“We’re constantly coming up with these fees and fines,” he said. “Somewhere we have to draw the line.”
Conrad noted that the amendment didn’t change the current fee.
“We have a whole office dedicated to managing it. That why there is a fee,” he said. “We’re not increasing it because the office operates at a surplus.”
Council member Barbara Swearengen Ware had a problem with something that would rank unregistered alarm or repeated false alarm calls a lower priority for first responders.
“I would rather see you fine them after a certain number of times. Putting people on a ‘do not respond’ list is a dangerous path to go down,” she said. “We can’t justify that.”
City officials clarified that police would respond, but the timing would be dictated by call volume.
On October 2nd, people from all walks of life — progressives, conservatives, immigrants, college kids, senior citizens, LGBT people, etc. — will take part in the “One Nation, Working Together” march on Washington, D.C. at the Lincoln Memorial.
Sponsored by a coalition of over 170 human and civil rights organizations, labor unions, environmental groups, and faith-based organizations, the march is a response to new assaults on civil and human rights and declining public school systems. Several national LGBT groups, such as the National Black Justice Coalition, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, the National Stonewall Democrats and Pride At Work, are involved.
“Everyone deserves the right to find and keep a job in a safe work environment with a living wage,” says Rea Carey, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. “This is about fundamental fairness. This includes ensuring people are not discriminated against based on their sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. It’s about passing the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. It’s about ending ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’ It’s about ensuring people get a fair shake and are able to support and care for their families. It’s about real lives and livelihoods.”
The Memphis committee of “One Nation, Working Together,” chaired by Deidre Malone, will take a bus of 50 local people to the march. The Memphis Branch of the NAACP is asking individuals who can’t attend the march to make a contribution of $80 to sponsor an unemployed person who’d like to attend.
For additional information about “One Nation, Working Together,” contact Deidre Malone at dmalone@cmgpr.com.
Vintage clothing store Hoot + Louise had their grand opening at last Friday night’s trolley tour on South Main.
Anna Avant, the store’s owner, says her inspiration (and the name!) comes from her grandmother, as evidenced by this adorable photograph sitting on the checkout counter.
In terms of clothing, Hoot + Louise offers moderately priced vintage, including dresses and shirts…
…and beautiful belts.
The store also stocks new clothing from designers Avant handpicked. There are some beautiful pieces hand-printed with scissors and birdcages.
They also have clothes and accessories for babies, as well as a section of cute trinkets and teacups.
Check out Hoot + Louise at their new home on G.E. Patterson, between Delphinium and Cheesecake Corner, and on their Facebook page, where you can find more information and much better photographs than these.
Also during Friday’s trolley tour was a convention of sorts for enthusiasts of Etsy.com, a site where artists can set up shop to sell handmade wares.
Many of those wares were available to buy at the Robinson gallery, where a group of Memphis sellers put their products on display.
These cute ruffle-y necklaces are from FlyingHearts.
These knit necklaces can be found in the Fickle Fiber Diva’s store.
These cute little plates, along with other cute, mostly tiny pottery (my favorites were miniature flower vases), are made by Pleasantview Pottery.
These gorgeous lamps (the iPhone does them no justice) are part of the selection available in Rock Paper Scissors’ shop.
These beautiful earrings are from Katherine Cooke Designs.
And this intricate, lovely wood-etched work is by Michelle Duckworth.
Check out Etsy to support local sellers online, as well as find beautiful handmade and vintage items from across the globe. — by Halley Johnson
Over at Hungry Memphis, Hannah Sayle and crew visit Three Angels Diner and come face to face with the Colossus, a half-pound burger with bacon, melted smoked gouda, crispy fried onions, and slaw.
Last Friday, my coworkers and I moseyed on down to Broad Street to check out Three Angels Diner, the newest project from Bari’s Jason and Rebecca Severs. They’ve got a great menu for vegans, vegetarians, and meat-lovers alike, and they’ve got great late-night hours (open until 2 a.m.!) I predict this will quickly become one of Memphis’ favorite diners.
I started off with a cup of their soup special, mushroom bisque. It was perfect: creamy and rich with nice hearty bits of mushroom.
From City Beat blog: The trial of accused mass murderer Jessie Dotson got underway Monday, with jurors shown gruesome pictures of the crime scene on Lester Street and battered survivors and an illustration of a child who survived despite having a knife blade stuck in the side of his head.
Tonight (Mon., Sept. 27th), the Tennessee Equality Project (TEP) holds its monthly meeting at the Memphis Gay & Lesbian Community Center (892 S. Cooper) from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Topics on the agenda include: TEP’s new onePLUS! Pledge Campaign, volunteering to support candidates who are LGBT equality advocates, TEP’s involvement in Midsouth Pride Parade and Festival on Oct. 16th, the local march for Gay Rights on National Coming Out Day (Oct. 11th), and the next steps with the Memphis Non-Discrimination Ordinance.
Memphis International Airport executive Scott Brockman responds to news of the Southwest/AirTran merger: “Since AirTran operates here, the natural assumption is that once all [merger approvals] are complete, then Southwest will take over AirTran’s operation here.”
Read more at MBQ’s Business Minded blog.