It was a hectic weekend, to be sure.  Once all the dust settles, I think good times were had all around.  I heard that the Rosanne Cash show @ Levitt Shell pulled a record-breaking turnout.  I also received more than one invite to the new High Cotton Brewing Taproom that opened Saturday.  Apparently the Dead Soldiers capped off the festivities.  I was sorry to miss it, but I know the party must go on.

Where was I you say?  I had a great time on Saturday night catching up with friends and relaxing by the pool.  It’s exactly what I needed.  I love having friends that accept my quirks and periodic lapses into shallow cattiness.  It happens to the best of us.  Knowing when to let it all out is the challenging part.  My sometimes-awesome personality can induce sincere laughter from time-to-time.  That is good for all of us.

So, looking forward to the week ahead – I scoured a few message boards and found a pretty good mix of new things to anticipate.  What’re ya in the mood for?

The Cove is hosting D.T. Buffkin & the Bad Breath tomorrow evening around 9PM-ish.  This folksy group from San Antonio is on tour promoting their first album “Tattooed Rose”.  It’s a comfortable sound for a comfortable night indoors.  Get there before 8PM to take advantage of The Cove happy hour specials.

Also in the Broad Avenue Arts District, a few doors down from the pirate bar, is a center for adult art projects called Five in One Social Club.  This Monday, from 6PM-10PM, they are conducting one of their most requested classes – Old Skool Screenprinting.  For around $14 you can learn to screen print your favorite black & white image onto a T-shirt, without the help of fancy equipment.  If you want to check this out be sure to glance at their calendar for the other things you can learn there.  A basic 5 in 1 membership is only $45.  That will give you access to 5 visits of your choice within 6 months.  That sounds like a pretty great deal for some G-rated fun this summer!

Another idea for fun is the early show at the Hi Tone tomorrow night.  This all ages show boasts a lineup of four bands that will go on starting around 7PM.  The event is part of a summer tour for Hollow Earth, from Detroit, and Axis, from FL, Also featured are local groups Xebrula and 96bulls.  Branded as hardcore, let’s show these visitors that Memphis knows how to rock and roll it out!

Tuesday night continues the list of musical offerings for your pleasure.  Jeff Ruby, from Nashville, stops by Java Cabana for a free show at 7:30PM.  This singer/songwriter is touring his acoustic rock all over the region and with three albums under his belt, this is sure to be a good show.  He’s even bringing Kevin Embleton down from Canton, OH to open for him.

Over at the P & H is a show that is billed simply as “Simon”.  I did some brief research on this promo, including Google searches for the three names listed, Lee Johnsey, Effingham (a city?), and Dan Garber.  I did not find anything even halfway relevant.  So either I’m a total dolt or this show is shrouded in mystery.  Lee will open around 6PM and then Simon starts around 8PM.  I’ll be there – my curiosity is piqued.

That’s all I see for Tuesday night.  The Lamplighter will have chess boards and good company available, as usual.  Also, The Cove runs a trivia night around 9PM on Tuesdays.  So there’s no need to stay in, unless you just really want to.

Wednesday, live shows dwindle down to almost nothing.  This would be a great day to go check out Unchained II, from 1PM-3PM at the Rozelle Warehouse. Another interesting exhibit that debuted earlier this month is Akin at Crosstown Arts, a sister-show to Marisol (at the Brooks), it’s open Tuesday-Saturday from 10AM-6PM.  If you are based farther east, there’s the Allison Mayhan Art Exhibit at Memphis Botanical Gardens.  Also in that area is the Dixon Gallery & Gardens.  I haven’t been there in years, so if you go check out what they have going on, send me some pictures!

If that’s still not enough art, the Brooks Museum does pay-what-you-can on Wednesdays, giving you a chance to look around for less moolah.  They have some great exhibits running right now, including Marisol: Sculpture and Works on Paper, which opened this past weekend.  Viewing that exhibit will be the perfect precursor to the spinoff exhibition on South Main, Inspired by Marisol: A Sculptural Response, a student art walk that concludes this Saturday, June 21st.

So that gives you a few things to choose from to get your week started on the right foot.  We all partied hard last weekend.  Now continue to go out and find a good time.  Being social and fun-loving is just like everything else – practice makes perfect!  See you around town.