music

Memphis is Aglow with Holiday Spirit

Memphis is Aglow With Holiday Spirit! Take a romantic stroll down historic Beale Street where twinkling lights of towering Christmas trees become the backdrop for ancient evenings and distant music. The clip-clop prancing of horse-drawn carriages fulfill childhood dreams with fairytale endings. If you’re lucky, you may sneak a peak at whimsical gingerbread displays where marching ducks waddle in tune down gilded staircases lined with curiosity seekers. How do they do that? Outside again, parades abound. Holiday happenings and light shows illuminate the night with plenty of fanfare. Soak up the allure before checking out live entertainment in open-air courtyards filled with soulful blues. Dance a little. Laugh out loud. These are memories that linger on. Well done, Memphis, Tennessee.

Dining Outside the Home: Rum Boogie Cafe in Memphis, Tennessee!

Dining Outside the Home: Rum Boogie Café in Memphis, Tennessee! Take a stroll down Beale Street for smooth drinks, southern food, and toe-tappin’ Memphis blues. Try not to cause a gaper’s block as you walk through the door of the Rum Boogie Cafe. More than 200 autographed guitars are displayed in plain sight from a horde of living legends. But that’s not all. Notice memorabilia connecting the past to the present appears at every turn. Don’t forget to grab a bite to eat before the live entertainment shuffles in. My recommendation? The farm-raised Catfish Fillet sandwich. The waitress swears by it. This two-handed southern specialty is dredged in breading and fried to a golden brown. One bite and you’ll find yourself hooked on a local favorite.

Historic Jam Session Puts Recording Studio on the Charts

Anyone who visits Memphis, Tennessee makes an extra effort to visit Sun Studios, the most famous recording studio in the world. And it’s not just Baby Boomers who relate to this iconic landmark. After all, the birthplace of Rock ‘n Roll was home to the ‘Million Dollar Quartet’, a group of guys known as Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins. This is where it all began. Dreams come true, even now, when the tour buses have left for the day and the doors close so dedicated musicians can book the studio for private sessions. Yes, the same setup, even the same vintage microphone and an “x” on the floor where Elvis stood, becomes the inspiration. Go ahead, stand in awe. Close your eyes and imagine the best music you ever heard.

Dining Outside the Home: Ernestine and Hazel’s in Memphis, Tennessee

Dining Outside the Home: Ernestine and Hazel’s in Memphis, Tennessee! Housed in a building steeped with southern history lies a gathering place where the burgers are greasy, the music is hypnotic, and the liquor is smooth. People connect with the heart and soul at the mere thought of Chuck Berry or Ray Charles, listening as the jukebox plays on. Upstairs an aura of mystique practically oozes from the heavily color-draped walls. That’s no coincidence, especially after hearing murmurings of shadowy figures and other unexplained phenomenon based on the dozen or so tragic deaths that occurred there. Perhaps that is why the seasoned bartender keeps his head down, humming under his breath, and serves up a stiff one.

Dining Outside the Home: Carpenter Creek Cellars in Remington, Indiana 

Dining Outside the Home: Carpenter Creek Cellars in Remington, Indiana! What do you get when a 1919 country horse barn gets restored and transformed into a charming rustic winery? Award-winning wines, of course! From semi-sweet whites to bold dry reds, your palate is in for a journey of discovery. But don’t stop there. Take a trip down this country road in Jasper County, Indiana. Experience an extensive wine-tasting bar for the discerning palate, convenient outdoor seating for picnic pleasure, live entertainment on occasion, and assorted gourmet cheeses from this family-owned winery. Tours are available upon request. Spend a lovely hour or more sipping wine like an aficionado while absorbing the ambiance of Carpenter Creek Cellars.