Amurica

Jamie Harmon brought his Amurica photo booth to last Saturday's Rock-n-Romp and it was loads of fun. It's made from a tear drop trailer. Inside it's decorated with pictures and oddities and there's a nice supply of hats and glasses and other props to spice up your photo. (You can read all about how awesome Jamie is and how he created Amurica here.)

Here are a few shots that we took...

Team Oster:

Colleen, Warren, and me:

The amazing and dedicated Rock-n-Romp board:

A million thanks to Jamie for making the show extra fun.

I like to ride my bicycle

Here's a full minute of Team Oster bikey goodness taken from our PSA shoot with Live from Memphis.

(Food) Truckin'

When Rock-n-Romp was over and we started checking Facebook it became clear that we had seriously missed out on some yummy food truck action. Although all four of the trucks competing in Food Network's Great Food Truck Race were downtown within a few blocks of each other, we were just too tired to go downtown. Instead, we opted to gorge on sushi at Sekisui, get a good night's sleep, and look for the trucks in the morning.

When we woke up Sunday morning it was rainy and nasty. That didn't stop us from heading to Overton Square for lunch when we heard that Hodge Podge and Korilla were set up. The monkeys and I watched the first season of the Great Food Truck Race so they were 100% on board with an afternoon of chasing down food trucks. They also thought that they might get on TV, which always thrills them.



(Satchel was purposely closing his eyes!)

After seeing pictures of shrimp tacos on Saturday, I was more than a little disappointed to see a breakfasty menu.



We decided to split a grilled cheese and fries and then head out in search of the other trucks. We placed our order fairly quickly, but the wait was a bit crazy. The monkeys were having a REALLY hard time quietly standing in line.

I left the boys with Warren and walked over to Korilla to get a jump on what I thought might be another long wait. Much to my delight, it was super quick and I had some kimchi tacos and a kimchi quesadilla in no time.



I thought there was chicken with the kimchi, but it ended up being a tofu scramble.



Food in hand, I headed back over to where the boys were huddled under a tarp waiting for the grilled cheese. By now, Warren was pretty much over the whole food truck experience. As we tried to eat the kimchi tacos they basically fell apart. It was sad. As we commiserated with our fellow food truck enthusiasts we learned that sometime on Saturday night the trucks had been mandated to serve no meat. D'oh!

When it finally arrived, the grilled cheese with fried egg was actually pretty good, but near impossible to eat with a plastic fork.



Knowing we wouldn't get any ceviche at the Lime Truck or one of the amazing grilled cheese & pork sandwiches at Roxy, we decided we'd had enough. We had some YoLo for dessert and then went home.

However, by 7pm it was sunny and Roxy was in Cooper Young and the Lime Truck was at the Shell. Satchel and I decided to check them out after all. Roxy was first.



We were a little short on cash after the morning rounds--food truck fare is not cheap! At least not when competing on national TV!--so we had to make the difficult decision between the three options.



I knew carmelized onions would be a hard sell for Satchel so we went with the spinach and leek sandwich and an order of spicy fries. (They were out of their potato salad so we ended up with an extra helping of fries.) The "spicy" part of the fries was sriracha. Nothing fancy but very yummy. And that sandwich? YUM. Leeks may be Satchel's new favorite food. The food came out super fast, which was awesome.



We got in the car with our treats and headed to the Shell where we easily spotted the Lime Truck. Their menu sounded the best and I wanted to try everything but we were down to $9.



We decided on the spinach artichoke dip and strawberry limeade. Satchel LOVES artichokes.



The artichokes were on top of homemade chips. Satchel said they smelled like they were cooked in peanut butter oil.



After all of our running around, I was thrilled to have a cool drink. They had a cooler set up where you could get free refills, which I gladly would have taken advantage of, but we had to head home.



I'm so happy that the food trucks came to Memphis. I hope that they inspired some local restaurants and I can't wait to watch the show to see which of our beloved local chefs and foodies make cameos.

Rock-n-Romp

On Saturday we had a Rock-n-Romp at one of my alma maters, Rhodes College. Although the forecast at 7am was bleak, it was super sunny and lovely by 3pm when we started the show. We had a great crowd and I saw a lot of new faces and old faces, including many of my fellow Rhodents.

We had about 800 people come through and at one point it got so busy we even put Warren to work!



By 4:30 things settled down enough for Warren and I both to take a break and enjoy the music. We happened to see Jiro walking in one direction just as Chip was walking in the other and we somehow managed to get a photo together.



The monkeys have been eluding the RnR photogs for a while now. Allen said he stalked the monkeys for awhile in order to snap this picture of Satchel in his natural habitat.



The numerous trees were definitely a major plus of the venue--lots of shade for parents and little ones, and lots of climbing action for big kids. Later I managed to catch both Satchel and Chip in the same place and got yet another photo.



Doesn't he look thrilled? All afternoon I tried to get him to take off his long sleeved hoodie. He kept telling me that he wasn't hot and that the sweat on his head was in no way related to the amount of clothes he was wearing. I'm hoping to have him in short sleeves by June. Then maybe shorts by July!

The funnest photo action happened in Jamie Harmon's Amurica photobooth. Once we get the digital copies, that will be a whole 'nother post.



When I wasn't looking for photo ops, I was enjoying the music and talking to friends. It was only when the show was over and I was looking at Chip's pics did it hit me that there's a whole new crew of RnR kids--most of whom weren't even born when we started 5 years ago! That is wild.

I love this little guy--and esp his parents for not letting nap time get in the way of their good time!



The music was really lovely, and reportedly it could be heard for miles around! Lila, who played first, brought along some of her students which was really cool.




The Candy Company donned some awesome 'staches and threw candy to the crowds.




And the City Champs let our little rompers do some rockin' on stage.




But by far the super cool award goes to the Rhodes security guards who gave people rides to their cars and the bathrooms on their speedy golf carts!



It was a great afternoon and we all left happy and exhausted.

Thanks to Chip & Allen for most of the pics above!

TGIF

Warren has been archaeologying outside of Nashville all week, so the monkeys and I have been fending for ourselves. My column yesterday broached our struggles with phone etiquette. While Warren has been away, we've been practicing the much trickier FaceTime etiquette. When the monkeys see a video camera they immediately think that they should perform rather than say, sit still and speak clearly.

We've had a pretty good week though, thanks to a little help from my mom and the local restaurants that have opened their doors to us! The monkeys gave me a giggle this morning when it was time for school. Satchel often attempts to sit in the front seat, but this is the first time Jiro has decided he wanted to drive.



But seriously--one day these kids are going to be driving!

I drove them to school, then rode my bike to work for Bike to Work Day. (So Memphis!) I inadvertently met up with three St. Jude employees in Overton Park and was able to ride most of the way downtown with them. I have to say that shadowing experienced riders was very eye-opening. I really have been riding like a sissy.

One of the highlights of riding through downtown was getting to see the filming of Food Network's Great Food Truck Race in Court Square.



Unfortunately today was a challenge day, so they were not serving the public. They should all be out and about this weekend, so hopefully Facebook and Twitter will be alive with info as to their whereabouts. HodgePodge has been especially networky and has talked to every food blogger in town it seems, so their whereabouts should be well known. They have partnered with the Lime Truck and last I heard they were going to be downtown near the Majestic Saturday and maybe by the midtown YoLo on Sunday. I really want to try Korilla's Korean BBQ, so hopefully I'll get some info on them soon.



At the Bike to Work Expo in front of City Hall, the highlight was Live from Memphis' make your own smoothie bar. The blender was attached to a bike and you had to pedal to blend up your smoothie. I couldn't resist.



Yes, it appears that Larry Smith and Sarah Fleming are spiking my smoothie behind my back!

I was also glad to run into Sam Dunn again, of Drag'n Frozen Treats fame. Today he had orange sorbetto in addition to the lemon. It was the perfect treat after hanging out in the heat for three hours.



Lastly, I leave you with a picture of me and my bike. It was my birthday present to myself, and I love it. There will be a quick 1 minute movie about me & my bike at tonight's Bikesploitation Film Fest at the Warehouse. Hope to see you there!

Family Learn to Skate Day

In March, Jiro outed himself as a natural skateboarder over at Banbury Woods. When Warren told him that there was a Family Learn to Skate Day at Greenlaw Community Center, he said he wanted to go. Warren, who was thrilled by Jiro's newfound desire to skateboard, cancelled his usual Kendo practice so that he could take him to the clinic this morning. (I had to do an interview and Satchel doesn't want to do anything these days.)

Just before it was time to go, Jiro got cold feet. "I'm shy," he said.

What.

Ever.

With some coaxing and prodding (and maybe some bribery) I managed to convince him to give it a try. However, soon Warren called from the Community Center complaining that Jiro wouldn't get out of the car. "He's stubborn," I said. "Do your best."

Eventually Warren was able to determine that Jiro was afraid that he'd been entered into a contest, much like the one we witnessed in January. Once he could see that wasn't the case, he perked up and put on his pads.



They started out on the flat surface, and Warren says he did great. After an hour or so, he even wanted to try the half-pipe inside!



Now of course there is talk of getting him a properly sized board and visiting the community center more often.

Since the event was such a success and everyone is gearing up for the new Tobey skatepark, they are planning a few more family skate sessions. They may even add a few ramps.

If you want to get your kids ready for, or at least excited about the new skatepark, bring them to the skate demo on June 2nd at the Shell hosted by Give365.

Give365 awarded Mark Jannetta, who works at Memphis Athletic Ministries at Greenlaw, a grant that has allowed him to build some ramps for his Sidewalk Skate Ministry program. The ramps will be unveiled for the first time at the Shell.

I Love Memphis Mural & General Cooper Young Awesomeness

Last night, Warren, the monkeys, a friend of the monkeys and I went to the launch party for the new I Love Memphis mural in Cooper Young. It's adjacent to the trestle art, just behind Urban Outfitters. A vacant lot that I never noticed or at least didn't pay much attention to before, is now a vibrant work of art.



It was inspired by the sign that Kerry Crawford-Trisler carried around in her purse when she was getting the I Love Memphis blog going a couple of years ago. Now anyone can have their picture made with it whenever they want. And believe me, people will want to because there's more to love about Memphis every day.



The one and only MaryCash, pictured here in my favorite green skirt, is the one who got the ball rolling on the mural, which is the first of ten! (There's a contest to be one of the designers, so click here if you think you could design one).

The launch party was super fun thanks to music from the Wuv Birds, dancing from New Ballet Ensemble, free food and beer, and the opportunity to make a sign saying why you love Memphis to stick on the wall. (See the reasons here.)

After the launch party, we headed a few blocks away to the house of one of Warren's co-workers, who was having a graduation party for some of the young archaeologists on staff. She had the stereotypical artsy Cooper-Young abode, with the most perfect backyard ever.



The boys jumped on the trampoline until they couldn't jump anymore. Then they swung from the tree swing until they could almost touch the sky.



Then we had a feast to end all feasts under the stars.



Just another lovely day in this beautiful city of ours!

This is Memphis

There's so much awesomeness happening in Memphis, it's nearly impossible to keep up. In addition to the amazing public art popping up everywhere, creative Memphians are launching really cool projects.

Of note is local photographer Michael Cardwell. He's just started This is Memphis, a photography project which aims to capture a cross section of the city--specifically the faces that make up our city, and the people who work to make this a better place. I was lucky enough to have my picture taken by him last week.



It's a banana. Get it?

Michael has a temporary studio set up in the Emerge Memphis building downtown. If you want to be included, contact him through the website.



Also of note is the Downtown Alive series which brings all sorts of fun to Court Square during lunchtime. Today Live from Memphis hosted an Ink Off.



These two masked artists turned a blank sheet of paper into an awesome work of art in about an hour. The idea was for them to compete, but I think that in the end the two sides kind of game together and formed one spectacular piece.

Best of all, while hanging out and watching the ink fly, I finally got to meet Sam Dunn, creator of our first bicycle food cart! (He made it himself.)



Drag'n Frozen Treats specializes in Lemon and Orange sorbetto. Today Sam only had lemon, but that was totally fine with me. They cost $4 a pop and are YUM. Sam doesn't have a smart phone to tweet his whereabouts but he says he'll be downtown during lunch most days.



I just love Memphis.

Bicyclin'

For my birthday, I bought myself a fancy new bike. I've been riding it to work once a week, which was a little jarring until I found a low traffic route. I hope to keep it up throughout the blistering summer. I also hope to make it from my house all the way to Germantown (on the Shelby Farms Greenline & Humphreys extension with a skip over to the Germantown Greenline) before too long.

Family rides are still the best. Once Jiro gets his confidence, the sky is the limit for us.

The Health Department recently put together a PSA about biking in honor of the upcoming Bike to Work Day (May 20th) and me and the fam were lucky enough to be a part of it. Check us out:

Sunday Wrap Up

Mother's Day got off to a great start. No one tried to talk to me before 8:15am, so I got to sleep in. I then proceeded to the Shelby Farms Greenline for a skate with my friend, Natalie. When I got home, we loaded up the dogs and the neighbor and headed over to Overton Park for a stroll through my favorite woods. I forced the kids to take a picture with me. One of them cooperated. (Yes, Satchel is wearing jeans and a long sleeved hoody in 80 degree weather. In his defense, he really didn't want another case of poison ivy on top of his not-yet-healed poison ivy from last week.)



When we got back from the park, we headed east to see my sister's new house and eat fried chicken with most of the extended family, including my super awesome mom. That was pretty much the end of the Mother's Day activities. From there we transitioned into Graduation Day activities--ironing, getting dressed up, and driving down to the FedEx Forum.

We're all super proud of Mr. Oster!! He received his Master's in Teaching from the School of Education, which is technically called Instruction and Curriculum Leadership.



We had an action-packed weekend to say the least. Monday morning is going to be a real drag!

Super Playdate

I've been trying to get the monkeys together with their buddy Kai for a few weeks, and I finally succeeded today once my shopping and errands were done. He came over to hang out and play video games until Warren got home from his martial arting then we hit the town.

Ashley and I ran on the VECA Greenline Thursday so we could see the new "Big Kid" sculptures and I've been dying to take the kids. We parked a few blocks away so we could explore the Greenline a bit, then took our time getting to know each kid. They are so whimsical and add warmth and extra playfulness to the Greenline. It's just extra inviting now.



The boys got a little carried away once I pointed out that you could see one of the sculptures butt cracks. I should have known better than to open the floodgates of little boy humor!!



I hope that these Big Kids will hold up with all of the love that they are surely getting from every passerby.



Since it had turned into such a lovely afternoon, I finally was able to make good on my promise to take Jiro to Jerry's Sno Cones. He's been asking for weeks! We arrived just minutes before a huge motorcycle gang and two church buses. I'm not kidding!



I love that they manage to get huge crowds but don't offer a single place to sit down. There was no way I was letting the boys in my car with sno cones, so we just tail gated. It only took about two minutes for Jiro to inadvertently poke a hole in the bottom of his cup. He didn't seem to mind slurping it from the bottom.



Once everyone was finished and had their hands wiped off, we piled in the car and headed to the Woodland Discovery Playground. Warren and Kai had never been, so they were especially excited.

It was pretty funny when the first thing we saw when we arrived was a water ice truck! It was exciting to see a new food truck around town, and the offerings include ice cream and gelato it looks like.



(You would think that the fact that we had just had a sno cones minutes before would make the kids not ask for a water ice, but you'd be wrong!)

The boys spent about an hour on the ropes before deciding to wait in line for the swings.



Then for the first time, they really seemed to get into the slides. I love this picture of Jiro giving Satchel a noogy on the way down. It pretty much captures his personality perfectly.



By 6:45 the playground was clearing out for closing time and we had to go in search of food. More on that later!