Hey Loves! So I wanted to share some thoughts and ideas with you. I've been struggling with what to do and say, as I'm sure most of us have. I haven't been sure of what to do or how to do it. I've felt guilty for trying to be happy and have normal days, like how can I be joyful when the world is crumbling around us. I've felt guilty for not protesting and even questioned my commitment to my own people. However, I had to tell myself that there is more than one way to bring about change. That I've always been someone that has been an advocate for my people and for my community. I also had to tell myself that it is okay to make sure that I am mentally stable because you are of no use to others if you are not good yourself. So, while things are crazy please don't be so hard on yourself. Find your own way of bringing change and know that whatever you do to bring about change to the world is enough! Below you'll find ways I think will help us continue the fight and continue to be the change this world and our community needs. Get Involved in Your Community
Follow and volunteer with these change agents! These organizations invest time, money, and resources back into the black communities. They also educate and inform residents on subjects that affect the black community, as well as putting in time with our youth and giving black artist a platform. Also see black owned businesses link for other organizations! STS Enterprise Memphis Urban League Young Professionals JUICE Orange Mound The Collective (CLTV) Mid-South Peace and Justice Center Support Each Other Here are some links to support those protesting! Lets not fight about which methods are right or wrong but try to understand each other and assist where we can. You'll also find other links that have been shared by varies friends for assisting on a more universal level. Memphis' Bail Fund Universal Bail Funds/Legal Help Support Guide From CNN Black Lives Matter Resource List Suggestions From President Obama Circulate the Black Dollar Memphis is a Black Ass City with Black Ass Businesses, support them! Give loving advice and assistance where you can. Click the link below to get a list of black owned businesses in Memphis or scroll down to the ways to honor black history blog. Please let me know if I have missed some! Also see the flyer at the that has a list of black owned restaurants in Memphis! Click on the picture to increase the size of the photo! Black Owned Businesses EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE!! If we don't understand the importance of voting by now I don't know what else to say. We CANNOT fight laws, court rooms, racism, police brutality, poverty, or whatever else without first voting, especially locally!! The presidential election is of course a big deal! We currently have an idiot running our country but a lot of decisions that affect us directly and daily come from local leadership. We have to stop allowing people to just walk into positions!! If you need a break down of the chain of command and how things work locally let me know, I will work on getting that together! PLEASE...PLEASE DO NOT STAY AT HOME IN NOVEMBER!!! These last 4 years have been HORRIBLE and we cannot let chester cheeto and his minions continue to make America worse! No vote is a vote for Trump! I understand the feelings people have for Biden BUT November is not the time to let us know that you don't like him! We can hold Biden accountable once in office, Trump is a threat to society! To make sure you're registered click here! The fight is hard and it's long but it is worth it and it is going to take all of us and many efforts!! LETS GET SHIT DONE! Please share ideas, organizations, links and other things you think will be helpful to make this world a better place! I have gathered screenshots from varies individuals (pictured above and below) that have usual information on them so please read them!! Also tag the person who created the information that I have taken screenshots of if you know where the information originally came from! I hope this blog is helpful!!
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HAPPY NEW YEAR!! It's 2020 and the year is already gearing up to be a fun one filled with all kinds of events to get into and of course, I'll be here to help you navigate through what all is going on in the city! Now, we all know, and if you don't you are about to find out, that one of my favorite parts of being an adult is brunching. I often post about the brunch places I find, and I've even created a brunch spot quick guide on my Instagram page under my highlights for easy access. So, of course, when I found out that there was going to be an entire BRUNCH FESTIVAL this spring, I was all ears. My favorite foodpreneur, Cristina McCarter, has created a festival dedicated to nothing but brunching. On Saturday, May 30th from 11 am - 3 pm Bluff City Brunch Festival will bring out some of your favorite chefs/restaurants for brunch inspired dishes priced at $3-$5. They'll be brunch cocktails, games, live music, a DJ and a 30ft Old Dominik Bloody Mary Bar. Tickets are priced as low as $35 for general admission (when purchased in advance) per person to $50 for VIP. General admission tickets include festival entry, 12 beverage tasting tickets, and a Bluff City Brunch Festival Souvenir Tasting Cup. VIP tickets include 12 beverage tasting tickets, a Bluff City Brunch Festival souvenir tasting cup, access to the VIP Tent & Lounge, and priority entry. The VIP Tent and Lounge will have complimentary brunch bites from Chef Phillip Dewayne of Park + Cherry, complimentary brunch cocktails and seating. Remember food must be purchased separately for $3-$5 during the actual event. FOOD IN THE VIP TENT WILL END AT 1:30 PM. ALCOHOL WILL CUT OFF AT 2:45 PM Brunch cocktails include mimosas, beer, Irish coffee, bloody mary's and more! I’ve provided the breakdown of beverage tasting tickets below: 1 Ticket will get you 4 oz. pour of your choice of Craft Beers & Ciders or a Mimosa 3 Tickets will get you a regular or spicy Quick Service Station Bloody Mary, Screwdriver, or Irish Coffee 5 Tickets will get you a journey down the Old Dominick 30 Ft Bloody Mary Bar I can't tell you how excited I am to attend this festival. I'm all for a good festival vibe so to combine the festival atmosphere with brunching is simply brilliant!! I'm already telling my friends to buy their tickets because we absolutely can't miss out on this. In addition to this just being a dope idea proceeds from The Bluff City Festival will be benefiting A Step Ahead Foundation. A Step Ahead Foundation is an organization committed to “empowering women to reach their life goals by eliminating barriers to voluntary, long-acting, reversible birth control through educational programming, services, and funding.” So, hit up your brunch crew to grab tickets for a downtown spring adventure to Fourth Bluff for four hours of brunching for a cause! This event will sell out! TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW!! Click here to purchase. P.S
This isn't the only event Cristina has in-store for us this year so get your pockets in order! To keep up with what she has planned be sure to follow City Tasting Events , Craft Food and Wine Festival (tickets are also on sale now), Charc Week (Charcuterie), Midsouth Restaurant Week, and City Tasting Tours if you don’t already!! I attended the Craft Food and Wine Festival last year and had an amazing time. I’ve also attended two City Tasting Tours, those are full of some much culture and just a great way to experience Memphis. You can read more about The Craft Food and Wine Festival and City Tasting Tours by clicking on the archives links on the right-hand side of my page. The Craft Food and Wine Festival is in the February 2018 archives and the City Tasting Tour can be found under August of 2017. For more information on the events mentioned, Cristina McCarter's other ventures, or The Step Ahead Foundation please click the links provided above! Social media handles for Facebook and Instagram: @bluffcitybrunchfestival @Citytastingtours @charcweekmemphis @midsouthrestaurantweek @citytastingevents @Feastandgraze @astepaheadfoundation Remember to always drink responsibly and to NEVER drink and drive! Have fun, be safe, support your city, and explore Memphis! When we talk about politics, we often refer to the lack of politicians fulfilling their duties, corruption, and our distrust for them. Some people even go as far as not voting because of all of the uncertainty that surrounds the process but last year a new face entered into the political ring with integrity, a heart for people, a plan for change, and a genuine soul. Even before this individual announced that she would be running for City Council for District 4 I watched as she ran a nonprofit, educate those who have been misinformed, teach our youth, connected with the people of Memphis, listened as she encouraged former Orange Mound residents to move back as she had done, and displayed her desire for making Memphis a better city for all. This was new for me, I had never seen someone with such an amazing spirit run for an elected position nor had I been able to witness them do the groundwork of politics. When it was finally announced that Britney Thornton would be running for City Council in District 4 I was excited, hopeful, but also worried. Getting the opportunity to get to know Britney personally, I knew firsthand how pure her heart was so I worried about how people would treat her and if they would try to discourage her from running. I didn’t want the vibrant person I had come to know and love to fall victim to the evils of politics. However, I quickly realized that when you are fulfilling your mission according to God’s will and way there is nothing man can do to stop or discourage you. After that, I knew she would be taken care of and that with the right support she could get through anything that came her way.
As election day approaches, I hope that she not only wins the seat that she has worked so hard for but that she knows that she has inspired so many others to fight for a better Memphis. I hope that she knows that she has the support of so many of her peers and that no matter what she is considered a hometown hero. Britney has shown us what type of leadership we need and I couldn’t be more proud of her! I wish I could vote for my sis but I’m not in her district so this blog is a continuation of my support for Britney! I encourage everyone to exercise their right to vote! If you are in District 4 or know someone who lives in District 4 and has yet to cast their vote be sure to tell them about Britney Thornton! Britney Thornton the native Memphian, licensed educator and social worker, graduate of Baylor University and the University of Pennsylvania, founder of JUICE Orange Mound, and a community activist! She’s going to fight for the residents of her district and bring change to EVERY neighborhood she represents! Britney, we love you and there is only more success to come! Job well done! For more information on Britney (because she needs a separate blog just to talk about all the work she’s done) please click on the highlighted links provided! SUPPORT HER, FOLLOW HER, GET TO KNOW HER! Sending you good vibes and good people only Brit! Britney Thornton for Memphis JUICE Orange Mound October 3rd is election day and polls are open from 7 am to 7 pm! Please get out and exercise your right to vote. I’ll be sure to provide links for checking on registration, voting locations, and the viewing of sample ballots. Shelby County Vote Voter Registration P.S There has been a rise in Memphis millennials working to bring change to our beloved city. We are aware of the issues and have acknowledged that it is time for new leadership so we are taking action. We will no longer wait for things to be done nor beg for progress, we are going to make it happen! I’ve been so inspired by my peers and I am looking forward to seeing what the future Memphis looks like. I hope we continue to support each other and know that our work is never done but it will be worth. We are truly better together! To all others out there doing the work and being an inspiration, I see you and I’m proud of you as well! Here’s to a progressive Memphis better for ALL! Hey Memphis! So, I recently learned about a new annual event that will be taking place in the city and just from looking at the pictures used for marketing this event I had to share. Imagine a night where you get to eat some delectable treats, sit under the stars admiring nature, talking and enjoying others company all with a common purpose! Well, that perfect night has just been created!
This fall Edible Memphis and the Central Gardens Association will bring Memphis its first-ever seven-course, farm to table style neighborhood dinner. Dinner in the Gardens will be a night of full of food, fun, and fellowship, started with the purpose of bringing individuals from different backgrounds together to promote unity, build bridges between community leaders and residents, with the opportunity of giving back with a portion of the proceeds being donated to the surrounding communities. This 1,000+ person farm-to-table dinner will also be prepared for you by five of Memphis' very own extraordinary chefs, giving us all of those amazing taste and flavors we love so much. Tickets are now on sale for $200 per person, there is a VIP option for $2,500 that includes the entry of 10 guest and admission to a pre-party. You may receive a $50 discount per ticket by supporting the Central Gardens Association for just $25. Seat selection is automatically assigned upon purchase however you do have the option to edit your seat assignment and instructions on how to do so can be found on the event website. This event is 21+ so libations will be in attendance, you can expect a welcoming cocktail the amazing Old Dominick Distillery as well as unlimited beer, wine and soft drinks. Dinner in the Gardens will be a perfect night for networking, an opportunity to meet new people with a heart for their local community, or a just chance for a date night under the stars in amazing company. Whatever option you decide it will make October 19th a day you will never forget. The dinner will take place on Belvedere Blvd. (between Peabody Avenue and Glenwood Place) from 5:30 PM – 9:30 PM on October 19, 2019. Guest are encouraged to take an Uber or Lyft if they do not live in walking distance, there is parking available but it is limited because there is only street parking. Tickets are nonrefundable but organizers do have a rain date available, it is October 20th. Please don't miss out on an unforgettable night and opportunity to make a difference in the city we all love. So many businesses and organization are coming up with new innovative ways to not only give back but to show Memphis in a different light while creating a once in a lifetime experience. Do yourself a favor and take a chance on making new memories that will last a lifetime. " We in Central Gardens are looking forward to sitting down with members of our surrounding communities to continue the community spirit and perseverance of this historic boulevard, using the dinner proceeds to provide a little financial boost to help those same communities we've invited to the table. It's going to be a beautiful evening.” ~Mark Fleischer, President of the Central Gardens Association To learn more about Edible Memphis, Central Gardens Association, or Dinner in the Gardens please click on each name for the website link and follow the social media accounts. Instgram: @ediblememphis @centralgardens Hey Memphis! Here are your top 10 things for the month! Some are a little late but still needed info! The Juicy Crab
Memphis now has a Juicy Crab and it is officially open! Located at 7680 Winchester Road The Juicy Crab is a Cajun seafood boil style restaurants with lots of tasty things on the menu for you to try. If you love seafood as much as I do you’ve been waiting for this day since you saw the sign that they were opening! Big Cypress Lodge Hotel Big Cypress Lodge Hotel will be adding a rooftop patio this fall! This patio will be adding another rooftop to Downtown Memphis which I love! Big Cypress Lodge Hotel is in our beloved Pyramid (Now Bass Pro Shop) at 1 Bass Pro Drive. I can’t wait to sit out and enjoy some good fall weather, view, vibes, and drinks! This will be in addition to the Lookout at the pyramid also located in the same building. See Big Cypress Lodge Hotel’s Instagram page (@bigcypresslodge) for more information and updates. One Beale In May a $40 million building permit was filed for Downtown’s One Beale project. This project is actually 13 years in the making and has had a couple of different plans submitted throughout the years but finally, 33 Beale Street will become the huge mixed-use development it always needed to be. One Beale is expected to house a parking garbage, apartments, restaurants, a 230 room Hyatt hotel, and an office tower. If you’ve been on Front Street you’ve seen that the construction which started this spring is well underway. I honestly can’t wait to see the finished product and other things they bring to it in the future. Check out the Memphis Business Journal for more information on the project. Dream Hotel If you google Dream Hotel you’ll begin to understand why it is so dope and exciting that Memphis is getting its own Dream Hotel. These hotels are gorgeous modern luxury hotels that anyone would love to stay in! Memphis’ Dream Hotel is expected to open in 2022 at 122 S. Main Street (historic royal furniture building). The New York-based hotel group will be building a 178 room midrise tower with dining and nightlife venues, a restaurant lobby lounge, coffee shop, and (my favorite) a rooftop bar with indoor and outdoor space. I definitely think this will be a popular selection with tourist and residents! For more information please see the Daily Memphian article provided. Loews This spring the city signed a letter of intent with Loews Hotel for a 500- room convention center hotel at 140 N Main Street. This convention center hotel will include 30,000 square feet of meeting space, restaurants, retail, and ballrooms. Construction for the Loews hotel could start this fall. Originally the Loews development was supposed to take place at 100 N Main and can possibly become the location again helping Memphis get rid of one it’s biggest blighted buildings. For more information on the Loews Hotel Convention Center Hotel please click the link provided. The Container Store Before today I had no idea what the Container Store was but now after reading about it I feel a little more educated. The Container Store is a Texas-based retailer that sells storage and organization products and soon Memphis will have one. You may purchase things such as drawer organizers, custom closet projects, file cabinets, items for your office, and so much more. The new store will be located on Exeter Road next to the recently opened Trader Joe’s. The 19, 300 square feet space will officially be opened for new customers on September 14th. For more details on products and the store click the website link provided. https://www.containerstore.com/welcome.htm Boxlot So, if this one isn’t creativity at its best, I don’t know what is! Soon we will have our very own micro-retail and music lounge made out of shipping containers. Set to “UnBox” in September, Boxlot will be bringing the edge district temporary locally owned pop up shops at 607 Monroe. This project was designed to help small businesses expand, network, and gain profits to assist them in moving their business in their own brick and mortar. Please click the link provided to learn more about this amazing new concept! https://www.boxlotmemphis.com/ Raleigh Farmers Market and Park According to a WREG News Channel 3 article, there may soon be a Farmers Market and park on a vacant lot in Raleigh. The Corner of Austin Peay and Raleigh Millington Road will be used to address some of the neighborhoods food desert issues as well as clear out blight in an area that is overdue for some TLC. We all know the importance of a healthy and well-balanced diet so I hope that this plan comes to reality soon. Everyone needs and deserves access to fresh foods and produce so having residents live in areas that don’t have real grocery stores is unacceptable. See the article for more information and updates. Bala Bistro The Haven has all kinds of restaurants popping up! The latest is called Bala Bistro and is located at 2160 East Raines. Bala Bistro was opened in May by West African native Bala Tounkara and will be filling your bellies with some delicious West African treats as well some of your American favorites. Please click the link provided to the article by the Daily Memphian for more information on Bala Bistro! Aloft I can’t believe I didn’t post this one sooner but in April construction started on the new Aloft Hotel. Located in Downtown Memphis at 161 Jefferson Ave the 156 guest room hotel is set to open in the summer of next year. It will include a full-service restaurant, three banquet facilities, a W XYZ Bar, an indoor swimming pool, a large fitness center, 6, 000 square feet of retail space and a private viewing theater. Memphis Business Journal can give you more details if you just click on the link provided. Bonuses: According to an article in the High Ground, The University of Memphis will soon have a new initiative called Access Memphis dedicated to making secondary education more affordable to students who live in households earning under $50,000 annually. Please see link for the full article. The University of Memphis finally built a pedestrian bridge over the tracks on southern and walker so that students won’t have to wait on the train or hop the train trying to get to class. They are having a bridge lighting ceremony tonight, August 30, at 7 pm with treats for you to purchase! Join the Tigers tonight at 3270 Alumni Avenue! The Waffle Iron is now located at 4969 Park Avenue after a fire in the old building. I will definitely be sending them good energy and prayers. I hope they find even more success with their new location So, it's almost the end of the summer, things feel like they are slowing down and the big events and festivals seem to be coming to a close but not for Memphis. We still have quite a few things to go to before the year is up and one of the city's must-attend events for all of my seafood lovers is Vintage901's second Underground Low Country Seafood Boil. Staying true to their mission of community, culture, and purpose, Vintage901 is throwing yet another event that will fill your bellies as well as give you the opportunity to socialize among your peers in your community and learn more about the culinary and wine culture. Vintage901 will be partnering with Common Table Health Alliance, a community-based, non-profit, regional health and healthcare improvement collaborative serving Memphis, Shelby County, and the Mid-South Region, for an intimate evening of live music, wines, craft beer, seafood, and many other treats. On September 28, 2019, from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm, you can expect to indulge in wines from West Tennessee Crown, regional craft beer by Jackalope Brewing, Rock’N Dough, Crosstown Brewing and Diamond Bear Brewing Co., some Central BBQ and Nikki’s Hot Products, MemPOPS Moscow Mule and Strawberry Margarita “adult” popsicles, and even witness a live art installment by Jamond Bullock of AlivePaint, which will be auctioned at the end of the evening. Vintage 901 is creating the ultimate backyard community seafood boil and putting our little cookouts to shame. My advice to you would be to take a break from eating that entire day and not starting back until the event starts so that you can get the full experience and all of the flavors! Tickets are on sale now so make plans to get out of the house to enjoy some fall weather and purchase your tickets while they last! General admission is $75 and includes family-style seating under cafe lights. A limited amount of VIP tickets are priced at $125, they include reserved indoor seating with table service and take-aways by Pop-ARoos. There is also a reserved corporate table option for $1,000 or you could be a sponsor, for those who are interested in those two options please email Vintage901 at vintage901fest@gmail.com. New vendors and other announcements about the event can be found on Vintage901's social media pages so follow them on Instagram, Facebook, Linkedin, and Twitter. Please remember that the event location is not disclosed until 48 hours before the actual event!
For more information about both Vintage901 and Common Table Health Alliance please click on the links proved below. Please be sure to drink responsibly and never drink and drive. Guest may always use Uber or Lyft for transportation as well as Vintage901 selected luxury car service Guardian Concierge car service (mention Vintage901 for an event discount). New vendors and other announcements about the event can be found on Vintage 901's social media pages so follow them on Instagram, Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter (socila media handles are pictured below). Please remember that the event location is not disclosed until 48 hours before the actual event! Tickets can be purchased by clicking here. vintage901.org/ commontablehealth.org/ I've been slacking on informing you all of what is going on but I'm going to do better. This list is full of all recent finds but I'll be posting another top things you need to know with some older finds! New things are happening everyday and I hope you all are in the know!
The Ground Up Initiative + 275 Food Project Soon Memphis will have a culinary mentoring program geared towards helping food professionals of color own their own business. The Ground Up Initiative is an 18-month program and partnership between 275 Food project and Chef David Krog and his wife Amanda Krog. It will be giving participants access to tools, training, and the financing they would need to acquire a business. The location will be a shipping container restaurant in South Memphis at 939 Walker Ave with an outdoor area for games and mingling. The first round of the selection process will be in August of this year. Successful candidates will have the opportunity to apply their talents as chefs in residence in partner restaurants that offer great value in the community that they serve. For more information check out Daily Memphian article written by Elle Perry and the 275 Food project website. Daily Memphian 275 Food Project Saltwater Crab A new seafood restaurant has opened where the old Indian Pass used to be. 2059 Madison Avenue is now Saltwater Crab. Saltwater Crab will be giving us coastal dining with a taste of the south as well as offering some land dishes for those who want other options besides seafood. The menu is coastal seafood-focused including sushi and seafood boils. There will be a covered patio, a full bar with fresh ingredients and seasonal cocktails. Saltwater Crab will be opened until 1 AM on Fridays and Saturdays giving Midtown a little late night seafood. Check out the here to access the Commericial Appeal article for more information. El Mero Taco Popular food truck El Mero Taco will open its first restaurant on today. El Mero Taco will be located at 8100 Macon Station Drive Suite 102. They will be offering vegetarian and vegan options, beer, wine, and cocktails. Restaurant hours are Tuesday – Thursday 11 AM – 9 PM and Friday – Saturday 9 AM – 10 pm. Coastal Fish & Cheffie's Café Late last year we lost one of my favorite hideaways, The Kitchen, located in Shelby Farms. The Kitchen closed after being open for only two years and I was super sad. However, last week I read that soon there will be 2 new restaurants taking up for the absence I feel from the missing one. Cheffie’s Café, a grab and go option and Coastal Fish Company which will have a similar dining style to The Kitchen serving dinner, lunch, and brunch. The two restaurants are set to open this fall. Bar Ware & Juice Brothers Last Friday Downtown got a new restaurant (bar) and juice (smoothie) bar duo! Bar Ware and Juice Brothers are sharing building 276 S. Front Street bringing health and relaxation all in the same building. While Bar Ware will be serving up trendy cocktails with not your average small plated bar foods Juice Brothers will be giving you all the fresh produce and vitamins your body can handle. Both businesses offer brunch on Sundays as well. Trap fusion In May Whitehaven welcomed Trap Fusion into the neighborhood! Located at 4637 Boeingshire Drive Trap Fusion offers you southern flavor with healthier food options. Trap Fusion was opened to give residents more to choose from then fast food while still giving food with flavor. Café Lit Last week it was announced that soon Downtown Memphis would be getting a literature café and I’m geeked. Café Lit will be a three-story lounge highlighting the work of African American writers/artist such as Langston Hughes, Maya Angelou, Nikki Giovanni, and more. The location is set to be 111 Madison Ave but there is no completion date at this time but if all grants and incentives are approved construction and renovation of the building could start next month. Café Lit will have live music, an open mic night(s), food and cocktails. Hopefully, they will include a bookstore so that I can live my best life. Knife Bird Last Month Cooper Young got the cutest wine bar! Knife Bird is located at 2155 Central Ave next door to Urban Outfitters so that they can get even more of your money. Its chic modern-day décor is perfect for a girls night out or date night. The ambiance creates great opportunities for nice photos with cute outfits with you sitting at the bar or one of the cute tables posing for your “off-guard” 3rd & Court Diner Hotel Indigo, one of Downtown’s newest hotels added a diner last month. This upscale diner serves some of your breakfast favorites as well as lunch with everyday specials. The diner is located on the ground floor of the hotel at 24 N. BB King Boulevard. The diner is opened weekly from 6:30 AM – 11:00 PM, weekends 6:30 AM – 12:00 AM with daily Lunch specials is from 11 AM - 2 PM. Porch & Parlor Porch and Parlor will be taking over the space that once housed Bar Louie. If you’ve passed by 2125 Madison Ave you’ve seen the sign and construction. Purchased by the owners of Flight Restaurant and Bar and Southern Social, Porch and Parlor will also be fine dining with the restaurant design channeling energy from the glamorous styles of the 1920s. |
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