Here she is with the skiing snowman outside the front door.
This is at the cat walk-up window. That's Ollie in the background acting like he doesn't know I'm taking this picture.Saturday, December 19, 2009
Imitation Elsie at the Penney's
Here she is with the skiing snowman outside the front door. This is at the cat walk-up window. That's Ollie in the background acting like he doesn't know I'm taking this picture.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Imitation Elsie chows with The Big Boy
Elsie is really diggin' her quick trip to the Gem City. In addition to Frisch's she also stopped at Esther Price, Cassano's, and Marion's Pizza. Next time: UDF, The Pine Club, and Cassano's again. Always the Cassano's. If it is warm enough she'll take a trip to Flub's and Jungle Jim's.
I'm freezing! Get me OUTTA HERE!Monday, November 16, 2009
More sites around Memphis
I visited so many places and there are many more on my list. A close 2nd to Graceland on my favorite list in Memphis was Stax Records. They did a great job of compiling and displaying the history. BUT - NO PICTURES. NONE at all. I didn't cheat and use my phone; I respected their wishes but DANG. I needed a pic of that Superfly Gold-Plated Cadillac El Dorado once owned by Issac Hayes!
Imitation Elsie got a few whistles from the workers across the street and also some peeps driving by. She was a little embarrased but happy she was noticed!
This is a sad site just around the corner from Stax. Many of the musicians who recorded there were from this neighborhood which was a little worn but had character.
Here is Lisa, one of my co-workers. We had a little time so I took her to the Civil Rights museum. This was the 2nd visit in three days for me. I still cried at the end of the film. Another life taken at such a young age.
Another stop was the Rock and Soul museum in downtown Memphis. That was a lot of fun too. Again, the little radios with recording narrations provided by satellite radio.
I had sweet potato pancakes at the Arcade, the oldest restaurant in Memphis. I'm gonna make some just as soon as I get to the market and the ingredients! This place is a block from the Civil Rights Museum. If you go there, eat here!
While browsing the many gift shops at Graceland I kept seeing these chocolate bars, chocolate guitars, chocolate, chocolate, chocolate. I finally looked at the back of one expecting to see McChocolate or something but there was a name I didn't recognize: Dinstuhl's. Of course the librarian in me had to research this place. I found out that they are like the Esther Price of Dayton. I went to one of the stores before I went to the airport and had to partake. The reason they are in Graceland is because Elvis used to buy his candy here. He had Lisa Marie's Easter baskets made by Dinstuhls, etc. Chocolate fit for a king. Works for me. I even bought some chocolate covered grapes. Don't knock it 'til you try it. They were awesome.
Ground Zero Blues Club - Memphis
This is a sad site just around the corner from Stax. Many of the musicians who recorded there were from this neighborhood which was a little worn but had character.
Here is Lisa, one of my co-workers. We had a little time so I took her to the Civil Rights museum. This was the 2nd visit in three days for me. I still cried at the end of the film. Another life taken at such a young age.
Another stop was the Rock and Soul museum in downtown Memphis. That was a lot of fun too. Again, the little radios with recording narrations provided by satellite radio.The Gibson Guitar factory is across the street but had cancelled a few tours that day and I didn't want to wait a few hours. So, I'll just have to go back to Memphis so I can see how those amazing instruments are made.
I ate a lot of pulled pork and bbq last week. I have now acquired a taste for all kinds of bbq! I stopped here because the place was packed and I figured...if the locals eat here, so should I. Well, I found out later this place is somewhat famous :) It is along side a busy road and I passed it a few times going from here to there and kept seeing all the locals in there. Work vans, work trucks, etc.
I had sweet potato pancakes at the Arcade, the oldest restaurant in Memphis. I'm gonna make some just as soon as I get to the market and the ingredients! This place is a block from the Civil Rights Museum. If you go there, eat here!
While browsing the many gift shops at Graceland I kept seeing these chocolate bars, chocolate guitars, chocolate, chocolate, chocolate. I finally looked at the back of one expecting to see McChocolate or something but there was a name I didn't recognize: Dinstuhl's. Of course the librarian in me had to research this place. I found out that they are like the Esther Price of Dayton. I went to one of the stores before I went to the airport and had to partake. The reason they are in Graceland is because Elvis used to buy his candy here. He had Lisa Marie's Easter baskets made by Dinstuhls, etc. Chocolate fit for a king. Works for me. I even bought some chocolate covered grapes. Don't knock it 'til you try it. They were awesome.
Ground Zero Blues Club - MemphisI went here twice and I think the food is much better at the Clarksdale location. However, in Memphis you can get sweet potato fries or a baked sweet potato with your meal. yum. The music was knock-your-socks off good at this place tho. It is one block off Beale Street and I will return. I wasn't impressed with Beale Street at all. I walked up one side and down the other and hit the road. I'd go again tho if someone wanted...any takers?
I have to admit that this was the nicest place I stayed on this journey. The Marriott at Thousand Oaks.
I have to admit that this was the nicest place I stayed on this journey. The Marriott at Thousand Oaks.I was looking for a few books so I (of course!) googled 'used books Memphis' and found this little place close to downtown. I loved this shop and hope it stays in business forever. Support your local used book and music stores!
I think that about wraps this jaunt for now. It was loads of fun, exhausting, saddening, enlightning (sp), and I'd do it again next week.
Although, I do want to go to Nashville the next time I'm scheduled for Memphis. I will take one day and go back to Clarksdale and reconnect with the blues roots.
I hope I didn't bore you too much!
A cotton pickin' good time was had by Shelley and Imitation Elsie
My pics don't do the fields justice. Miles and miles of cotton as far as you can see. It was full and ready for harvest. As I drove around the countryside I saw many different pieces of farm equipment in various stages of harvest. It brought back memories of Ohio and Indiana and I loved every minute of it. Those farmers work so hard - but - I can't imagine how hard those men, women, and children worked before those wonder machines were created.
You gotta stay at the Heartbreak Hotel, right?
If you want to stay at the Heartbreak Hotel, you better get there soon 'cause it is scheduled to be destroyed. Apparently much land is being purchased all around Graceland and it will soon be like an amusement park. I think the only ride will be the bus to through the gates but there will be an performance hall, etc. I'm sure more gift shops are on the list too. Nothing special about this room except the framed photos of The King. Oh, Oh, Oh,....and the 24 hour a day ELVIS MOVIE CHANNEL! After four days of driving around the delta I was very tired and it was nice lounging around and watching that handsome man. The movies are cheesy and I think he knew it too... but... I still had a great time watching them.
What a pool! It was closed of course...after all it is November in Memphis... but, you can get the gist of it by the cover.
James Son Thomas gravesite
Just had to post this so you can read the memorial - a line from one of his songs. John Fogarty is credited with purchasing and installing this marker.Willie Sonny Boy Williamson, Tutwiler, MS - Harmonica playin' blues man
This site was a little difficult to find. My reference gave a street name but it wasn't quite accurate. Also, there isn't a church or marker so you just have to look. This graveyard (like many) is on the edge of a cotton field and partially overgrown. I can't remember if this one was on a dirt road but I remember driving down a dirt road to get to this area.
Charley Patton - ramblin' blues man
Another marker on the side of the road....at the edge of a graveyard....bordered by cotton fields....
That is Charley's grave to the left in this pic:
I didn't leave that bottle at the site.
Willie James Foster's grave is next to Charley's. He lived longer than many of his fellow musicians. 
Willie also served our country and was happy to see someone took the time to install the official military marker.
That is Charley's grave to the left in this pic:
I didn't leave that bottle at the site. 
Willie James Foster's grave is next to Charley's. He lived longer than many of his fellow musicians. Willie also served our country and was happy to see someone took the time to install the official military marker.Robert Johnson . . . Some say he is the King of the Delta Blues Singers
Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil and was poisoned to death. He has three grave sites. This is the smallest and was the most difficult for me to find. The church next to this graveyard was occupied but there were no windows facing the graves. 
One grave stands out with an official Blues Trail marker at the Little Zion MB church.
I thought I might arrive during services but they hold them only every third Sunday. I was sad to see the sign on the ground. Too bad someone can't fix it.
This is the view as you turn to the left of the church/sign. My reference said his grave was under a large pecan tree. At any rate, I walked around a bit and found various things in this graveyard and eventually found his headstone. 27 years old.
There were a few items on this headstone left by travelers. Imitation Elsie and I just took a few pics and left no tokens. The third headstone is much larger and is also in an active church graveyard. If you are a regular blog reader you will remember my post about MS Dogs. Well, if you look real close at the cars towards the center of the pic you can see the mama dog who appears in my previous post.
His songs have been covered and re-covered. A true-blue Blues Legend.
One grave stands out with an official Blues Trail marker at the Little Zion MB church.
I thought I might arrive during services but they hold them only every third Sunday. I was sad to see the sign on the ground. Too bad someone can't fix it.
This is the view as you turn to the left of the church/sign. My reference said his grave was under a large pecan tree. At any rate, I walked around a bit and found various things in this graveyard and eventually found his headstone. 27 years old.
There were a few items on this headstone left by travelers. Imitation Elsie and I just took a few pics and left no tokens. The third headstone is much larger and is also in an active church graveyard. If you are a regular blog reader you will remember my post about MS Dogs. Well, if you look real close at the cars towards the center of the pic you can see the mama dog who appears in my previous post.
His songs have been covered and re-covered. A true-blue Blues Legend.
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