Category Archives: Black Lodge

Black Lodge Revisited

Black Lodge, Book, Daily Life, First Impressions, mur, Quick Thoughts, Reasons for Things

It’s not the same. Not at all. There’s a kitchen and there’s a couch but nothing else is even similar. The speakeasy-style setup hearkens back to a world where The Man cares what those kids are up to. Shotguns are good protection in almost any context, especially tower defense.  Sandwiched amid dive bars underneath the I-5 overpass, I can’t think of a more appropriate reincarnation of the Black Lodge I once loved.  The stage we all wanted in that little house exists in punk rock glory on Eastlake Ave. Continue reading Black Lodge Revisited →

831

Art, Black Lodge, First Impressions, Large Events, mur, Reasons for Things, Stories

Cooper-Young is an epicly quaint place where post-retirement hippies & post-graduate hipsters form a swirling nexus of open minds, mostly-liberal principles and Association Fees.  Further north, the debauchery of Overton Square is lauded by every college student I’ve ever met.  This length of Cooper Street is than the gulf between freshman and senior year.    With The Roo supplementing our crumbling infrastructure, it’s the best place in Memphis to randomly find a good time.  Continue reading 831 →

June 24

Art, Black Lodge, First Impressions, Future Plans, June 2015, Large Events, Quick Thoughts, Reasons for Things, Stories

Watching Seinfeld. Pretty much for the first time. I know I was tuned in to the program during a formative part of my youth.  That was at least 3 lifetimes ago though.  Continue reading June 24 →

R.I.P. Black Lodge Video 1.0

Black Lodge, Ernestine & Hazel's, Future Plans, Quick Thoughts, Reasons for Things

I attended a glorious celebration last night.  It was disguised as a Halloween party, but I know in my heart it was a wake for Black Lodge Video.  After the Incredible Hook party tonight, the Black Lodge that Memphis has known for over 13 years will metamorphose into something new.  Development plans are finalized and Lodge co-founder Matt Martin has announced the impending release of Black Lodge 2.0.  But before that can happen, we must say goodbye to an icon of Memphis past. Continue reading R.I.P. Black Lodge Video 1.0 →

Let’s Go with Plan B

Art, Black Lodge, First Impressions, P & H Cafe, Republic Coffee, The Brass Door

The Black Lodge was on fire last weekend.  Not literally, though firemen were discussed at one point.  There was a massive dance party on Saturday night.  Guerilla Stone was cooking, young folks were loitering.  I have it on good authority that some of the people inside were dancing too!  I was only able to manage a drive-by because Saturday was full of events city-wide.  I spent the previous night at Black Lodge enjoying a different show, but I’ll get to that in a minute. Continue reading Let’s Go with Plan B →

Shameless Pimpin’

Amurica, Black Lodge, Crosstown, First Impressions

Today felt like August.  Maybe it’s because the hot, oppressive humidity came out in full force this afternoon.  It could also be the electric buzz of energy permeating downtown after the annual tribute to Elvis.  I’m pretty sure it’s the heat lighting flashing in the northern sky tonight.  Either way, I’m ready for September.  *sigh*  As Mr. Frost says, there are certainly miles to go before I sleep. Continue reading Shameless Pimpin’ →

August Already?

Amurica, Art, Black Lodge, Buccaneer, Coffee, Dives, Future Plans, Hi Tone, Java Cabana, Minglewood, Overton Square, P & H Cafe, Venues

In the month of July I sort of dropped the ball on events and happenings around Memphis.  Let’s face it, the month was jam-packed full of fun things to do.  If you were waiting for me to tell you about them…  well then this blog must be way more popular than I thought.

Anyway, I had a great time enjoying myself and writing up some of the highlights. I’m going to give you some of the events for August so you can mark your calendars and plan ahead, before The Christmas in September hits.  Also at the end of this post I will announce something completely new and innovative…

Continue reading August Already? →

Nots/Fire Retarded/Sheiks @ Black Lodge 7/29/14

Black Lodge, First Impressions

Last night at Black Lodge – chaos reigned.  Okay, not really.  But the party was epic for a Tuesday night.  Most of my favorite Memphians converged on the video shop for a collection of bands that was stellar from start to finish.  It was my first proper experience with a show at Black Lodge and I was piqued for excitement.  The rumor of the Lodge transforming to a full-on venue is ever-so-promising.  The potential for a truly unique party environment lies within those red curtains and I believe the people who attend the shows now will help shape what happens at 831 Cooper in the future.

Continue reading Nots/Fire Retarded/Sheiks @ Black Lodge 7/29/14 →

Let’s Go to the Movies

Black Lodge, Orpheum

My adventure from last night is far too sordid to discuss here.  So, I want to bring up the two best sources of movie-watching in Memphis: Black Lodge Video and the Orpheum Summer Movie Series.  For completely different reasons, each of these venues represent a mandatory Memphis experience.

When I was in high school, the AFI released an official list of the 100 greatest movies of the 20th century.  Qualifying their choices with “the past 100 years” seemed a bit banal considering the American movie industry didn’t get churning until the 40s, but I suppose that’s just semantics.  Anyway, back then I lived out on the border of Germantown – which is what people referred to Easternmost Memphis as before Cordova and Bartlett started really growing.  There’s a little Malco theater out there called the Ridgeway Four.

Continue reading Let’s Go to the Movies →