SATURDAY NIGHT SALSA!!

Maybe Memphis is better known for its Rock'n Roll and Blues legacies but that certainly doesn't mean that latin grooves aren't anywhere to be found in this town. On the cache corner of 111 Jackson Ave. High Poin Cafe is the host of free saturday night salsa lessons and late night latin grooves on the bar's dance floor. Why any restless-and not to mention, poor- college kid wouldn't spend a saturday night here I do not understand. Are there any other deals like this near midtown? Other dance styles perhaphs? If not, there should be! A local bar could undoubtedly increases its weekend revenue, help easily bring in crowds to fill the room, and give you and your visitores another thing to hype up about the joint. Not to mention any dance companies that offer this deal get the opportunity for client raising plugs. I know- other events like this go on in memphis every so often- i.e. The Gibson Lounge's Techno bash etc., but in other cities such as Chicago, free (or otherwise ridiculously cheap) indoor and outdoor dance lessons are standard and under everyone's radar. This weekend my group was the only representative from the 19-25 yr. age group. This needs to change!

Last weekend'ss ballet, "Momentum", was not to be missed! The contemporary dance group performed in the swanky Gibson Lounge in front of a a hundred or so memphians. Extra space was scarce but it only made for a more intimate setting-no chair was more than 20 feet from the modest stage. At first, the closeness of everything (the bar and buffet to the spectators, the back stage to the spectators, and sardined viewers themselves) and poorly projected Eric Clapton album that kicked off the set distracted from the dancers on stage. But ask me a song or two later and I would have been too busy being wowed by Kendall Britt and Nicole Corea's spicy moves. Later classical adaptations of Radiohead songs and bold moves to cliche 80's tracks kept the night interesting to say the least. All in all, the dancers did well with the tight space, kicking the season off with the kind of energy that the show's title suggests.

Center for Southern Folklore's (CSF) celebration of regional music as cultural heritage took place down on Main St. this Labor Day weekend. It was the perfect excuse to enjoy some of what Memphis does best- that is, MUSIC, of course- outdoors in the slightly cooler evening breeze. This wonderful festival just around the corner from Beale showcased Latin beats, Gospel, Old time Rockabilly, Blues, Jazz, Rap, good old Memphis Garage Rock, and any other musical genre imaginable all for the price of your car ride there (if you drove). Without ticket sales to worry over, the festival was able to cover as much ground as CSF wanted. The strip featured five stages complete with a Jerry Lee Louis look-alike pounding away at the keys and an old American cowboy strummin' on another corner. Puerto Rican bongo players even got me dancing by the end of the night. It was easy to get lost in a summer daze in this oasis of tunes. Definitely a Labor Day evening well spent with Memphis's oldest and truest commodity.

Alright all you young Memphians. As small an attempt as this may seem, I have created this humble blog to make damn sure you know that there's almost NEVER an excuse for an evening without art in this burgeoning soul city. Whether its going to a concert, festival, art opening, or starting your own graffiti-mural-ing team- the outlets for artistic stimulations are endless. On this virtual wall I'll share the kinds of things I've been up to as well as the things I'd like to "be up to"- and so should you. There's too much potential and too many creativos in this budding city for a breath without art!