Legends of Memphis Barbecue

Legends of Memphis Barbecue

As I'm interviewing Frank and Eric Vernon, the father-and-son team behind the Bar-B-Q Shop, Eric suddenly jumps up to greet a man coming in the door. It's James Alexander, the legendary bass player of the Bar-Kays. 

14 Locally Made FINDS from Memphis Makers

14 Locally Made FINDS from Memphis Makers

“Radiance” is an essential oil diffuser necklace that radiates a sky blue 24-petal flower over a soft, ivory background and is accented by a hand-knotted Greek leather cord. This necklace-and-essential-oil-diffuser-in-one can be found for $25 to $28 at Delta Groove YogaChampalou SpaSouthern Whimsy or on Nautilus Pottery’s Etsy shop.

Where To Take Your Memphis Visitor

Where To Take Your Memphis Visitor

Art Project. ‘Nuf said. (I cannot stress the deal that it is to get a membership to this place. They are not crazy-psycho-Nazi about NOT letting the parents “help” the kids or touch the art supplies, so you get to scratch that itch so to speak, a little, too.)

Diamonds in the Pork: 4 Memphis Barbeque Spots You Need To Try

Diamonds in the Pork: 4 Memphis Barbeque Spots You Need To Try

They served up some of the best barbeque in a restaurant environment that I’ve had. I was overwhelmed with tender turkey, pulled pork, ribs, chicken, and brisket full of smoky flavor. I didn’t even use the three available table sauces on any of the meat, which is a huge compliment.

The Mother’s Day Weekender: May 12th – May 14th

The Mother’s Day Weekender: May 12th – May 14th

With all the great things going on in the 901 these days, have you ever been overwhelmed with choices? Well, you’re in luck! We’ve put together a weekly post called The Weekender, filled with a handy schedule to help you hit some of our best bets for an amazing weekend.

You can follow this schedule to a T, or use it as a launching point to plan your own adventure! The Weekender is not meant to be exhaustive, but will include our suggestions to help you plan the weekend ahead. 

Tour The Old Dominick Distillery

Tour The Old Dominick Distillery

Last week, I had the chance to tour the Old Dominick Distillery. I posted some photos online and told a few people about my visit. The most common question I got was “when does it open?”

Y’all, it’s open! They opened on May 1, 2017. It’s all up to you now. The last time I snooped around over there was when it was still under construction, so it was very cool to see the finished space. The distillery is very pretty. I’m gonna go ahead and say it’s beautiful.

I’m not going to give away the whole tour or anything, but I will give you all the information I know.

15 Ways to Celebrate Mother’s Day in Memphis

15 Ways to Celebrate Mother’s Day in Memphis

Join the IRIS Orchestra in Overton Square for an upbeat and family fun Spring Concert in the Tower Courtyard. Enjoy the variety of selections played by the Orchestra, from Vivaldi to Timberlake, it will be day mom will remember! A few more extra things they will have are: A Mother’s Day Card craft station, outdoor games, free face-painting, photo booth and more!

Save the Dates: Memphis Festivals 2017

Save the Dates: Memphis Festivals 2017

Vintage901 is a wine, food and music festival to benefit The Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphis. Enjoy wine tastings, tapas, salsa, soul and jazz. Vintage901’s sommelier and grand tasting host for the weekend is Laurie Forster, The Wine Coach, as seen on Dr. Oz, Martha Stewart Living and Fox Morning News.

  • Saturday, April 29 – East Buntyn ArtWalk – 1pm – 7pm – Free – Family and pet friendly

Each spring, the East Buntyn ArtWalk celebrates local artists and musicians with an open-air bazaar of galleries set up in the front yards and porches of the historic east Memphis neighborhood. This unique arts fair offers visitors the opportunity to visit and engage with local artists while enjoying the hospitality of East Buntyn residents. There will be a silent auction tent featuring special items from the artists, local food trucks, live music, and more. Rain date is April 30th.

Why Drake & Justin Timberlake Love Memphis: Inside Its Bold New Renaissance

Why Drake & Justin Timberlake Love Memphis: Inside Its Bold New Renaissance

Over the past few years, Memphis has been lavished with high-profile praise from pop polymath Justin Timberlake (who grew up in nearby Millington), rapper Drake (who spent summers in town with his father, Dennis Graham) and Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars, who crafted much of their megahit “Uptown Funk!” there.

More than just paying lip service to the city, the admiration has also bolstered a renaissance that initially was born out of practicality. Young, upwardly mobile Southerners, priced out by the boomtown costs of Nashville and inconvenienced by the sprawl of Atlanta, have been looking (and moving) to the Bluff City, as it’s known, as an easy, affordable alternative. Others, from industry hubs like New York and Los Angeles, are discovering the city’s charm and rich history. “It’s a place where you can always feel the weight of the past,” says Memphis Grammy chapter senior executive director Jon Hornyak. “That history is a draw.”

The Stax Music Academy Spring Concert Brought Great Music To Overton Square

The Stax Music Academy Spring Concert Brought Great Music To Overton Square

Stax is a Memphis music powerhouse, and they didn't let a little thing like rain get in the way of a good concert.

The Stax Music Academy Spring Concert was supposed to be last weekend but was rescheduled because of the weather.

The delay didn't put a damper on the mood of rock and soul fans who gathered at Overton Square for some live music. The streets of Cverton Square were lined with people and every chair had someone to sit in it, that is unless they were on their feet dancing!

Kids Chalked The Courtyard In Overton Square

Kids Chalked The Courtyard In Overton Square

Kids brought their creativity to Overton Square today.

They got down on their hands and knees to chalk the courtyard! There was no such thing as coloring inside the lines as kids were invited to color anywhere on the tower courtyard.

During the event donations were taken for LeBonheur Children's Hospital's art therapy programs.

Event organizer Anna Blair said, "We have tons of kids who come in our space at The Art Project every day, and it’s just nice to get out in the sun and chalk the place."

5 Things To Do This Weekend: 5/5 – 5/7

5 Things To Do This Weekend: 5/5 – 5/7

If you haven’t had a chance to see the uber-talented high schoolers from the Stax Music Academy perform their souther soul amazing-ness, this Sunday is your chance. Bring $5, bring chairs, and head to the Tower Courtyard (in Overton Square by the big tower near Memphis Pizza Cafe/Belly Acres) for two hours of great music.

Lafayette's opens up to Overton Square

Lafayette's opens up to Overton Square

Construction crews on Thursday were completing a renovation to Lafayette's Music Room in Overton Square, even though the long-closed, colorful bar was revived, restored and re-opened just three years ago.

The ownership group led by Tommy Peters -- who also heads the owners of the five B.B. King's Blues Clubs across the South -- decided to open up the front of Lafayette's by inserting two, long bars in the exterior wall.

A roll-down door with glass windows can be raised to expose Lafayette's to the outside on nice days, or be lowered on bad-weather days.

40 Ways to Celebrate Cinco de Mayo in Memphis 2017

40 Ways to Celebrate Cinco de Mayo in Memphis 2017

Join Breakaway Running for their annual Cinco de Mayo pub run starting at 6:00pm at their store in Overton Square. The first 200 to sign a waiver at the event get the 2017 edition of the Cinco de Mayo pub run t-shirt!

MEMPHIS LOVE: Top Places to Eat & Drink

MEMPHIS LOVE: Top Places to Eat & Drink

Over the past decade, I’ve taken two week road trips to explore BBQ and music throughout the South (Nashville through eastern Tennessee, North and South Carolina, Georgia) as well as another two weeks across Texas, particularly Hill Country.

This Christmas, The Renaissance Man and I road-tripped through Oklahoma, Arkansas & Mississippi, ending in Memphis. Memphis brings my BBQ research full circle with its own style: it’s famed ribs and dishes I’ve been craving ever since and can’t get elsewhere.

The warmest welcome and my overall favorite was The Bar-B-Q Shop. From a killer, savory-sweet BBQ sauce to meaty ribs (try half dry/half wet to get the best of both), it’s all pure Memphis. But it’s the barbecue spaghetti I keep dreaming about: spaghetti noodles laden with tender pulled pork, BBQ sauce and liquid smoke, scooped up with Texas toast. It’s like a childhood dream come true.

The Ultimate Guide to May Events in Memphis

The Ultimate Guide to May Events in Memphis

May in Memphis means spring is here with live music, festivals, and more. Check out these events, put them on your calendar, and share with your friends. Know of an event we missed? Submit it here for consideration.

Apr 29: East Buntyn ArtWalk

Apr 29: East Buntyn ArtWalk

Get ready for the 8th annual East Buntyn ArtWalk, featuring regional artists in an open-air bazaar of galleries set up in the front yards and porches of the historic East Buntyn neighborhood. This community event is a vibrant celebration of art and community. Saturday, April 29 from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. www.eastbuntynartwalk.com 

WATCH: East Buntyn ArtWalk interview

WATCH: East Buntyn ArtWalk interview

The East Buntyn Historic District will host the eighth annual East Buntyn ArtWalk on April 29, 2017, with a rain date of April 30. The event features regional artists in an open-air bazaar of galleries set up in the front yards and porches of the historic east Memphis neighborhood.

East Buntyn ArtWalk

East Buntyn ArtWalk

Get ready for the 8th annual East Buntyn ArtWalk, featuring regional artists in an open-air bazaar of galleries set up in the front yards and porches of the historic East Buntyn neighborhood. This community event is a vibrant celebration of art and community.

The al fresco galleries will display and sell work by neighborhood residents, as well as pieces by artists from around the Mid-South. Over 60 artists will show off watercolors, oil, photography, pottery, textiles, woodworking, jewelry, stained glass, and more. This unique arts fair offers visitors the opportunity to visit and engage with local artists while enjoying the hospitality of East Buntyn residents.

The Weekender: April 28 – April 30

The Weekender: April 28 – April 30

With all the great things going on in the 901 these days, have you ever been overwhelmed with choices? Well, you’re in luck! We’ve put together a weekly post called The Weekender, filled with a handy schedule to help you hit some of our best bets for an amazing weekend.

You can follow this schedule to a T, or use it as a launching point to plan your own adventure! The Weekender is not meant to be exhaustive, but will include our suggestions to help you plan the weekend ahead.