Go Memphis

Michael Donahue’s After Dark visits karaoke night at Dan McGuiness Pub at 4698 Spottswood. Anyone can be a star on Wednesday nights. Choose from rap to country, grab the mike (and perhaps a beer) and become, if not America’s, maybe Memphis’s Idol for a few minutes. Full story »

The Blues Ball celebrated its 15th anniversary with fireworks, dynamic music and Memphis music legends. "Hallelujah Homecoming" was the theme of this year's bash, which featured music by artists that included Jerry Lee Lewis and Al Kapone on seven stages -- indoors and out -- a silent auction, a catered dinner and food stations from Memphis restaurants. Full story »

Remember Anderton’s, the Memphis restaurant/oyster bar with the fishnets, twinkling lights and pirate murals? It made you feel like you were in a 1950s time tunnel. The Midtown institution at 1901 Madison went out of business New Year’s Eve 2005, but the murals, the bar and other architectural elements are back at The Cove, a bar/restaurant at 2559 Broad. Full story »

Tiki torches -- those symbols of summer parties -- burned brightly as the season waned Saturday night at "Tiki Time on Town Square." The 16th annual Main Street Collierville's Partners in Preservation Party and Taste of the Town featured 25 food vendors, music by Van Gogh's Ear, live and silent auctions and a limbo contest for the braver guests in Collierville's town square. Full story »

The Rendezvous brought 150 slabs of ribs to the first Zoo Rendezvous 25 years ago, Nick Vergos recalled. Saturday night, the restaurant provided 140 slabs. That might sound strange considering the event grew from 300 people to one that draws thousands, but Rendezvous was the only food vendor for the first several years, Nick said. This year's event featured 77 restaurant stations. Full story »

Michael Donahue’s After Dark: If you like choppers and hogs, Bike Night on Beale on Wednesdays is the place to be. Depending on the weather, there could be more than 100 local and out-of-town bikers showing off their motorcycles, networking and patronizing the night spots.
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The hooch didn't taste like it was made in a bathtub, but the attire and atmosphere at "The Speakeasy" resembled 1920s Prohibition era. Full story »

Likenesses of the late Isaac Hayes were featured on specially designed guitars for the auction at the upcoming Blues Ball. Guests got a sneak peak at the guitars at a cocktail party last Tuesday at Fleming's Prime Steakhouse. Memphis firefighter Doug Mills was going to use David Porter, Robert Johnson and Hayes on the guitar he designed, but he decided to go with just Hayes. "Just because of his passing," he said. Full story »

SportsBall is the once-a-year party where guests can play pool and foosball, shoot baskets, line dance, drive a simulated race car, ride a mechanical bull and participate in a jousting tournament under one roof. With more than 800 people engaged in some kind of activity, The Peabody's Memphis Ballroom resembled a giant gymnasium Saturday night. SportsBall, which benefits Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Memphis, also is where people can wear athletic shoes with their tuxes. Full story »

The "Our Town" now showing at Askew Nixon Ferguson Architects isn't the Thornton Wilder play; it's a new art exhibit. The "town" is Memphis. Guests at the opening reception Friday night left their wet umbrellas at the door and took a watercolor tour of the Bluff City. Two years ago, Fred Rawlinson asked his art students to capture Memphis. Full story »

The Rock 'n' Roll Café across from Graceland is the place to be during Elvis week. You can order The King porterhouse steak and watch jumpsuit-clad Elvis tribute artists stop in for a bite to eat. Tribute artist Joe Kent, who appeared in the movie, “Honeymoon in Vegas,” performs during the week. The place was jumping during Elvis Week. Full story »

Memphis fans kicked off Elvis Week with a meet and greet Saturday at Marlowe's restaurant. Linda Langley, who traveled to Memphis from Shelbyville, Mo., was one of the guests at the event, a fundraiser for the Humane Society of Memphis & Shelby County. Full story »

It's all about the King at the Elvis 7s rugby tournament. Local and out-of-town athletes played rugby against Elvis background music at the 21st annual event Saturday in McBride Field. Some players grew long sideburns to compete for prizes. Players and spectators competed in the Elvis trivia contest, which included questions like, "What is the address of Graceland? Clad in a blue polyester jumpsuit, Larry Magdovitz conducted the contests. Full story »

Michael Donahue's After Dark: It’s Vegas in Hickory Hill -- sort of. Poker faces pop up every night at Click’s Billiards, where poker, pool, drinks and eats are on tap at 3705 Malco Way near the Majestic Theatre. The regulars will tell you: What happens at Click's stays at Click's. Full story »

Michael Donahue's After Dark: Tuesday nights are hot at The Blue Monkey Pizza and Potations at 2012 Madison. It's steamy hot outside, but high temperatures don't deter dedicated party people.

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