Joe Boone says you shouldn’t miss Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings at Minglewood, Saturday. The show also features Memphis-bred Valerie June.
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Month: February 2014
I’m feeling the itch for warm weather, so the nice sunshine last weekend was just enough to lure me outside with some spring wear. With the cold breeze reminding me that winter was still around, I mixed the high-split floral dress with a cropped sweater, leather biker jacket, and boots. My go-to solution until the weather decides to make up its mind. Have a nice weekend.
Outfit Details
Dress, boots and sweater, CrazyBeautiful. Jacket, Free People.
Seven Guitars asks a simple question: What happens to a dream in hock?
Earl’s fresh out of jail, back in Pittsburgh’s Hill District with his friends and former bandmates, and the record they cut together is climbing the charts. After much uncertainty there’s an opportunity to return to Chicago to cut another single, if only Earl could get his guitar out of the pawn shop. And if the Jim Crow-era threat of a black man being arrested for “worthlessness” or for “having too much money” didn’t make the proposition that much riskier.
Seven Guitars is one of August Wilson’s most rambling and meandering plays. That’s not necessarily a complaint, but it can be when the producing company isn’t up to the challenges Wilson throws down. Thankfully, all of the performers in the Hattiloo’s loose, but lucid show are able to wear their characters like a bespoken wardrobe, breathing real life into these living embodiments of the blues.
Dramatically speaking, Seven Guitars owes much to the concept Chekhovian stasis, even as it lays the foundations for some of the best contemporary African-American theater. Katori Hall’s Hurt Village is the show that immediately comes to mind, in part because James Cook, who was so memorable in Hall’s best play to date, turns in an equally strong performance as Earl’s harp player. And he’s not alone at the top. The title, Seven Guitars, is less a reverence to specific instruments than to show’s seven primary characters. To every actor assembled on stage, all I can say is “Well played.”
But I single out Cook— who is so very good in his role— for a reason. He’s also the best example of the one thing that keeps this show off of my short list of the season’s best. At one point the character pulls his harmonica out to play, and the actor just doesn’t have the skills to pull it off. That’s not his fault, necessarily, but it’s still a problem because the only time this crew isn’t jamming beautifully together, is during the jams.
That said, if you can only see one show this weekend, I’d seriously consider this one. When it cooks, it cooks and after Sunday, it’s gone.
Details here.
Don’t be put off by the “emo” in Alex Timbers’ and Michael Friedman’s “emo-rock musical” Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, a look back at a time when US citizens had grown to distrust the government to such a degree they decided to put a famous maverick they could relate to in the White House. A maverick dudes wanted to be. A maverick ladies wanted to be with. A maverick who never met an opportunity to engage in a little death and dismemberment he didn’t like.
For an energetic reminder that some depressing things never change, this is a show worth checking out. It opens tonight at Rhodes under the direction of Jordan Nichols.
For a taste of what it’s like, here’s a clip from the NYC debut.
It’s great to see an area college taking this on, but maybe one of these days a local playhouse will revive the show and ask Jackson descendent, dead ringer, and gifted rock-and-roller Mark Akin of the Subteens to play Old Hickory.
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Mardi Gras Events
- blog.carnivalneworleans.com
Forgot to order a king cake? Can’t make it to a parade in New Orleans, but still want to celebrate Mardi Gras?
Memphis has several Cajun-themed restaurants and bars, many of which are planning specials for Fat Tuesday, March 4th.
You may associate Mardi Gras season with beads and costumes. And yes, we have Thanksgiving feasts, Halloween candy, and Christmas cookies, but no other holiday is quite as rooted in food and drink as Mardi Gras, as Fat Tuesday’s religious roots stipulate a final celebration and indulgence before the season of Lent.)
Again, Memphis offers plenty of delicious-sounding options to partake on Tuesday. Here are a few.
Bayou Bar & Grill
The Mighty Souls Brass Band will play live music while customers can down $3 pints all night and chow on plenty of boiled crawfish.
Owen Brennan’s
The Lannie McMillan Jazz Trio will play live music from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, while customers can enjoy $5 Hurricanes, $3 Abita beers, and $5 wines.
In addition to bead tosses from the balcony and king cake for dessert, chef Jody Moyt will offer a variety of appetizers and entrees like fried crab claws, oysters Dunbar, and trout Rex (pecan-encrusted rainbow fillets over a Mardi Gras vegetable medley, squash zucchini and purple cabbage, with hollandaise and crab meat).
The Boiling Point
No theme party this year, but there will be plenty of $5 Hurricanes, $3 Fireball shots, and $5 Jager Bombs.
For the food-inclined, The Boiling Point offers live crawfish, po-boys, red beans and rice, gumbo and frog legs.
The Second Line
According to chef Kelly English, the restaurant will offer fried chicken for Fat Tuesday, which he calls “real, actual Mardi Gras food.” The bartenders are coming up with some fun drink specials for Tuesday as well.
Want to celebrate, but can’t do it on a weeknight? The Second Line will offer a boudin hot dog this weekend.
Local Downtown
For $35, you can enjoy a four-course beer dinner featuring Wiseacre beer. There’s a reception at 6:30 p.m. and dinner at 7 p.m.
The courses include oyster soup with Kerfluffle Oatmeal Stout, deep-fried pork terrine with either Fleur Verte Belgian Pale Ale or Holy Candy, boudin-stuffed quail with Ananda and beignets with Gotta Get Up To Get Down Coffee Milk Stout. Reservations are required: 581-0541 or kari@localcaters.com.
- JB
- Judges Gina Higgins, Bobby Carter, and Karen Massey at a Thursday night fundraising reception for Massey at Jack Magoo’s Tavern on Broad .
After Thursday’s withdrawal period for Shelby County offices and the Shelby County Election Commission’s preliminary certification of the candidate list, the major remaining mystery is whether three candidates can pass muster at a special called meeting of the S.C.E.C.next Wednesday, March 3, at 3 p.m.
The three potential candidates — — Edith Ann Moore and E. Jefferson Jones,, candidates in the Democratic primary for County Commissions 6 and 121, respectively and Latroy Williams, candidate for Trustee — had all filed by the deadline with the correct number of signatures but will be asked to address what were described in a Commission release as “residency complaints.”
The major changes in the final election list for the May 6 primaries were the withdrawal of County Commission chairman James Harvey as a Democratic candidate for county mayor and the Election Commission’s decision to certify Martavius Jones as a candidate in the Democratic primary for the County Commission’s District 10 seat.
The Democratic mayoral field is now former Shelby County Commissioner Deidre Malone, current Commissioner Steve Mulroy, and the Rev. Kenneth Whalum, a former School Board member.
The inclusion of Jones, a stockbroker and former School Board member, creates a three-way primary race between Jones, community organizer Reginald Milton, and political newcomer Jake Brown. Jones’ previous exclusion had been based on doubts about one of his 25 qualifying signatures.
Local speculation will now center on possible filings for state and federal office, the deadline for which is April 3.
—Several incumbent Shelby County legislators, both Democrats and Republicans, have seen potential opponents pick up petitions for possible races against them, but the most vulnerable incumbent may be state Senator Ophelia Ford in District 29, where Memphis City Council member Lee Harris is in the midst of a highly public and well-organized “listening tour” as a possible candidate for the seat in the Democratic primary.
—Though attorney Ricky Wilkins has not yet filed to run in the Democratic primary, he has pulled a petition and is still considered a probable candidate in the Democratic primary against incumbent 9th District congressman Steve Cohen. The Rev. Isaac Richmond, an activist and perennial candidate, has already filed in the primary.
—Former longtime Democratic state representative Mike Kernell, has pulled a petition to run for Seat 13 on the Shelby County School Board, but, as earlier indicated in this space, the Shelby County Commission has voted for a 9-member district for the School Board, and U.S. District Judge Hardy Mays, who had previously approved the 13-member format, will have to rule on the Commission’s revised request.
—State Senator Jim Kyle is one of two filees so far in a field of 11 people, none of them with prominent public profiles, who have drawn petitions for Chancellor, Part 1, an open seat. The other filee is Ken Besser.
Other judicial seats for which more than one candidate have filed include:
—Circuit Court,l Division 2: Kevin E. Reed vs.incumbent Judge James Russell
—Circuit Court, Division 1: Michael J. Floyd vs. incumbent. Judge Paula Skahan
—Criminal Court, Division 5: Mozella T. Ross vs. incumbent Judge. Jim Lammey
—General Sessions, Civil Division 2: Myra Hamilton vs. Phyllis Gardner
—General Sessions, Civil Division 3: Myra Hamilton, listed as filing here, too, vs. incumbent Judge John Donald
—General Sessions, Criminal Division 11: Former judge Michelle Alexander-Best vs.incumbent Karen Massey
With more than a month left to go before the April filing deadline, all the judicial positions should be considered highly fluid, with more filings expected.
“Gucci. Prada. Armani. TROJAN.”
This line from a series of clever ads for this year’s CONDOMONIUM reminds us that safe sex is always in style. The CONDOMONIUM fundraiser hosted by CHOICES – Memphis Center for Reproductive Health is back after a successful inaugural event last year promoting such a sensitive topic in an entertaining, unconventional way.
“Memphis has very high rates of HIV, STI’s and unintended pregnancies. Condoms are an effective way to prevent all these things. CONDOMONIUM helps to reduce the stigma of buying and using condoms. Plus it’s one fun party,” says Rebecca Terrell, Executive Director of CHOICES.
Part of what makes the event so unconventional is the one-of-a-kind fashion presented in this Saturday night’s fashion show. Local artists and fashion designers will showcase how they can turn condoms into couture apparel and accessories. “The event is innovative and forces you to push yourself creatively. I mean, you are designing garment out of CONDOMS!” says participating designer Andrea Fenise.
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Designer Amie Eoff, who also designed for the show last year, sees how changing the way condoms are presented can reduce its stigma. “If you take something unpleasant and turn it into something beautiful, it doesn’t seem so bad anymore. Condoms have such a negative stigma and so many people, especially younger people, are too scared or insecure to go out and buy a box of condoms in a store. I feel like making these fashions out of condoms will help people become more comfortable talking about them with their partner and using them to prevent disease and pregnancy.”
Amie also gave a little insight on working with such an uncommon material. “Making a dress out of condoms is much more challenging medium than I ever imagined. It takes much longer than one would expect because glue does not really work on them and when you try to sew them on a sewing machine, they stretch. A lot of detail has to go into the patterning and planning in order to get a good result.” Amie will be showcasing a red floor length mermaid silhouette gown.
Preview a few of the custom-made pieces by Amie and other designers in the slideshow below along with the rest of the promotional posters.
[slideshow-1]
CONDOMONIUM March 1, 2014, 7 — 10 pm, Playhouse on the Square.
Tickets are Pay Your Age (in advance), Pay Your Age + $5 (at the door).
Proceeds from the event will support CHOICES’ reproductive health education program and patient assistance fund.
Go to www.memphischoices.org.
Images courtesy of CHOICES.
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Black Violin at The Orpheum
Black Violin will perform at The Orpheum Friday night. The concert is family-friendly and will feature takes on classical, jazz, hip-hop, fusion, and R&B.
Happy Chinese Elvis, Memphis.
Mr Ma has performed as Elvis since he was a child in Asia, including at restaurants owned by his family members in London and Tunbridge Wells.
Anyone looking for work as a copy editor? I hearing they’re hiring in London, Asia.