Kindling

A list of things that-

1. arouse or inspire (an emotion or feeling).
2. (of an emotion) be aroused.
3. become impassioned or excited.

A list of things that keep me alive, keep my fire going and give me a direction in life.

• Own a motorcycle
• Drive a motorcycle
• Own the canon of Sherlock Holmes in pre 1940s prints
• Only own cups/plates/bowls with name brand logos on them
• Or have a kitchen that's entirely pottery
• Visit Germany while I can still speak German
• Go scuba diving
• Go skydiving
• Live in Canada
• Take the IELTS language exam 
• Get CPA Certification
• Get into a MBA program
• Find the perfect cocoon design tattoo
• Find the perfect Russian Nesting Dolls tattoo
• Find the perfect Simba & Baloo tattoos
• Be a movie extra
• Sleigh ride
• Ride in a hot air balloon 
• Canoe down Ghost River
• Bike around a city in a moving bar
• Camp in the bottom of the Grand Canyon

Memphis Must Know

Historic Memphis Restaurants

http://historic-memphis.com/memphis-historic/restaurants/restaurants.html

Things Memphians Have To Explain To Out-Of-Towners

http://www.thrillist.com/entertainment/memphis/things-you-have-to-explain-to-out-of-towners-about-memphis

How the NY Times thinks you should spend 36 hours in Memphis

http://www.ilovememphisblog.com/2015/01/36-hours-memphis-video-today-nytimes-com/

Music in the Summer

• Levitt Shell Concert Series in Overton Park
• Thursday, Friday, Saturday Sunday 7:30pm to 9pmish
• June to July and Sept to October
• Free (BYOB!)
• Food Trucks
• http://www.levittshell.org/2016/
• Blues Tuesday at Overton Square
• Tuesdays in June to September 7:30pm to 9:30pm
• Free
• http://www.memphisbluessociety.com/content.aspx?page_id=0&club_id=539640
• https://www.facebook.com/OvertonSquare/events
• Peabody Rooftop Party in Downtown
• every Thursday night, April to August, 6pm – 10pm
• admission is $10 – $15 and the first 200 ladies get in free
• themed food is first come, first serve with admission
• http://www.peabodymemphis.com/rooftop-en.html
• Memphis in May Beale St Music Festival

Memphis was the 2nd most dangerous city in America in 2015.

Memphis's crime rate has been decreasing since 2006, but it's still very high.  Be very cautious of using the public buses.  .

Crime rate is the highest downtown and south Memphis.  (Graceland, Airport, and the Greyhound Bus Station are located in South Memphis.)  I would use the direct shuttle from Sun Studios to get to and from Graceland or a cab/uber/lyft.  I would use a cab/uber/lyft to go to and from the airport and greyhound.  The Megabus station is located downtown.

Waves by Location

Waves by Location

Be sure to try Memphis' Famous BBQ. My favorites are Central BBQ and One and Only BBQ.  Tips: Traditional dessert at a BBQ place is banana pudding.  Most BBQ joints serve the Memphis locally brewed beer known as Ghost River.  Most BBQ joints also make some killer southern sweet tea.

Downtown area:
Food: Central BBQ (Pulled Pork BBQ Nachos), Rendezvous BBQ (Ribs are the only good menu item, very touristy and pricey), Huey’s Burgers (Shoot a toothpick into the ceiling!), Earnestine & Hazel’s Bar & Grill (After drinking, stop by this used to be brothel and order the cheap Soul Burger and listen to the Juke Box and go to the super cool second floor), Bluff City Coffee, Dyer's Burgers on Beale, Maciel's Tortas and Tacos on main street
Music: BB King's, Beale Street
Tourism: Gibson Guitar Factory, Peabody Hotel (See the ducks march from/to the rooftop at 11am and 5pm OR go to a rooftop party), National Civil Rights Museum, Withers Collection Museum & Gallery, A. Schwab’s, Sun Studio Shuttle (goes from downtown to Graceland and Sun Studios)

Misc: Mud Island (has a park, free museum and the best sunset views), seasonal Downtown Farmer's Market on Saturdays, Bass Pro Shop in the Pyramid

Downtown has a cool area called the South Main Arts District. https://www.gosouthmain.com/#home/intro

Overton Square (Midtown) area:
Food: BBQ Shop (BBQ Spaghetti or Ribs), Huey’s Burgers (Shoot a toothpick into the ceiling!), LBOE, Second Line, Boscos Squared (microbrewery & american restaurant), Wiseacre Brewing Co. (a bit of a walk from Overton Square, microbrewery with awesome patio)
Music: Lafayette's Room, Zebra Lounge, Levitt Shell
Misc: Sweet Noshings fudge, Overton Park

Cooper Young (Midtown) area:
Food: Central BBQ (Pulled Pork BBQ Nachos), Hammer & Ale (Specializes in local beer), Otherlands Coffee Shop, Soul Fish (Southern), Memphis Made (microbrewery, no food unless you see a food truck)
Music: Young Ave Deli, DKDC
Misc: Pilgrim Hostel, House of Mews, Burke's Books, Goner Records

If you have a car:
Food: Jerry’s Sno Cones, La Michoacana Ice Cream, Gibson's Donuts, Chinese Sub Shop, One and Only BBQ (ribs or BBQ quesadilla)
Music: Hi Tone
Tourism: Stax, Sun Studios, Graceland
Misc: Shelby Farms (4,500 acre urban park with buffalo), Crystal Shrine Grotto (in a graveyard)

If you can't find a place try booking an AirBnB: www.airbnb.com/c/rsill3?s=8 
or booking at the Pilgrim Hostel: https://pilgrimhouse.firstcongo.com/

New Tips

Tips for Couchsurfing Success (As written on a blog by one of my previous surfers)

1. Remember to fill out all fields on your profile in a comprehensive manner, preferably in English, and attach some photos of you and your "sofa".

2. Collect feedback !!! Without the positive feedback people rarely trust you, so you have to make the first move, you can not ask immediately to be housed, 99% will say no. To start accumulating feedback you have three options: A. Host people in your city B. Offer to be a "guide" of your city or enjoy a meal with surfers visiting your city C. To participate in some couchsurfing events.

3. Remember that couchsurfing is not a site to scrounge to stay for free, but the first goal is to share a part of their life with another person from which you want to enrich culturally. Remember to check out the profiles of the host and to respond in a sincere and comprehensive manner. The host must understand that you read their whole profile.

4. Hosts are not hotels, so follow the rules where you go and express with your friendliness. Accept local customs and do be tolerant, patient and diplomatic.

5. Give them a part of your life, of your city, a dish, a special gift with which they will remember you, an experience that they would never have done. Finally write a good feedback, also personalized and distinctive, no simple and standardized, every experience is different then any feedback must also be different.

If you can't find a host try booking an AirBnB: www.airbnb.com/c/rsill3?s=8 
or booking at the Pilgrim Hostel: https://pilgrimhouse.firstcongo.com/