Art, History and Jazz.

This past Sunday, I had the most unique experience. I was able to step back into the past, yet still enjoy the present. And if you know anything about Memphis, you know that Memphis’s history runs as deep and as wild as the Mighty Mississippi.
Crown Me Royal Labs creator Chassidy Jade fashioned a beautiful event, Visuals and Vibes. This exhibit featured her short film, Brown Ballerina, as well as her Demo Reel and Visual Collections. Incredible graphic designs by Mycal Smith were also on display. There was an artist completing a live painting and of course, the hooch was flowing! The mixed drinks each highlighted Crown Royal!!!!! Yes, the infamous purple bagged whisky. It was amazing. No words can truly describe the atmosphere that was set by the diversity of the visuals and the vibes that vibrated off the Memphis walls. Some things you just have to experience for yourself.
But all of this was nestled within an amazing building. The Jack Robinson Gallery is located in the South Main Arts District. Jack Robinson is a famous photographer who is well known for his work in Vogue magazine during the 1960s. He also created stained-glass windows. (Which can be viewed at the gallery as well as in the chapel of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.)
This beautiful building still maintains the indigenous hardwood floors and the original bricks peaking out from the plaster. This building has a rich history in Memphis. And it was in this 1960’s building that Historic Art was intertwined with Modern Visual and Vibes.
Afterwards, we headed to yet another historic building for some beer and grub! When we stepped past the threshold of Earnestine and Hazel’s I felt like I was in a 1920s Juke Joint in the middle of the Harlem. There was a live jazz band, very little lighting and old decor…..very old decor. According to their website, the building that now house Earnestine and Hazel’s was originally built in the late 1930s and still seem to use some of the same items!!! There was an old jukebox, a pool table and 2 darkish hallways. (I’ve seen enough movies to know that you just don’t go down anybody’s darkish hallways.)
When my hubby, 2 sisters and I sat down, we were warmly greeted and asked what we would like. I asked the waitress what she had. She said burgers and beer. (No wonder we weren’t given a menu.) Anthony and I looked at each other sheepishly and decided to share a burger. We enjoyed the beers and live jazz until the burgers and chips came. The burgers weren’t grand or elaborate. They were small and ….. looked like something I could cook myself. But they smelled soooooo good. That smell was a precursor to something amazing. So I proceeded to break the burger in half, one half for me and one half for Hubby. As I took a bite into the burger, I melted into my seat. YALL!!!! This burger was so damn delicious. It was cooked perfectly, stacked with caramelized onions, pickles and other good things. One look at how my sisters and I were devouring our burgers, Hubby said that he wanted his own. I was fine with that!!!! YALL, that has GOT TO BE the best burger in Memphis!!!! AND it didn’t break the bank. OMG, I left there so satisfied! BTW…I could never replicate those burgers at home!!!

1 Amazing Night
2 Historic Buildings
3 Amazing People (Hubby and 2 sisters)
Forever a Memphian!!!!

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