Knit Mafia in Memphis

Via Memphis Flyer:

The Memphis Knit Mafia put up this “pole cozy,” a bit of guerilla knitting, over an old sign post outside of Café Eclectic in the Vollintine-Evergreen neighborhood last Tuesday night. The work, which is about 10 feet long, is a colorful mash-up of knitting styles — cables, stripes, checks, and even the Batman logo — created over a few months by the seven or eight core members of the group.

The group has a Facebook fan page, which can be found by searching “Memphis Knit Mafia.”

Mother Lover

If you didnt see this on SNL this weekend, then it's time you checked it out....

Skatelife Memphis meetings

The second round of public meetings for the Mud Island River Park Land Use Study are coming up, starting tonight. The actionists from Skatelife Memphis are asking that skatepark supporters, be they skaters or not, turn out. The meeting details:

1.Memphis Botanical Gardens
Tuesday May 12th, from 5:45 - 7:15 pm
Location: Memphis Botanic Gardens, 750 Cherry Road (near Audobon Park)


2. Downtown Meeting
Thursday May 14th from 5:45 - 7:15 pm
Location:MIRP Harbor Landing, 101 Island Drive (gate security will give directions) Basically drive to Mud Island and go through the security gates. It's on Mud Island.

Plus check out the findings from the first round.

Grocery store/Overton Square update

Looks like we're one step closer to getting that grocery store in Overton Square, for better or worse. According to the MBJ, Associated Wholesale Grocers, inc. has the entire southern half of the Square under contract for purchase, with 8 months to complete the deal.

I know there are some strong feelings around midtown about a big box grocery store moving into the area, but come on folks....the Schnuk's sucks, the Kroger at Cleveland and Poplar is OK but always feels a touch shady after dark, and the Piggly Wiggly barely deserves a nod as an actual grocery store. I'm sick of seeing Overton Square sit empty so if this is what it takes to get the ball rolling, then so be it. I do hope they try to incorporate the historical aspect of the existing buildings and/or use that huge parking lot instead of building more of the same though.

Bicycle Film Festival comes to Memphis

The Bicycle Film Festival is coming to Memphis May 29-30. It’s a celebration of bicycles through film, art, and music. They hope to gather cyclists from all over the South for this event. Film screenings are at the Brooks at 7 and 9 PM on the 29th, after-party afterward at Nocturnal (1588 Madison). On the 30th, there is a block party at Overton Park from noon to 4 pm, then a film screening at the Brooks at 3, followed by a "Bikes Rock" concert at Murphy’s (1589 Madison) with River City Tanlines, Magic Kids, The Warble, and Girls of the Gravitron at 9. More details can be found at the main site here. Just click on the Memphis link or simply click HERE to go straight to that page.

There are some incredibly cool short films involved with this so check it out if you're a film lover or if you are into biking in any sort of way. Here are a few previews and quick summaries of a few for you...

PARIS VISION
France 2009 | HD Video 5min.
Dir. Renaud Skyronka
From Belleville to Montmartre, Paris Vision is a “ballade” in Paris with 7 different fixed gear riders. This short film gives a new point of view of the French capital. Tricks, bike polo, ride in of the most beautiful city of the world!

BALORDA
Italy 2007 | DV 8min.
Dir. Luca Bedini and Marco Brandoli
In Northern Italy, 3000 people come together for a slow orgiastic 3-mile ride feasting on Lambrusco, pasta, and song.

URBAN BIKE SHORTS
KING OF SKITCH
USA 2008 | HD 2min.
Dir. Daniel Leeb
The King of NYC, Felipe Robayo, always finds the fastest way to get from A to B.

MADE IN QUEENS
USA 2008 | 10min
Dir. Joe Stevens & Nicolas Randall
Last summer in Queens, NY a group of imaginative tinkerers from Trinidad created something no one had ever seen before: enormous stereo systems jerry- rigged onto ordinary bmx bikes. Traveling together, each behind the handlebars of his or her own massive homemade creation, they treat the neighborhood to an outrageous impromptu music and dance party on wheels.

WARRIORS: THE BIKE RACE
USA 2004 | Video 21min.
Dir. Christopher Ryan, Michael Green Jesse Epstein
In August of 2002, over 800 bicycle riders descended upon New York City in the form of 89 gangs. Their goal: to live out the epic gang warfare movie known as THE WARRIORS. During the all night race from the Bronx to Coney Island, riders got lost, blood was shed, police outwitted, and countless brain cells destroyed. Most of what took place that night was thankfully never to be discussed again until…WARRIORS: THE BIKE RACE.

Pics of Boss Crump House fallen tree

These are a few pictures of the Boss Crump House tree that fell over the weekend. The sheer size of it fascinates me. Plus it's just one street over from my house.