- Issue Archive for
- Jul 17-23, 2008
- Vol. 1, No. 1012
Art
Warhol and Thorarinsdottir
Two world-class artists, two world views.
News
John Ford Guilty on All Counts in TennCare Case
Former state Senator John Ford, already serving a 5 1/2-year federal prison term in Louisiana for bribery and extortion in connection with the Tennessee Waltz scandal, was convicted by a jury in federal court in Nashville on Friday of two counts of wire fraud and four counts of making false statements on behalf of a state TennCare contractor.
Whitten Road Hotel Closed
After a year-long undercover investigation by the Shelby County Sheriff’s Narcotics and Street Crimes bureaus, the East Memphis Traveler’s Inn has been temporarily closed.
The hotel, located at 1776 Whitten Road, was closed as a result of a public nuisance action.
On Tuesday, the grand jury indicted 11 people on 15 counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to manufacture, distribute, or sell.
Ask Vance: Old, Mysterious Graves in Collierville
I've written before about gravestones in Bethany Church Cemetery, a shady burial ground tucked away in the county north of Collierville. It's filled with old and interesting markers, but none are so intriguing as a row of seven flat stones marking the last resting place of the children of the Archer family ...
After Rampage's Rampage
Gossip site TMZ is reporting that Memphis native -- and ultimate fighter -- Quinton "Rampage" Jackson was picked up by police yesterday afternoon.
A day before, Jackson had apparently gone on a different kind of rampage ...
Hot Enough For You?
Comments welcome.
Pedals Are the New Petrol
Local company debuts electric hybrid bicycles.
Showdown in the 9th District
Congressman Steve Cohen battles Nikki Tinker's repeat challenge.
MLGW Wants You on YouTube
Memphis, Light, Gas and Water recently announced that utility prices would rise by 30 percent. Now the utility is encouraging customers to cut back on energy use by "greening" their homes and then videotaping the evidence ...
How Cool Is It in the "Old Forest" Right Now?
The folks over at the Citizens to Preserve Overton Park website did a little experiment a few days back. They compared temperatures at four different spots within a mile radius in Midtown.
From the blog: "I measured a 13 degree difference as I traveled from parking lots and clearcuts to urban shade and sunlit greeenswards and finally to the rich shade of the Old Forest. All within a 1 mile radius of each other ...
What They Said
Comments from memphisflyer.com
Downtown Memphis is Paradise ... for Walkers
A new website called Walkscore.com, created by a Seattle software company, ranks U.S. cities and neighborhoods on their "walkability," or basically: How easy is it to live without a car?
So how did Memphis do? ...
Hannah Montana: Through Memphis "Eyes"
On July 26th, millions of American tween girls (and yes, a few boys), will be glued to Disney Channel for the closest thing to a Hannah Montana concert -- in their own living room! -- as they'll ever get. The broadcast, you see, will be in 3-D.
And the millions of 3-D glasses that will be worn that night were manufactured here in Memphis ...
Scooter City
Getting out of the car and onto a scooter.
Work Begins on Beale Street Landing
Construction started this week on Beale Street Landing, the $30 million boat landing at the north end of Tom Lee Park.
Workers were moving building materials and a large crane on to the site. The project is scheduled for completion in 2010. It will cover a total of six acres and add four acres to Tom Lee Park by building a dam in the river and filling in behind it. A small wetlands area at the tip of the park will be eliminated ...
Creating Legends
UrbanArt Commission seeks artists to enhance two public housing sites.
Herenton, Cash Make Nice at City Hall Reception
On the same day, ironically, that city government and the school board were locking horns in Chancery Court over next year's funding, the incoming schools superintendent and the city's longstanding mayor made public peace at a City Hall reception that ushered in a new and uncertain era for both local institutions.
Director Godwin's Looking For Him -- and We Found Him: MPD Enforcer's Dirk Diggler!
Memphis Police Director Larry Godwin has filed suit in an effort to discover the true identity of the proprietor or proprietors of the anonymous blog MPD Enforcer 2.0 -- an online whistleblower site. Here, Flyer contributor Derek Haire finds the man Godwin is looking for -- and interviews him.
Flyer, Memphis Magazine Reap Awards Bounty from SPJ in Atlanta
The Memphis Flyer and its sister publication, Memphis Magazine, made a strong showing Saturday night at the annual Southeastern States "Green Eyeshades" awards meeting of the Society for Professional Journalists in Atlanta, finishing at or near the top in competition with periodicals from 11 other states.
Real Estate
Goodness Gracious,
What a House Colonial Revival in Midtown.
We Recommend
Music
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Beale Street Caravan Fundraiser Tonight
Local harmonica great Billy Gibson will host a fund-raiser for the syndicated radio show Beale Street Caravan tonight at the new Ground Zero Blues Club downtown. Tickets to the event are $75 a person and include food, an open bar, and a harmonica (with free lessons). There also will be a live and silent auction. The event is slated to run from 6 to 9 p.m.
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Trouble in Mind
The semi-secret history of one of metal's most important bands.
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$5 Cover Concert Tonight.
$5 Cover is free tonight as Craig Brewer begins shooting on his Memphis-music themed online series at the New Daisy Theatre. Doors open at 7 p.m. for the free concert, which will feature longtime Memphis rap fixture Al Kapone as an opening act and a headline set from rap-rock cult fave Muck Sticky, whose performance will be shot for a $5 Cover segment. The show is open to the public and, like we said, totally free.
Politics
Turnaround Time
Summer doldrums or no summer doldrums, pol-watchers are honing their focus.
Harold Ford Jr. Gets Dissed at Netroots Conference
Memphis' former congressman, now head of the "centrist" Democratic Leadership Council, was politely received when he and opposite number Markos Moulitsas shared a stage in Denver. But that was before he ventured some praise of his erstwhile Fox News colleagues.
Harold Ford's New Wife Contributes to Tinker
From Tennessee Politics Blog: Harold Ford Jr's New Wife Gave to Tinker.
-- Harold Ford Jr. just got married a couple of months ago, but he's wasted no time in taking advantage of one of the main political advantages of marriage -- insulation from controversal political donations ...
Sports
Former Tiger Shawne Williams Nipped with Bud ... Again
Former Memphis Tiger basketball star Shawne Williams -- now with the NBA Indiana pacers -- was pulled over in Indianapolis yesterday and charged with window tint and seatbelt violations. A passenger in Williams' car, Darryl Smith, 21, of Memphis, was charged with possession of a small amount of marijuana ...
FROM MY SEAT: The Star-Studded '08 All-Star Game
J.D. Drew, crowned MVP in the American League's latest All-Star Game win over its National League rivals, was one of several players with Memphis connections in the 2008 mid-season classic. Frank Murtaugh reviews that and other aspects of last week's game.
Put Me In, Coach!
Is the Redbirds' Colby Rasmus a proper heir?
Theater
Happy Ending
String of Pearls dresses up TheatreWorks.
Film
Big Red
Hellboy II is a visual marvel, but not as involving the second time around.
The Dark Knight Delivers
The summer's most anticipated film, The Dark Knight, opens tonight with apparently sold-out midnight shows. Good luck getting a ticket this weekend. Does this latest Batman installment, which features the final completed film performance by the late Heath Ledger as iconic villain the Joker, live up to the hype? Get Chris Herrington's verdict after the jump.
Opinion
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Letter from the Editor
When our senators and presidents and Supreme Court justices stop driving, pumping gas, and buying groceries, they lose touch ...
How Fast Can Kriner Cash Turn Memphis Schools Around?
How soon can Memphis expect to see improvements in the Memphis City Schools under new superintendent Dr. Kriner Cash?
Test results coming out of the Washington D.C. public schools, a system that is smaller but demographically similar to Memphis, show significant gains in the first year under new superintendent Michelle Rhee ...
The Rant: Memphis Music Fans Suck
"We've lost our way."
I use this phrase a lot when I talk about national politics. But I'm using it now regarding the Robert Plant and Alison Krauss show on Mud Island last week. I'm a recording engineer and former rock-star wannabe. It takes an act of Congress to get me out and see a concert anymore. But the lure of this once-in-a-lifetime show did the trick.
As I sat in my fifth-row center seat, I was reminded yet again why Memphis has lost its way ...
Chris Davis Explains It All ... Again
It's difficult to listen to McCain surrogate Randy Scheunemann's criticisms of Barack Obama without being reminded of George W. Bush's immortal words, "If you fool me ... you can't get fooled again." Because when it comes to fooling the American people, Scheunemann's been closely affiliated with some true masters of the form ...
Bianca Knows Best ... And Helps a Cougar
Dear Bianca,
I think something is horribly wrong with me. I can't keep a man for more than a few months before he moves away. My last two boyfriends have left town after accepting promotions or taking new jobs.
Neither relationship has been serious enough to warrant me packing up and leaving with them ...
Banking Blues
A lament for cash dividends, stability, and elegant lobbies.
Food & Wine
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That's Cold
It's summer — one order of iced coffee, please.
Special Sections
Get Out This Weekend in Memphis
Don't stay home moping from the heat this weekend. Get out and do something! Here are few recommendations to get you started on the path to a fuller social life:
See Joey Lauren Adams from Mallrats and Chasing Amy at the Mississippi Lay-By Music and Literature Festival on Friday night ...
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