This summer is heating up, and I’m not talking about the weather. I’ve been hopping around the city (and went on a little international trip, too)! Even though this summer has been a blast, there are still a few things missing to really make it hit a perfect 10 on my Fun-o-Meter. And while I have four amazing teenagers, this summer has been just for me and my friends. For ease of reading purposes, let’s divide this article into two sections: What I’ve Been Doing and What I Wish I Could Do.
What I’ve Been Doing
Coffee Shop Hoppers
I love coffee. That’s no secret. I love to drink coffee, pull shots, and taste coffee. Slinging lattes on a Sunday morning is my favorite way to serve God. So when they announced the Coffee Shop Hoppers released their coffee hop list for the summer, I was pumped. I notified my family that I would not be available on May 29th because I needed to attend the launch party at Jojo’s cafe. And I did! I bought a banana chocolate chip muffin and received a free coffee from Jojo’s (because I was one of the first 50 coffee industry workers) and I bought the cutest coffee mug. I told my friend Stacey about the coffee hop, too. She was pumped, until she found out that in five years I have never fully completed the hops. Then she got focused. (Stacey is one of those friends who is great at gently holding you accountable for your goals.) She created an achievable timeline for me to be able to visit all of the coffee spots. What a friend! And I’m happy to report that I’m on track.
Downtown Beer Hop
Another hop that I did fully complete was the Downtown Beer Hop. My bestie Kim and I completed the entire hop in two nights. Beer Beast Mode! Here’s what I drank: South Point Grocery — Urban Artifact Capy Snacks Fruit Ale; Ghost River Brewing — Grind & Shine Coffee Cream Ale; Wiseacre — Sky Dog Chelada; MFS — BBA Chanclas De Abuela – Hot Mexican Chocolate; Flyway — Honeybird Blonde Ale; Old Dominick — Honeycombed Old Fashion; Soul and Spirits — Hopper Bolic; and Grind City — Krispy Treat.
I had never tried Wiseacre’s Sky Dog Chelada before, but that junt was bangin’! The touch of sea salt made that brew sit real nice on the palate. I’d definitely drink that relaxing in a kiddie pool while my arms and legs dangle over. Now because we did this hop in two days, I stayed away from full 12-16 oz. pours and treated myself to one or two 4 oz. pours. But beware! That 4 oz. pour from Memphis Filling Station’s Hot Mexican Chocolate nearly had me staring out to space, contemplating words I didn’t even know existed. Just staring into foolishness. The best part wasn’t just the beer. It was getting two evenings to laugh, catch up, and wander around Downtown pretending we were brewery influencers.
What I Wish I Could Do
This is going to sound weird, but hear me out. Sometimes I love being in the company of people, engaging in a shared activity. But sometimes, I don’t want to talk to anyone, I don’t want anyone talking to me, and I don’t want to hear other people talking around me. I wish that there was a Silent Book Club that hopped around the city. One month, we could walk in Overton Park while listening to audiobooks, and the next we could meet at a brewery or cafe while we sip and read. We could allot no more than 10 minutes for people to exchange pleasantries. And then we would read quietly. The best group to execute something like this would be the Book Clubbin’ Besties (@book.clubbin.besties). They’re an amazing reading duo who host a number of book clubs within various genres. They already hop around the city and even have reading retreats. I’m gonna go ahead and slide in their DMs and see what they think.
I would also love a more regular Beer Hop Club. Just a group of ladies, meeting monthly around the city at various breweries. Nothing major, just community. I could create something like this unofficially with my friends (if you’re wondering, I have five of them), but why not invite the whole city? Do you know who would be great at executing this? Memphis Moms! Bring back the Moms Beer Club! I promise to be at 75 percent of the hangouts. I’ll even lead it if it means getting a free beer once a month.
So that’s the update. I’ve spent my summer hopping from coffee shops to breweries, collecting stamps, good conversations, and a few new favorite drinks along the way. Now comes the real challenge: convincing Book Clubbin’ Besties and Memphis Moms to turn my wish list into reality. If you see me in their comments, mind your business or help me apply a little pressure.
Patricia Lockhart is a native Memphian who loves to read, write, cook, and eat. By day, she’s a librarian and writer, but by night … she’s asleep.
