My Top 5!

 
Happy Holidays people! I hope everyone is enjoying the excitement and love that the holidays bring! Can you all believe that it is almost 2017?? Crazy how time flies, right? As we reflect on the year we’ve had and start the countdown until the new year I wanted to share a countdown of my own. My top 5 stories that show that Memphis is still moving in a path of progression and growth.
 
1. Ghost River Brewing Co. Tap Room
Ghost River Brewing Co. has a new tap room for Memphians to enjoy! Memphis’ oldest craft brewery is an independently owned and operated brewing company that has been producing beer for all occasions in Memphis since 2007.  With the best water in the world contributing to the taste and success of the locally brewed brew, from a hidden section of the Wolf River called the Ghost River, Ghost River has 7 original beers on tap. Three of them are always available and the other four are seasonal. Check out the brief description of each one on their website. While visiting the tap room enjoy the food trucks on site daily. The website also includes a weekly list of the food trucks that will be available. The location of the new tap room is listed below along with their hours! Let me know if you all have tried the beer or the tap room. I don’t drink beer but I’m always down for a new experience!
http://www.ghostriverbrewing.com/
Wednesday – Friday: 4:00 pm – 10:30 pm
Saturday: 12:00 pm – 10:30 pm
Sunday: 12:00 pm – 9:00 pm
827 South Main Street
Memphis, TN, 38106

 
2. Babalu East
Have you ever been to Babalu Tacos and Tapas?? Did you love the atmosphere and the food?? Well get excited because by the end of this year or early 2017 there will be a Babalu East location. Currently only located in Midtown the popular tacos & tapas style restaurant will open its second Memphis location on Poplar just east of Massey. Memphis will be the ONLY city with two Babalu locations. The restaurant is said to be about 5,000 square feet, have outdoor seating for about 40 people, and an indoor/outdoor bar like the Midtown location.
 
3. Redevelopment Project for The Raleigh Springs Mall
 
After 7 long years, mall owners refusing to sell, and the city losing its lawsuit because of an incorrect date being published for a public hearing, an agreement has been met and the city of Memphis may now go forward with its $28 million redevelopment plan for The Raleigh Springs Mall. The plan does have to be approved by the Shelby County Circuit Court Judge James Russell but that was set for review on the 18th of this month. Once approved demolition is intended to begin in January of 2017, completed by April, and construction concluded by the summer of the same year. However, the plan is tentative and nothing has an exact date.  Replacing the mall will be a new community center that includes a police precinct, library, 11-acre lake, walking trail, community orchard and pecan grove, and a skate park. Residents and business owners are said to be excited about the changes to come. The project can potentially bring in more customers for current business owners in the area, more job opportunities for Memphians, and a much needed make over for the Raleigh community. Also, a new welcome sign to greet Raleigh visitors will be constructed, a vacant strip to be completely occupied and another strip to be renovated. Go Raleigh!!
  
4. The Orange Mound Community
So, did anyone know that there was an Art Gallery in Orange Mound?? OMG, Orange Mound Gallery, is in the Lamar and Airways shopping center. The venue used to be a liquor store but was transformed into a gallery with art space and an area for community gatherings.  Talk about revitalizing space. The gallery is open on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, from 11:00 am until 1:00 pm, and by appointment. Address for the gallery is listed below.
2232 Lamar Ave Memphis, TN 38114
 
Oh! Another thing to add more of a spotlight onto my old neighborhood. The First Lady of the United States designated Orange Mound, the nation’s first subdivision designed for African Americans, as a preserved America Community. This is thanks to Congressman Cohen who wrote a letter of support to the Office of Preservation Initiatives for Orange Mound’s application. According to their website The Preserve America Community program is a national initiative that recognizes a select group of communities. The communities that are selected are said to use their heritage resources in sustainable ways and share the countless benefits of historic preservation with residents and visitors. Orange Mound, founded in 1890 was once the community that assisted in bringing refuge and opportunity to blacks moving to Memphis. This explains spirit and strength of the neighborhood.  This community has always contained such a great sense of proud and unity. Congratulations to the Orange Mound Community and I hope there is much more success to come. 

5. Music Cities Convention
Memphis has been selected as one of two cities to host the Music Cities Convention in October of 2017. The first convention is set to take place in Berlin in April of next year. Each event will have a theme or focus, the theme selected for  Memphis will be “I’ll take you there, equity and access in Cities”. The purpose of the Music Cities Convention is to bring together cities from around the world to display solutions and methods taken in cities that use music to improve city life. The Memphis convention will include a full day of conference programming, a second day of local engagement, tours of music sites and a formal reception but those plans are still forming. Admission to the conference ranges from $175 to $245 depending on the date of purchase.  The earlier you purchase your ticket the cheaper the admission price. Tickets go on sale on January 15, 2017. For more information or to register visit musiccitiesconvention.com

Welp!! Sounds like all is right in the world! Tiger basketball is 4-0 and the grizzles  have won 4 of their last 5 games!!  The Grit and Grind is REAL!!
I hope everyone has an amazing and safe holiday! Enjoy your family, shopping, and some much needed free time!!
​HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!