Gwyneth Paltrow: Aspiring Parton?

My initial reaction to Gwyneth Paltrow

dipping her toes into the country music scene was,

to be frank,

a bit defensive.... 

{like this article.}

Yes, this Texas girl got a little riled up 

thinking about that Nordic-ish-New-York-City girl

parading around at the CMAs...

Then I realized that my blog is named

Aspiring Kennedy...

and maybe it's not too harmful 

to want to play dress up in another world,

 far away from the land you live in.

Suddenly, my feelings for GP at the CMA's

moved from prickly to pudding.

I mean, afterall...
it does take a lot of courage to debut your talent 
standing up in front of the industry's best.

And she actually did great. 

Look how cute she is!

And not just anyone could pull of that flesh-bearing Versace toga gown.

{Thank you, vegan-shake detox diets & personal trainer, Tracey Anderson.}

                     

And besides,

it's probably inevitable that after so many years of us being best friends,

my Dallas roots would start to rub off on her...

 right?

Watch the performance here, and weigh-in below...

   

You are Here: Memphis

Meet Leslie of Sharp Stick in the Eye.

I've "known" Leslie 

{through mutual acquantainces}

for several years now.

In fact, I was even at her lovely wedding-
as a date of one of her friends.

Yet it's been through blogging that I've actually got to know her.

One thing I have discovered is:

 Leslie is a girl who loves Memphis.

She LOVES it.

When getting the cities organized for this series, 

I knew that we would all be in for a heart-felt treat

if Leslie would walk us through her city.

Lucky us!

YOU ARE HERE: MEMPHIS

Aspiring Kennedy: Where do you live?

Leslie J: Memphis, Tennessee: "Home of the Blues, Birthplace of Rock 'n Roll"

Aspiring Kennedy: Describe "your" Memphis- your daily experience to us.

Leslie J: My Memphis is what some call a "Big Little Small Town." Everyone has some sort of connection, so you never really meet a true stranger.


I live in the same zip code where I grew up, went to school, and learned to be who I am (mostly)...consequently, my husband also grew up in this zip code and our parents still dwell in our childhood homes.


Big trees, friendly people, and the best tap water around (artesian wells baby!).

photo by me, today!

There is a gritty, underdog spirit that underlies the Memphis city pride like I've never encountered. Kinda like, we may get a bad rap, but the diehards know the TRUE Memphis... and that it's a great place to live.

Cherry trees in the spring along {fittingly} Cherry Road, via

AK: Memphis is a really soulful place. That environment has to produce some inspired people. Tell us about the local talent.


LJ: How can we NOT start here?





The King of Rock 'n Roll.


Elvis Presley's home in Memphis, Graceland, is second only to the White House as the most visited home in America. {But I will tell you that most lifelong Memphians have never visited Graceland. Take that for what you will.}


Behind and surrounding EP is one of the most rich musical heritages a city can have... Aad this is what really makes us proud. Sun Studios (Elvis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis), Stax Records (Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes, Sam & Dave, Booker T & the MGs), Hi Records (Al Green, Willie Mitchell)...see?


Obviously, that list is PACKED with some of the best music ever.


Besides these, we claim Justin Timberlake, Aretha Franklin, Morgan Freeman, BB King, Penny Hardaway, & Andrew VanWyngarden of MGMT (I went to his high school band's shows!)


AK: Where does Memphis go to see music today? And Beale Street doesn't count...


If you ever come to Memphis, rest up, and make your way to Wild Bill's juke joint. (You really can't get there until 11:30 or midnight. Late for me, at least.)

It's only one of the most wonderful places in the world. Yes, it's tiny and they only sell forties, and in part of town you may otherwise not visit, but it's my favorite place to listen to live music EVER. 

EVER. EVER. EVER. 

You can read more Wild Bill's, among other legit places, in this great New York Times travel article about Memphis here, if you'd like.

AK: So after staying out all night at Wild Bill's... where should we head for for breakfast?


LJ: Gibson's Donuts. Be still my heart.


Promise me, if you ever go, you'll get a glazed Old Fashioned.





AK: Memphis obviously has a past with some really important people. Who could we "rub elbows" with these days in Memphis?


LJ: Besides JT coming home for Thanksgiving (and the subsequent Britney, Cameron, or Jessica sightings), one of the biggest celeb events of my life was when they shot The Firm here in the early '90s.

The "Firm house" as people call it:

photo by me- taken about 5 minutes away from our house!

While they were shooting here, I remember moms keeping their kids home from school so they could try to get a glimpse of Tom Cruise. My best friend lived in the neighborhood and saw TC once or twice.


AK: I love that! What is the quintessential Memphis meal? Where do we find it?


It has to be said: Bar-b-que. But I'm not writing about it because a) it's too emotional for people [and I don't really "get" that] and b) much has already been said and written much better than I could do.


But yes, it's bar-b-que. And for the record, my preference is probably Central BBQ.


AK: And... dessert?

Muddy's Bake Shop was started several years ago by one of my schoolmates. Stop by Muddy's to get a freshly-made delicious baked good. No freezing allowed!

AK: What's the blogging community in Memphis like?


We have a wonderful resource here: a blog called I Love Memphis... Kerry's full-time job is finding out what's awesome in Memphis and writing about it [broken into sections like EAT, SEE, DO, LOVE, MEET, HEAR. She's darn good at discovering the up-and-coming spots and giving them some spotlight.


AK: Leave us with a lasting impression of Memphis. Give us a taste of the overall flavor of the city.


Underlying everything Memphis is is the constant presence of the Mississippi River... the "Mighty Mississip" or more affectionately "Ole Man River." It is because of him we're here in the first place.



[photo from here]


The Old South feel of Memphis is present yet at once it's as if everyone has acknowledged they don't revel in it too much.





Like I've said, it's underdog and people like it that way.


Come and see us!

Formal Apology:

I hereby issue a my sincere apology

to the city of

Louisville, Kentucky,

as I now realize:

You are awesome.

It's always hard to describe in words an experience,

but after a day in Louisville

I feel incredibly patriotic.

Unlike many southern towns where the

spirit of the heartland is so obvious...

Louisville's combination of

incredible American architecture,

idyllic landscape,

and subtle hipster vibe

mixes to create an effortlessly beautiful picture

of the American Dream.

Dinner was at Proof on Main

where I dined solo.

(I really don't prefer this,

but when I'm on business,

I''ll make the trade over room service.)

Who knew Louisville could get gnocchi so right?

I couldn't say no to a side of their grits,

and I'm quite glad I didn't.

The service was unassumingly friendly,

and the atmosphere was of

a sparkling metropolitan hot spot.

Compliments to Chef Michael Paley for

directing an amazing menu.

As if the spring weather wasn't

the perfect setting for my day,

I hit the jackpot

by running into this little beauty

while walking along Bardstown Road.

If not divinely timed to my recent realization

of this American's city innate ability

to bring southern history into today.

I think this picture says it best.

The owner tied up his steed,

and walked straight into a tattoo parlour.

I'm headed to Louisville, Kentucky,

and I must admit I have never been there.

I could easily guide you through the bus routes of Italy,

but wouldn't know how to get to the nearest gas station in most US towns.

It's quite pathetic, actually.

This week, I aim to amend this offense with full appreciation for

the soulful Southern city

(and have a fabulous time, too).

In efforts to achieve the quintessential Louisville experience,

the natural choice was

a stay at The Brown Hotel.

Apparently while at the landmark hotel,

it's only standard to indulge in a Hot Brown Sandwich.

Which came first- the chicken or the egg?

Did the hotel make the sandwich famous, or vice versa?

While we may never know,

we do know that

this sandwich was invented in 1926 by

The Brown Hotel's chef Fred K. Schmid.

It was a clever combination of

leftover turkey, white bread, loads of cheese, bacon (but, of course),

& mornay sauce

(which boasts a lineage of onion, butter, and cheese).

I will consider polishing this off as the completion of penance

to the great city of Louisville.

(more photos to come as my journey unfolds....)

*thanks Dave McGimpsey for the photo & legendary story of the Hot Brown Sandwich