More than 1,000 musicians from the world over converged on New Orleans and did their best to convince promoters, festival organizers, music critics and disc jockeys that they are the next Big Thing.
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Snuggling Baby Jaguars
In the fall of 2019 baby jaguars, Lulu and Bella, were born to the Memphis Zoo. They were recently put on exhibit. The cubs, both girls, were born to Diego and Philomena, both who were bright to the zoo with hope that they would breed. You can see a video of other animals from the zoo, including Winnie the baby hippo and Bogie the baby giraffe on my blog. Follow my blog at www.karenpulferfocht..com
You can also find this photo in this months Memphis Magazine (Jan. 2020)
MY GIFTS HIGHLIGHTED IN MEMPHIS MAGAZINE
Special thanks to Memphis Magazine for including my art in their 2019 gift guide!
My 8 x 8 “Scenes of Memphis” canvases are featured in their Holiday Gift Guide this season. These can now be purchased at A. Schwab’s on Beale Street in downtown Memphis or from my website (www.karenpulferfocht.com).
These are perfect for grouping.
Schwab’s is a really fun place to visit, shop, and have an ice cream drink at their soda fountain. A. Schwab is the oldest surviving business on Beale Street. The store also has a few of my cards and a large selection of my Blues Coasters, always popular Memphis gifts.
CENTRAL STATION HOTEL OPENS!
Memphis developer Henry Turley and Kemmons Wilson Companies have developed a 105 year old property in the South Main neighborhood of Memphis. Together they renovated and reopened The Central Station, part of Curio Collection by Hilton, this week.
Turley, who is known for developing “livable neighborhoods” said he wanted people who travel into Memphis by train to have a nice place to stay.
The hotel, which will showcase Memphis music, has a Listening Lounge/Bar— Eight and Sand, which contains an expansive collection of curated vinyl records spun by a local DJ.
The location is in the artsy South Main neighborhood of Memphis which hosts a street festival the last Friday of every month called Trolley Night.
The Arcade Restaurant and Earnestine and Hazels, a famous dive bar, and many other bars and eateries are within walking distance of the hotel. Saturday mornings there is a Farmers Market next door spring to fall.
Within a mile guests can visit the National Civil Rights Museum, Beale Street, a movie theater, The Orpheum Theater, Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken, The Blues Hall of Fame, Old Dominick Distillery and many other Memphis attractions.
http://www.karenpulferfocht.com/blog/central-station-memphis
Two Baby Jaguars Born to Memphis Zoo
Two female jaguar cubs behaved perfectly as the Memphis Zoo veterinarian Dr. Felicia Knightly gave them an exam on Thursday October 10th, 2019. The parents are Philomena and Diego who were brought to the zoo with hope that they would breed. The 36-day-old sisters are eating well, shown by their perfectly little chubby bellies. They are about the size of full-grown housecats.
You can see the full story in the Daily Memphian.
https://dailymemphian.com/section/metro/article/8084/memphis-zoo-unveils-cat-countrys-newest-resid
Cybill Shepherd Honored in Memphis
Thursday, Sept. 5, 2019- Memphis-born Glamour cover girl Cybill Shepherd was honored in her hometown of Memphis, Tennessee. Still a beauty at age 69, Shepherd, has never forgotten her roots. She said she's always wanted to join Elvis Presley, Danny Thomas and the other influential Memphis figures who are immortalized on the sidewalk outside The Peabody hotel on the Duck Walk Hall of Fame. The event was timed to coincide with The Peabody's celebration of its 150th anniversary. The hotel was recently named Best Historic Hotel.
Shepherd, who was wearing rose colored glasses, now lives in Beverly Hills. She said she’d like to be named the “Queen of Memphis.” She spoke about singing in the choir as a child and reflected her days at East High School, remembering the day MLK was shot at the Lorraine Motel in downtown Memphis. She said her opera lessons here taught her to project her voice. She mused over a several memories from her childhood here and her movie career. She also shared that she’d recently became a grandmother.
She became teary eyed as she accepted her honor and kissed Peabody owner Jack Belz, 91, while thanking him. She mingled in the lobby, graciously posing for pictures, dancing to the music while visiting with friends and fans after the ceremony.
Jack Belz, CEO of Belz Enterprises, talked about the plush life for the ducks in their penthouse at the top of the hotel. Belz has been instrumental the resurgence of downtown Memphis. He is best known for bringing back The Peabody, which served as the impetus for the Downtown renaissance which followed. His wife of 71 years missed the celebration and was home after taking a fall.
Guests were served tasty hors d'oeuvres, champaign and pieces of a 500 lb. cake, designed to looked like the Peabody Hotel. The Memphis Symphony played dance music on the balcony overlooking the lobby. The ducked marched onward to their penthouse suite, as always, as the crowd looked on.
ELVIS WEEK, Graceland, Memphis, Tennessee 2019
Thousands of fans gather for the Candlelight Vigil in remembrance of the death of ELVIS PRESLEY at Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee. Presley passed away on August 16, 1977, at the age of 42. In the years since his death, fans from around the world gather each year at Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee in the days surrounding the anniversary of his death for the annual event known as Elvis Week. (Photos by Karen Pulfer Focht ©)
FOR SOME OF THE PREVIOUS COVERAGE OF THE KING BY MEMPHIS PHOTOJOURNALIST KAREN PULFER FOCHT SEE LINKS BELOW-
http://www.karenpulferfocht.com/blog/elvisweek2018
http://www.karenpulferfocht.com/blog/tag/Pricilla+Presley
http://www.karenpulferfocht.com/blog/2015/1/10/elvis-turns-80
https://www.todayonline.com/entertainment/music/presleys-1st-record-my-happiness-auctions-s401000
https://en.tempo.co/photo/54473/elvis-fans-mark-40th-anniversary-of-his-death#foto-6