Tag: Hard Rock Cafe

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We Saw You

WE SAW YOU: Guests Visit Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum’s New Home

Priscilla Presley was the special guest at a private reception, which was held March 28th, at the new home of the Rock ’n’ Soul Museum.

The museum and the Memphis Music Hall of Fame purchased the Hard Rock Cafe at 126 Beale Street for $5 million. The building will be branded as the “J. W. and Kathy Gibson Center of Memphis Music,” thanks to the Gibson contribution.

Kathy and J. W. Gibson at Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum reception (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Asked what she felt the importance of Memphis Rock ’n’ Soul  Museum moving to Beale Street, Priscilla Presley says, “It’s everything. It’s music. It’s Memphis. It’s entertainers. Artists.  All coming together. It’s beautiful. Memphis is the place to be. Memphis, Tennessee.”

John Doyle, Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum executive director, greeted guests. Among those attending were Memphis music greats David Porter, Lawrence “Boo” Mitchell, and Jerry Phillips as well as Congressman Steve Cohen, Geri and Hal Lansky, Leighanne and Jack Soden, and Pat Kerr Tigrett. 

Lawrence “Boo” Mitchell and Congressman Steve Cohen at Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum reception (Credit: Michael Donahue)
David Porter was at Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum reception (Credit: Michael Donahue)
Jerry Phillips and Pat Kerr Tigrett at Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum reception (Credit: Michael Donahue)
Jack and Leighanne Soden at Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum reception (Credit: Michael Donahue)

According to a news release from the museum, “Following renovations, the ‘Center of Memphis Music’ will eventually house the Memphis Rock ‘n’Soul Museum, whose original exhibit was researched and developed by the world-famous Smithsonian Institution….The J.W. & Kathy Gibson Center of Memphis Music will also house the Memphis Music Hall of Fame Museum, already located at 126 Beale, as well as other planned music exhibitions to compliment the complete Memphis music story.”

Also, the release states, “Three major donors of $1 million or more include J.W. & Kathy Gibson, the Assisi Foundation of Greater Memphis, and Mike & Linda Curb. Mike Curb is a former Lt. Governor of California and owner of Curb Records, the country’s largest independent record label.…In appreciation of Mike & Linda Curb’s generous commitment of $2.5 million, the former Hard Rock space will be renovated into the ‘Mike & Linda Curb Music Center,’ a performance space which will offer a great facility on Beale Street for musician workshops, free rehearsal space for musicians, guest speakers, music education and summer camps for students, documentary screenings, and even more music on Beale Street…

“As a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul, Inc. will also be able to raise funding for increased daytime and family-friendly events on Beale Street.”

The release names other major supporters, including the Lansky family, of the purchase and preservation. “In the mid-1950s, the Lansky Family, under the leadership of patriarch Bernard Lansky, operated Lansky Bros. Clothiers in the building, and sold clothes to young emerging musicians like Elvis Presley, B.B. King, Johnny Cash, Isaac Hayes, Jerry Lee Lewis and many others.”

Hal and Geri Lansky at Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum reception (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Other major supporters are Melissa and Kevin McEniry, Memphis Tourism, and the late Pat Halloran.

 “The Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul organization has already launched Phase 2 of its capital campaign, which will fund the renovation of the building and the relocation of the Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum to the new address. The goal of the Phase 2 capital campaign is $10 million. Anticipated increased attendance, an expanded gift shop, activation of the ‘Mike & Linda Curb Music Center,’ and paid parking on the property will help increase earned revenue for the building’s maintenance and utilities, as well as expanded staff to grow programming and promote Memphis music, studios and musicians.”

WE SAW YOU
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Music Music Features

Hard Rock Cafe Hosts Jimi Jamison Tribute

Hard Rock Cafe’s bust of the late Jimi Jamison (Photo: Scott Innes)

The late Jimi Jamison will be honored August 21st at the Hard Rock Cafe. A bronze bust of the lead singer of Survivor, Target, and Cobra will be displayed in a new custom showcase. A special wall will feature Jamison memorabilia.

The event also will be the release party for Rock Hard, a deluxe CD edition on the Iconoclassic Records label of Jamison’s unreleased album from 1990.

Performers will include John Cafferty, Jim Peterik, Ronnie McDowell, Jimmy Davis, Todd Poole of Roxy Blue, and Deb Jam Band fronted by Jamison’s wife, Debbie Jamison.

A longtime Jamison friend, Scott Innes, a promoter and a voice-over actor for movies and characters, including Scooby-Doo, was instrumental in having the bust commissioned after the entertainer died September 1, 2014.

“Jimi and I became best friends when I worked at FM-100 in 1989, and we started a 25-year friendship,” Innes said in an interview from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Jamison confided in Innes. “There’s an old saying, ‘You can’t be a superstar in your own hometown.’ And that bothered Jimi. It bothered him for years. Here is the Hard Rock in Memphis and there was nothing about Jimi Jamison or Survivor in there.”

Jamison participated in charity events Innes held for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. “He had a passion for St. Jude and I did, too.

“He used to tell me — he was joking — ‘Man, when I die, you’re doing my funeral.’ When he died, his family asked me to help out. I said, ‘I want to do an event at Hard Rock because Jimi always wanted to be in there. And, by golly, we’re going to put him there.’”

Julien Salley, Hard Rock general manager at the time, had some memorabilia installed. But Innes wanted more. “I wanted to have a bust. When you have a bust done, that means you’re a somebody. You don’t just make a bust of somebody that’s nobody. So that, to me, solidified that Jamison was a rock star.”

Innes got donors, including Lynyrd Skynyrd and Johnny Van Zant, to help pay for a bust sculpted by Matt Glenn from Big Statues in Provo, Utah.

They held the bust unveiling, but, Innes says, “As things happen in life, there was nowhere to put it currently in the Hard Rock. It ended up living in the basement.”

That’s when Gwen Smith went to work. Smith, a longtime friend of Jamison’s, worked on tributes for the Memphis entertainer for years.

Smith kept in contact with Hard Rock about putting the bust back on view. In addition to talking to Zak Abdallat, the club’s general manager at the time, Smith also met with Hard Rock vice presidents from the corporate office.

Finally, Abdallat told her they were going to have a custom case built for the bust and hold a tribute, she says.

“I don’t know anybody who’s got a voice like that,” Smith says. “It was so rich and soulful. Of course, he had that Southern drawl and everything, but he had so much feeling in the way he sang.

“He was so appreciative of his fans. When I would go to shows with him, the rest of the band would go back to their room. He would stand there and get a picture made with everyone. He gave autographs to the last one. I was so impressed with that.

“His fans loved him and he loved them.”

Smith asked Innes to produce the tribute. Innes plans to serve bowls of jambalaya, one of Jamison’s favorite dishes, at the event.

“It’s going to be a party,” he says. “A big family reunion of Jimi’s friends, band members.”

And, he says, “In the end, we walk away with Jimi in the Hard Rock, where he should have always been because he was a rock star. And now that bust will solidify what I have always known: that Jimi is the eye of the tiger.”

Jimi Jamison Memphis Hard Rock Reveal at 6 p.m., August 21st, at the Hard Rock Cafe at 126 Beale Street. Doors open at 5 p.m. Reveal at 7 p.m. Free admission.

Categories
Food & Drink Hungry Memphis

Farmers Market News and more

• Memphis Farmers Market will launch a Wednesday afternoon market, 4-7 p.m., at Court Square downtown, starting Wednesday, June 28th.

It will be called MFM² and will run through September 27th.

• The famers market at the Memphis Botanic Garden is taking a “planning year,” which means no market this year. They’re looking for a better site for the market and hope to revamp their vendor list.

* Now done with its renovations, Tsunami will begin hosting Pau Hana Time, a happy hour Monday through Friday, 5-7 p.m. “Pau hana” is Hawaiian and means to “done working.” It’s a nod to chef/owner Ben Smith’s time in Hawaii and, in keeping with the theme, Smith will offer new dishes with a Hawaiian inspiration.

• The Hard Rock Cafe is bringing back its World Burger Tour for National Burger Month.

Among the burgers on the menu:

Tango Salsa Burger (Buenos Aires, Argentina) – shake it up with andouille sausage, Certified Angus Beef®, salsa criolla, garlic aioli, Monterey jack cheese, fresh arugula and a fried egg to top off the burger

Olé Burger (Barcelona, Spain) – a fury of red peppered Romesco sauce, roasted vegetables, with goat cheese crumbles and arugula, dancing on a Certified Angus Beef® and between a toasted bun

And and and …

Tennessee BBQ Burger (Tennessee, United States) – like a good country ballad, this Certified Angus Beef® burger brings happy tears with BBQ dry rubbed premium beef topped with pickle slices, Memphis slaw, pulled pork, pig sauce, crispy onions and cheddar

The burgers will be offered through June 25th.

• Ruth’s Chris is hosting a five-course wine dinner with the historic Chateau Montelena Winery.

The dinner will feature the rare 2006 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon and the 210 Napa Valley Petite Sirah.

Categories
Food & Drink Hungry Memphis

Imagine on the Move, other news


Imagine Vegan Cafe announced last week on its Facebook page that it is moving from its current location in November to a new space very close to where Imagine originally opened.

The restaurant is moving east to 2158 Young in the same building where it opened, only a few doors down. 

From the announcement: 

We’re hoping to be up and running in the new location the first part of November, but until then we are still in our current location. We ask for everyone’s patience as we journey into this new adventure. Also, look for our Go Fund Me that will be starting soon to raise money for our very own SOFT SERVE VEGAN ICE CREAM MACHINE!!!!!! Yes, you heard right! We’ll keep you all updated as we move along. Thank you!

• I sorta love hate Gilmore Girls. I love any show I can bingewatch 8 million episodes in a row, but I sorta suspect Lorelei had a cocaine problem (don’t @ me). Whatever … the reboot is coming in November and in anticipation of that, on October 5th, starting at 7 a.m., Netflix is turning 200 cafes into a Luke’s Diner for the day! In Memphis, the locations are: both Tamp & Taps, City & State, and 387 Pantry. 

• The annual Mid-South Great Steak Cook-off is returning to Southland Park Gaming and Racing on October 15th. Participants compete in the categories Appetizer Challenge, People’s Choice, Showmanship, and Steak Cook-off. 

It’s a lot of fun, and entertainment this year includes Ratt! 

• Starting today Hard Rock Cafe is running a special, limited-time vegetarian menu, and, son, it looks good. 

It features Buffalo-style wings made from cauliflower, a ratatouille wrap, and a cauliflower burger with garlic, egg, goat cheese, oregano and breadcrumbs, topped with zucchini, squash, Monterey Jack cheese, arugula, tomato and garlic aioli, served on a toasted brioche bun.   

Through the end of the month. 

• Malco Ridgeway Cinema Grill is hosting a fall-themed wine tasting with reds and whites on Thursday, October 13th, 6-7:30 p.m.

Animals from the Humane Society will be there and admission is $13. 

Categories
Food & Drink Hungry Memphis

Hard Rock’s Guinness & Jameson Bacon Cheeseburger

The Hard Rock’s Guinness & Jameson Bacon Cheeseburger ($14.95) — now here’s a burger for St. Paddy’s Day. It’s a half-pound certified Angus beef patty topped with Jameson Irish Whiskey bacon jam and Guinness cheese sauce. The burger is served with seasonal fries and a Sriracha mayo dipping sauce.

The bun is lightly toasted, the meat is flavorful and very juicy, and the Guinness cheese sauce creamy with a light hint of Guinness. But it’s the Irish Whiskey bacon jam that’s the star. It’s caramelized just right, making it sweet, crunchy, and crazy good!

Overall, you’ve got yourself a creative, sweet, and cheesy burger. Try it today before it’s gone. The Guinness & Jameson Bacon Cheeseburger will be on the menu until April 10th.

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We Recommend We Recommend

Almost Elton John at Hard Rock

By day, Jerred Price is a mild-mannered insurance adjuster. By night, he’s Almost Elton John, pounding out hits like “Daniel,” “Pinball Wizard,” and “Rocket Man” at the Hard Rock Cafe.

“Since I was 4 years old, my mom raised me on Elton John,” Price says, recounting his origin story. As a kid, he found John’s outlandish stage costumes “very intriguing.” Piano lessons followed, but he hated them. He didn’t like the strictness or care about proper hand usage. So he quit. “Mama, I don’t like this,” Price said, explaining how he sat down at the piano by himself and started learning how to play all of his favorite Elton John songs by ear. “And not just Elton John,” he adds, “but Billy Joel, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Little Richard too.”

Jerred Price Is No Honky Cat

Initially, Price resisted the urge to put on a feather boa and impersonate his musical hero at parties: “I said, no way. That’s so cliche. I don’t want to do that kind of stuff.” But eventually he caved to pressure, donned a pair of furry glasses, and went to work on the party circuit. He’s been in residence at Memphis’ Hard Rock Cafe for two years now, playing two shows a month as both Elton John and as himself.

“It’s fun,” Price says. “Elton’s almost 70 now, so we can’t see him in eight-inch platform shoes anymore. He outgrew all of that.” But you can almost see it Saturday, March 5th, when Almost Elton John sits down to the keyboard and crocodile rocks.

His gift is his song. And this one’s for you.

Categories
Sing All Kinds We Recommend

Celebrate Hard Rock Cafe’s New Digs

The Bar-Kays threw down a housewarming party for the Hard Rock Cafe’s new location at 126 Beale. That building is now a Memphis music volcano housing the Hard Rock, the Memphis Music Hall of Fame, and Lansky’s Clothiers. The scene spilled out onto the street as media, fans, and tourists lined up to see the Bar-Kays donate a couple of slammin’ suits and knock out a set of pile-driving soul. Have a look a the photos. 

The celebration continues all weekend, most notably with a tribute to the late Jimi Jamison on Saturday.

Categories
Food & Wine Food & Drink

Bar Guide

Alchemy

Game Days at Alchemy Memphis: Happy Hour with $1 off domestic beers and discounts on featured items from our specialty cocktail list. The game isn’t over until we say it is!

940 S. Cooper • 726-4444 alchemymemphis.com

Bardog Tavern

Ignore the cold in our cozy downtown bar, but don’t ignore the cold beer! $2.50 Buds and Bud Lights, $3 Yuengling drafts during every Tiger and Grizzlies game. The sound is on on the upstairs and downstairs TVs, including the 60-inch HDTV in the Underdog Room. Open for those brunch games starting at 11 a.m., Saturdays and Sundays.

73 Monroe • 275-8752 • bardog.com

Belle Diner 

Looking for a great new place to eat and have drinks before the game? Look no further than one of downtown’s newest restaurants, Belle Diner. With decades of bringing Memphis great food, the team of Roger Sapp, David Johnson, and Joe Ferguson have teamed up to bring an upscale Southern diner to downtown Memphis. Come in Game Day and try any appetizer prepared by Chef Johnson for only $8 and $1 off all drinks.

117 Union • 433-9851 facebook.com/BelleDinerMemphisTN

Blind Bear Speakeasy

Game Day specials start one hour before and last throughout every Griz and Tiger game: $2.50 Miller Lite, Miller High Life, and Coors Light bottles and $4 24-oz. Coors Light Griz cans! While you’re here, check out the new menus by Chef David Scott Walker, and be sure to mark your calendar for Bean’s Birthday Bash on October 25th and our Halloween Party on October 31st.

119 S. Main • 417-8435 blindbearmemphis.com

Celtic Crossing

Join us Monday nights at Celtic Crossing for the ultimate Game Day, featuring football, giant board games (Jenga, Cards Against Humanity, and lots more), and beer. Beginning Mondays at 5 p.m., all drafts are just $3.

903 S. Cooper • 274-5151 celticcrossingmemphis.com

Central BBQ

When Memphians want great barbecue and fun times, they head to their nearest Central BBQ location. Before Tiger and Grizzlies home games, visit the newest location just minutes away from the Forum and try one of our many draft beers featuring local microbreweries. For away games, come celebrate with other fans at the Summer or downtown locations, where there are plenty of large HDTVs.

4375 Summer • 767-4672


147 E. Butler • 672-7760


2249 Central • 272-9377


cbqmemphis.com

The Cove

The Cove offers too vast an array of expertly hand-crafted cocktails to single out just one as our “signature” concoction, but Town & Country, Southern Living, and Urban Spoon proclaim our authentic Sazerac as the perfect accompaniment to a sultry summer evening. For more outstanding cocktail options, see thecovememphis.com. Come by the Cove after games for the best late-night eats and treats! 

2559 Broad • 730-0719


thecovememphis.com

Dan McGuinness

Dan McGuinness is your Game Day HQ with great specials for both college and pros: $3 pints and $9 pitchers of McGuinness Pub Ale, $11 buckets of longnecks. On Mondays, it’s 2-for-1 domestic beers and $3.95 burgers and fries.

4698 Spottswood • 761-3711 danmcguinnesspub.com

Dejavu Restaurant

Let the good times roll before and after Grizzlies and Tiger basketball games! The newest location at 51 S. Main is four minutes from FedExForum and is filled with all the extras you would expect in New Orleans. Check out the new bar and try some award-winning soul food and vegan/vegetarian cuisine. 

51 S. Main • 505-0212


dejavurestaurant.org 

Happy Mexican

Join us before, after, or during the game to watch with us! Happy Mexican has a Happy Hour for its award-winning margaritas Tuesday through Sunday 3 to 7 p.m. on the lime flavor only. Special pricing includes small for $4.25, medium for $6.99, or large for $8.99.

385 S. Second • 529-9991


6080 Primacy Parkway • 683-0000


7935 Winchester • 751-5353


happymexican.com

Hard Rock Café Memphis

Stop by Hard Rock Café Memphis on Friday Game Days for a Hard Rocking Happy Hour! Now featuring a new Happy Hour every Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. with a special “Bar Bites” menu. $2 domestic drafts; $3 import drafts; and $4 margaritas (bar area only).

315 Beale • 529-0007

Local Gastropub

Local has specials going on just about whenever there’s a game to watch. Happy Hour is Monday through Friday 4 to 7 p.m. Game Day specials run Monday (starting at 6:30 p.m.), Saturday (11 a.m.-6:30 p.m.), and Sunday (11 a.m.-11 p.m.) and include domestic beer buckets, five for $10, $25 table taps of draft, and small-plate food specials. Tuesday is half-off bottles of wine from 7 to 11 p.m. Wednesday is Pint Night with $2 off pints. Thursday is Ladies Night with $5 “tini’s” and tier-one wines. Join us Sunday for late-night Happy Hour starting at 11:30 p.m.

95 Main • 473-9573


2126 Madison in Overton Square


725-1845 • localgastropub.com

Los Comales Mexican Restaurant

Watch the game while enjoying our authentic Mexican food and unique drinks. Buy one margarita and get a second half-off every Monday and Thursday, and get $5 off any order over $20 when you mention our ad in the Flyer!

2860 S. Perkins • 369-0528 loscomalesrestaurant.com

Molly’s La Casita

Molly’s has the ultimate Game Day drink. It’s our first-place award-winning margarita (Memphis Flyer readers poll 2013). Be sure to try our new low-calorie Nectar Girl Margarita if you are trying to watch your darling figure. Molly’s has an ice-cold one ready for you that is sure to please.

2006 Madison • 726-1873 mollyslacasita.com

Mulan Asian Bistro

Sports and sushi are a great combination! Enjoy Mulan Asian Bistro’s Happy Hour for sushi and drinks from 3 to 6 p.m. daily. Try the Mulan Martini for only $7.95.

2149 Young • 347-3965


2059 S. Houston Levee • 850-5288


mulanbistro.net

Newby’s

Newby’s has all your Game Day specials. Monday is Ghost River $10 Beer Bust. On Tuesday, we have $2 burgers and beer. On Whiskey Wednesdays, it’s $3 whiskey drinks. The Always Happy Hour is $1 off bottle beers and mixed drinks every day ’til 9 p.m. Start early and stay late at Newby’s.

535 S. Highland • 452-8408 newbysmemphis.com

Paula and Raiford’s Disco

Come party after the game at Memphis’ best dance club! Paula and Raiford’s Disco is your one-stop shop for fun in downtown Memphis. Enjoy music, drinks, and dancing every Friday and Saturday night just minutes from FedExForum.

14 S. Second • 521-2494


paularaifords.com

Pearl’s Oyster House

Come watch the game with us! Happy Hour is Monday through Friday, 4 to 7 p.m. There are daily draft beer specials as well. Try the famous chargrilled oysters, only $1 each on Wednesdays. Pearl’s also features daily fresh fish specials and free parking too.

299 S. Main • 522-9070 pearlsoysterhouse.com

The Pumping Station

We have just the right stuff to enjoy your games every week. Friday Beer Busts: $3, Ghost River and Blue Moon $8. Sunday Beer Busts: PBR $5 and Ghost River and Blue Moon $9. Happy Hour specials all week long.

1382 Poplar • 272-7600 pumpingstationmemphis.com

The Slider Inn

Wow! During every Tiger and Grizzlies game, get your Bud and Bud Light longnecks for only $2.50. Come enjoy our great atmosphere and our heated deck this winter, complete with outdoor TV. It’s perfect for catching up with your Midtown friends. Who loves you, baby? We do.

2117 Peabody • 725-1155


thesliderinn.com

Tamp & Tap

Offering hand-poured coffees, sandwiches, and local beers all close to FedExForum, Tamp & Tap gives Game Day specials of 10 percent off your food purchase with the same-day ticket or stub.

122 Gayoso (Second and Main)


207-1053 • tampandtap.com

facebook.com/TampTap @tampandtap on Twitter