A Little PBR Goes a Long Way

I know it has been a while since I posted, but I really need to back track a bit to Spring Break to tell of my awesome adventures.

I spent my week exploring Memphis, as planned. These adventures included a ghost tour of downtown, Memphis Tiger basketball game, Chucalissa, and Sun Studios.

The most awesome day, however, is one I must describe in detail.

Wednesday I set out to Sun Studios to further educate myself in Memphis music. I walk in to purchase my ticket and start talking to the guy behind the counter. I was wearing my PBR shirt from work (as we were given them for promotional reasons), and he started asking me where I got my shirt. I explained to him that I work for Hueys, we just got PBR, and are not doing promotions for it. When he realized that not only was I a.) wearing a cool shirt but b.) also a local, he told me to not worry about paying for the tour. Awesome! Turns out this awesome dude's name is El Dorado, and he was giving the tour.  He also plays in a punk band around town too. We got to talking about Memphis and local music after the tour.

After the tour was over, I went back into the cafe of Sun Studios to look around, and I run into Jake, the guy who lead the ghost tour I took downtown a few days prior. We started chatting, and I found out that he does bus tours of Memphis music spots around town during the day. He was doing one at the time, and the group had stopped at Sun Studios to take a look around. He said that there was about an hour and a half left on the tour if I wanted to hop on the bus and finish it with them. How cool is that?

So I hopped on the bus with the rest of the group, and we drove around town while Jake told us about past, present, and future music in the city.  Some of the stuff I already knew, as we drove by the Hi Tone and other venues.  But I did learn a lot too, especially about Elvis and Johnny Cash.

Not only did I learn a lot, but Jake also gave me a shaker when I hopped on the bus too. While he played tunes on his guitar, I jammed next to him with my shaker. We were quite a pair. Ha. Any tour that lets me sing and dance along definately gets an A+ in my book.

After the tour was over, Jake was kind enough to drive me back to my car at Sun Studios before doing another gig that night. and thus the day was over.

This day just proved to me even more why I love Memphis. The people here are so great. They are friendly, nice, and generous. In one day, I met two of the nicest, kindest people in the city of Memphis. It was a great day with great people.

Spring Break is SO NOT a Bust

So this is the first year since I have started school (i.e. Jr. K when I was four) that I have not gone out of town on Spring Break. Spring Break has become a tradition for me.  It is a time to get away, away from Memphis and away from life.  It has always been my time to relax and see a new part of the world. I have gone to many different places on past Spring Breaks, including out West, up North, to the beaches South, and out of the country completely. However, this year, for the first time since I was four, I will not be going anywhere for Spring Break. Nowhere.

Since my Plan A (Cancun) and Plan B (New Orleans) fell through, I am officially going to be home for that week. My boss wanted me to housesit, and since I don't have any plans, I agreed to do so. Therefore, I will be out of my Arlington housing situation and living in East Memphis that week.

So now, Spring Break for Shannon is going to be known as "Enjoy Memphis Week".  There is so much that I have not done in this city, and Memphis has so much to offer.  I decided that I can pick a couple of places to go every day that I have never been. I can try museums and take tours. At night, I want to see local live music that I have never experienced in local venues that I do not normally frequent. I can explore my city to the greatest depths. and I am actually kind of excited about it.  

Between seeing Memphis during the day, working, and enjoying the nightlife after, I can say that my Spring Break is still going to be pretty eventful.

Here is a brainstormed list of things I want to do so far...

Sun Studios

Civil Rights Museum

Cotton Museum

Fire Museum

Chucalissa

Ghost River Brewery Tour

Java Cabana jam sessions

Anybody have any more suggestions? I have a whole week to fill up here! and also, company is always nice. If anyone wants to join me on my week long quest, please let me know! Things are always more fun with friends.