Go Memphis

Even though he wore a red-and-white jump suit and sang "In the Ghetto" with a back-up chorus of fellow rugby players, Chris "Woody" Woodard didn't win the Mr. Sideburns contest last year at the Elvis 7s rugby tournament. Wearing the same jump suit, Woody competed again this year -- and won. In addition to a "Mr. Sideburns" banner that Larry Magdovitz bestowed on him, Woody won a statue of Elvis wearing a jump suit nearly identical to his. Full story »

According to the National Weather Service, temperatures ranged from 76 to 79 degrees between 9 p.m. Friday and 2:30 a.m. Saturday morning. So, guests required to wear white clothing during that time at the "All White Affair" at The Peabody were dressed comfortably. Full story »

Three Sid Selvidges attended the Beale Street Caravan fundraiser Thursday night at the Red Rooster. Musician/singer Sid Selvidge II is one of the founders of Beale Street Caravan, a worldwide syndicated radio show broadcast from Memphis and heard in 400 cities worldwide. Sid Selvidge III is his son and Sid Selvidge IV is his grandson. Full story »

The past figures into the recent exhibits of works by Alan Duckworth and Pinkney Herbert at David Lusk Gallery at 4540 Poplar. Alan's show, "Amplified Mind," deals with the recent past. "All the paintings I've been working on are just basically things that have been on my mind in the past year," Alan said at Friday night's opening reception. Full story »

Kevin Murphy, 16, considered taking part in the Comcast Firecracker 5K for St. Jude, a fundraiser for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. But the 18-inch half-barbecue-half-Italian sausage Garibaldi's pizza he ate before Friday's race was a "factor" in not taking part, said Kevin, who runs cross country for Christian Brothers High School. About 2,500 others did participate, said race founder Susan Hedgepeth. Full story »

Instead of a yellow brick road, guests took a different path at Saturday night's "Wicked" cast party. "Follow the green carpet," instructed Matt Doll as guests arrived at the Majestic restaurant. Matt and Victoria Busey, who are with the Orpheum, where "Wicked" is running through July 12, manned the entrance to the party following the evening performance. Full story »

"You think it's hot outside? Just hold on," dance instructor Keith "The Navigator" Hubbard from Chicago told the audience of Chicago Style Steppin' dancers Saturday night at the Whitehaven Celebration Complex. Full story »

Guests were invited to a no-cover-charge event to meet some Memphis music legends and legends-to-be -- and, hopefully, become a supporter of the Memphis Music Foundation. Kenny and Terri King hosted the recent MMF party at their home on South Main. Music legends included James Alexander, Jimi Jamison, Keith Sykes and Jody Stephens. Full story »

Morgan Freeman was the star of the "Zero to 60" fundraiser for The MED Foundation on Saturday night at the Hard Rock Cafe. A long line snaked along the room as guests waited to meet the smiling Oscar-winning actor and have their photo taken with him. "He's so gracious and was such an easy, pleasant person to work with and very unassuming," said foundation director Tammie Ritchey on Sunday. Full story »

During the Crown and Sceptre Ball, Carnival Memphis 2009 king Keith Barton spared no superlatives describing his queen, Paige Phillips: "She's beautiful, smart, charming, graceful, poised. Did I say 'beautiful'?" Full story »

Memphis is a "Pandora's box," said Chilean ambassador José Goni. It's full of surprises, he added. The ambassador to the United States and Loreto Leyton were special guests at the Memphis in May International Gala Thursday night at the Hilton Memphis. He was extremely moved when he visited the National Civil Rights Museum. "I couldn't say a single word." Full story »

It's too early for sunflowers outdoors, but inside the Art Museum of the University of Memphis, a giant specimen of the steel variety is "blooming." Sculptor Elisha Gold made the sunflower, which has inert M16 .228-caliber ammunition rounds in place of seed pods in the flower head. Full story »

Mardi Gras and Halloween are long past, but guests wore masks Saturday night at the 2009 Masquerade Ball at The Peabody. The event was a benefit for the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation. "We have a different theme every year," said LoriHanks, event production co-chairman. "This was our first year to do the masks. It was just something fun. 'Unmasking a Cure' was our tag line for the ball." Full story »

Gov. Phil Bredesen remembered his introduction to cooked raccoon: "The first time I tried it I had an urge to go out and tip over the garbage cans," he joked. The Tennessee governor, who prefers pork barbecue to raccoon, was one of the guests at the annual Jimmy Naifeh Coon Supper Thursday at the Covington (Tenn.) Country Club. Raccoon, cooked in layers with sweet potatoes, pineapple and bacon, was among the buffet items. Full story »

Lines delivered on stage Saturday night at Germantown Performing Arts Centre probably included, "This chocolate decadence with fresh raspberries and warm Godiva chocolate is wonderful!" or "What did you think of the Scarlatti?" Dinner was served on stage to guests at GPAC's "A Night of Wine & Roses" fundraiser. Full story »