Beer aroma and rocking music pour into the streets as eager consumers enter with hungry appetites through wooden double-doors. For more than 35 years, Huey’s has been serving people loud music, cold drinks, and signature meals. Here, dine-in visitors are encouraged to create the distinctive writing on the walls with markers and the toothpick-pierced-ceiling with toothpicks shot through straws.
Huey’s started in 1970 in Memphis’ midtown by a man named Thomas Boggs. Since then, seven locations have stretched throughout Memphis and its suburbs. As midtown being the most popular one, people from near and far flock to the locally owned restaurant to enjoy burgers, ice-cold beers, and blues.
“Huey’s is the best place to get a burger. They have a great selection of drinks to wash it down with,” said Tommy Carpenter, 23, a business major at Southwest Tennessee Community College. “It’s a place to get away to and have a good time with family and friends.”
Other than being known for their award winning burgers and fries, Huey’s is legendary for signing up bands to play on weekends which allow guests to enjoy food and drinks in front of live entertainment.
Whether celebrating holidays, sporting events, or a regular day out of the week, Huey’s brings the same fun and care-free atmosphere it always has with a bit of history. Other than the writing on the walls, it’s decorated with memorabilia of Memphis schools and icons. Some think of it as stepping into a brief story of Memphis’ history.
“My high school colors and letters are right there,” said Patrick Spicer, 23, a business major at Southwest Tennessee Community College, as he points to a wall bearing Bartlett High School letters in red and blue. “I always enjoy coming here because I feel a part of the Huey’s family. I’m not the only one either with their high school letters on the wall. Others must feel the same.”
With almost every Memphian knowing what Huey’s is and about, some disagree as it being the hot spot for family and friends to have a good experience.
For those unfortunate few, it doesn’t seem to be the food that bothers them. It is the music Huey’s is known for blaring. It becomes loud at times where conversations are muffled at neighboring tables, to extremely loud where nothing but guitar solos can be heard.
“The music is too loud in here. I can barely hear what the waiter is asking me and what my wife wants from me,” said Rob Williams, 23, a sports management major at The University of Memphis. “I try to stay away, but my wife enjoys the burgers.”
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Turning green for the spring
Kenneth Mabry is a radio personality for “In The Garden” at 6 a.m. every Saturday morning for WREC AM 600. With more than 25 years of experience at Dan West Garden Center, he is an overall expert in lawn and gardening. He answers people’s questions about problems they encounter in the yard and provides tips of how to get a head start on preventing problems. Spring is the next season approaching and many will be preparing to garden.
Q. When is it an important time to take care of plants, gardens and lawns?
A. “Well, every season is different bringing changing temperatures and less sun exposure to everything in people’s yard, which calls for different measures each season. This past winter we talked how it was important to save shrubbery from freezing weather by covering them with tarps or large cloths, but with warmer weather moving in it is time for people to prepare for early spring lawn care.”
Q. Since the spring is coming up, would it be important to start early on yard care or is there plenty of time to begin?
A. “Sooner is better than later, and right now is a great time to get a jump start on lawn and plant care. There are a lot of back-breaking tasks to generate a beautiful, colorful yard and starting early will make any size yard an easier task rather than all at once in the heat of summertime.”
Q. What measures does it take to produce a beautiful yard this spring?
A. “It takes raking, mulching, mowing, edging, planting, watering, clipping, sod laying, fertilizing, seeding and feeding all spring, through the summer, and for a bit in the fall. There is always something to do in the yard that is why it is important to take some tasks week-by-week, and starting this week would be a good time to knock out a few of those tasks.”
Q. Where would one start in the yard and how is this going to benefit for this spring?
A. “If you haven’t raked leaves then it would be a good time to clear the leaves from the lawn and flower beds, allowing the sun to hit them directly for proper exposure. The bare yard should be brown for the most part because it went dormant for the winter but allowing sunlight in will help promote growing.”
Q. What should people do to bring green back into their yards, and not weeds?
A. “Green will not be coming back for another month or so, but now it is important to apply a pre-emergent like dimension, which is a future weed prevention that stops weeds from sprouting. The next product to apply, if there are already weeds in the yard, is a weed killer, called weed-free zone that destroys 90 percent types of weeds.”
Q. How differently is the pre-emergent applied compared to the weed killer?
A. “Depending on the size of the yard for both products, the pre-emergent comes in a 25- and 50- pound bag and since it is in granulated form a broadcast spreader would be efficient enough for any size lawn. For the weed killer, it comes in an 8- and 16-ounce bottle and it is water soluble making a potent weed-killing recipe with 3 tablespoons per gallon.”
Q. What is another task people could be doing to make for a better yard this spring?
A. “Well most garden centers have a couple more weeks before annual spring plants arrive, so with a leaf-free yard it wouldn’t be a bad time to start mulching around trees, putting soil into flower beds or gardens. If there aren’t any trees or beds in the yard, then this is a perfect opportunity to plot the landscape with future flower beds, gardens and trees.”
Q. Do you do these tasks each year for beginning your yard for the spring?
A. “I do everything possible, including what I said here, to make my yard a pleasant sight. Take it from me; it is hard to keep any yard in tip-top shape, no matter how many years you’ve been doing it.”
Q. When is it an important time to take care of plants, gardens and lawns?
A. “Well, every season is different bringing changing temperatures and less sun exposure to everything in people’s yard, which calls for different measures each season. This past winter we talked how it was important to save shrubbery from freezing weather by covering them with tarps or large cloths, but with warmer weather moving in it is time for people to prepare for early spring lawn care.”
Q. Since the spring is coming up, would it be important to start early on yard care or is there plenty of time to begin?
A. “Sooner is better than later, and right now is a great time to get a jump start on lawn and plant care. There are a lot of back-breaking tasks to generate a beautiful, colorful yard and starting early will make any size yard an easier task rather than all at once in the heat of summertime.”
Q. What measures does it take to produce a beautiful yard this spring?
A. “It takes raking, mulching, mowing, edging, planting, watering, clipping, sod laying, fertilizing, seeding and feeding all spring, through the summer, and for a bit in the fall. There is always something to do in the yard that is why it is important to take some tasks week-by-week, and starting this week would be a good time to knock out a few of those tasks.”
Q. Where would one start in the yard and how is this going to benefit for this spring?
A. “If you haven’t raked leaves then it would be a good time to clear the leaves from the lawn and flower beds, allowing the sun to hit them directly for proper exposure. The bare yard should be brown for the most part because it went dormant for the winter but allowing sunlight in will help promote growing.”
Q. What should people do to bring green back into their yards, and not weeds?
A. “Green will not be coming back for another month or so, but now it is important to apply a pre-emergent like dimension, which is a future weed prevention that stops weeds from sprouting. The next product to apply, if there are already weeds in the yard, is a weed killer, called weed-free zone that destroys 90 percent types of weeds.”
Q. How differently is the pre-emergent applied compared to the weed killer?
A. “Depending on the size of the yard for both products, the pre-emergent comes in a 25- and 50- pound bag and since it is in granulated form a broadcast spreader would be efficient enough for any size lawn. For the weed killer, it comes in an 8- and 16-ounce bottle and it is water soluble making a potent weed-killing recipe with 3 tablespoons per gallon.”
Q. What is another task people could be doing to make for a better yard this spring?
A. “Well most garden centers have a couple more weeks before annual spring plants arrive, so with a leaf-free yard it wouldn’t be a bad time to start mulching around trees, putting soil into flower beds or gardens. If there aren’t any trees or beds in the yard, then this is a perfect opportunity to plot the landscape with future flower beds, gardens and trees.”
Q. Do you do these tasks each year for beginning your yard for the spring?
A. “I do everything possible, including what I said here, to make my yard a pleasant sight. Take it from me; it is hard to keep any yard in tip-top shape, no matter how many years you’ve been doing it.”
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Building compost piles saves on people’s dollar
By Chris Brinson
People are looking to make differences in their communities with greener ideas, but with the threat of higher prices for greener products like organic composts, many have taken matters in to their own hands.
Custom compost piles, for some people, have become the answer to an easy and non-expensive way in their efforts towards making a greener community. Instead of purchasing 40 pound bags at $10 each, there have become many different ways to compost but doing-it-yourself is the best way to save.
“Building my own compost pile is the best thing I’ve done for my wallet and yard,” said John Austin Williams, 24, of Bartlett, and biology major at The University of Memphis. “It’s nice not having to rely on garden centers so much anymore.”
Williams built three simple boxes out of wood, nails, staples and chicken wire. The materials he used can be found at any local hardware store or lumber yard for building a low budget compost pile.
When beginning, Williams took 10 2-by-4 lumber pieces and constructed three 3-foot by 4-foot by 4-foot boxes. Next, he stapled the chicken wire around the front, back and sides of each box. He finished with attaching all three boxes together, for each step of the composting process.
Williams’ first box is for the starting pile of grass clippings and dirt layered with raw materials in the middle. Raw materials in this case are going to be food scraps like meats, fruit peels, shells, veggies but nothing metal, plastic or containing bones.
After baking in the sun for three weeks, Williams will shift the pile from one box to the next until the final product lands in the third one as organic compost. Each time he moves the pile to an empty box he sprays it down with water. Along with heat, water is another factor in breaking the raw material downs.
“The only problem I have is with the squirrels getting in to the open compost pile. I believe the stench drives them to dig through it and find food scraps or whatever they can eat,” said Williams. “I try all kinds of squirrel traps and predator urines, but I think they’re getting smarter.”
According to most garden centers, animals are the biggest pests in most people’s compost piles. Non-lethal traps are encouraged to capture the curious ones. Fox and wolf urine is also recommended to fend off rodents. It is not as effective as traps but they are popular products people use to protect their open piles from scavengers.
When these tactics aren’t enough to defend an open compost pile, covering the top becomes necessary. It is either that, or an improved method of composting would be ideal. The other method would be using a mass produced barrel composter sold at local garden centers.
Barrel composters sit off the ground and come equipped with a sliding door. These two factors give it more of an advantage of keeping cleaner compost away from roaming animals. Although space is limited with the barrel composter, it requires spinning it around on an axel instead of moving a pile from one box to the next.
“I recommend a barrel composter for quick and easy use. It disables animals from getting into the compost and it secures the fresh odor compost produces,” said Ferd Heckle, 61, owner of Dan West Garden Center. “Some barrel composters are expensive but they do pay for themselves after a full year of composting.”
- Composting can be done in any size yard, not recommended for apartment owners
- There are many different ways to build compost piles, examples can be found in garden magazines and online
- Composting is encouraged for a greener earth and yard
People are looking to make differences in their communities with greener ideas, but with the threat of higher prices for greener products like organic composts, many have taken matters in to their own hands.
Custom compost piles, for some people, have become the answer to an easy and non-expensive way in their efforts towards making a greener community. Instead of purchasing 40 pound bags at $10 each, there have become many different ways to compost but doing-it-yourself is the best way to save.
“Building my own compost pile is the best thing I’ve done for my wallet and yard,” said John Austin Williams, 24, of Bartlett, and biology major at The University of Memphis. “It’s nice not having to rely on garden centers so much anymore.”
Williams built three simple boxes out of wood, nails, staples and chicken wire. The materials he used can be found at any local hardware store or lumber yard for building a low budget compost pile.
When beginning, Williams took 10 2-by-4 lumber pieces and constructed three 3-foot by 4-foot by 4-foot boxes. Next, he stapled the chicken wire around the front, back and sides of each box. He finished with attaching all three boxes together, for each step of the composting process.
Williams’ first box is for the starting pile of grass clippings and dirt layered with raw materials in the middle. Raw materials in this case are going to be food scraps like meats, fruit peels, shells, veggies but nothing metal, plastic or containing bones.
After baking in the sun for three weeks, Williams will shift the pile from one box to the next until the final product lands in the third one as organic compost. Each time he moves the pile to an empty box he sprays it down with water. Along with heat, water is another factor in breaking the raw material downs.
“The only problem I have is with the squirrels getting in to the open compost pile. I believe the stench drives them to dig through it and find food scraps or whatever they can eat,” said Williams. “I try all kinds of squirrel traps and predator urines, but I think they’re getting smarter.”
According to most garden centers, animals are the biggest pests in most people’s compost piles. Non-lethal traps are encouraged to capture the curious ones. Fox and wolf urine is also recommended to fend off rodents. It is not as effective as traps but they are popular products people use to protect their open piles from scavengers.
When these tactics aren’t enough to defend an open compost pile, covering the top becomes necessary. It is either that, or an improved method of composting would be ideal. The other method would be using a mass produced barrel composter sold at local garden centers.
Barrel composters sit off the ground and come equipped with a sliding door. These two factors give it more of an advantage of keeping cleaner compost away from roaming animals. Although space is limited with the barrel composter, it requires spinning it around on an axel instead of moving a pile from one box to the next.
“I recommend a barrel composter for quick and easy use. It disables animals from getting into the compost and it secures the fresh odor compost produces,” said Ferd Heckle, 61, owner of Dan West Garden Center. “Some barrel composters are expensive but they do pay for themselves after a full year of composting.”
- Composting can be done in any size yard, not recommended for apartment owners
- There are many different ways to build compost piles, examples can be found in garden magazines and online
- Composting is encouraged for a greener earth and yard
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Cards Offense, Steelers Defense: One will be the winning factor Super Bowl Sunday
- Super Bowl XLIII kicks off in Tampa, Fla., at 6 p.m. ET
- Bruce Springsteen will perform during Super Bowl XLIII’s halftime
- New 3-D commercials during the Super Bowl, check local stores offering 3-D glasses
Hosted at the Tampa Bay Raymond James Stadium, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Arizona Cardinals will clash for the NFL Championship. Fans of both teams say victory will rest with the Steelers defense or the Cardinals offense, the first to crumble will see defeat.
Steelers are known for being a NFL dynasty with five championships. The majority of the Steelers starters have seen one or more of these championships. These reasons, to Cardinal fans, won’t be enough to stop the Cardinals stretched-out offense.
“The Cardinals’ spread-offense is something Pittsburgh hasn’t faced off against yet. (Larry)Fitzgerald will be able to spread the field out enough to score points,” Michael Wills, 18, a freshman undecided major at The University of Memphis, said favoring the Cardinals. “Their defense can contain Pittsburgh’s offense easily to secure a win.”
The leading factors for the Cardinals are going to be wide receiver, Fitzgerald, and their veteran quarterback, Kurt Warner, who has been in the game for over 10 years. Fitzgerald made a lasting impression with 419 yards from 23 receptions during the post-season. He averages 18.2 yards this should even make the Steelers defense wary about covering him.
For a Cardinals victory one thing stands in the way, and that’s the challenge against the rugged and relentless Pittsburgh defense.
“Arizona will lose because they have not gone up against a tough defense like Pitts yet. Pittsburgh is the winning team with an expert quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, and a solid defense,” said Heath Hatfield, 18, a freshman undecided major at The University of Memphis.
On the Steelers defense, Polamalu accompanied with other linebackers will be the main push toward a Steelers victory. Not saying that Ben Roethlisberger won’t make his game-turning plays, but like an old saying, ‘Defense wins championships.’
The Steelers have game winning veterans for the most part. This team has seen Super Bowl games, won Super Bowl games, and has the desire for another. When compared to the Steelers track record for appearances and victories in Super Bowls, the Cardinals record is little to none.
“Steelers have the greatest chance of winning because they have all played in a Super Bowl,” said Rob Williams, 23, a senior sports management major at the University of Memphis. “With it being the Cardinals first time at a Super Bowl since being moved to Arizona, this could be a main attribute to them losing.”
For the Steelers, they are working on their sixth NFL Super Bowl Championship victory. With a leading defense in the NFL, the Steelers have great odds of winning. The Cardinals offense must penetrate the Steelers defense in order to come out of this battle as champions.
Cardinals will be an underdog to the majority’s opinion. According to ESPN, Pittsburgh is favored 68 percent over Cardinals 31 percent. When overall stats are compared on both teams, the Cardinals defense allows 100 more yards per game than the Steelers defense. From the same source, it also says the Steelers offense lacks 56 yards per game compared to the Cardinals 365 yard average.
“Polamalu and the linebackers are the Steelers defense, with them they are stacked on that (the defensive) side. Still with the Cardinals being the underdog, that may make them play harder and come up with a win. It should be a good game with a close score, 28 – 24 Steelers,” said Tony Jackson, 19, a freshman recording technology major at The University of Memphis.
- Bruce Springsteen will perform during Super Bowl XLIII’s halftime
- New 3-D commercials during the Super Bowl, check local stores offering 3-D glasses
Hosted at the Tampa Bay Raymond James Stadium, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Arizona Cardinals will clash for the NFL Championship. Fans of both teams say victory will rest with the Steelers defense or the Cardinals offense, the first to crumble will see defeat.
Steelers are known for being a NFL dynasty with five championships. The majority of the Steelers starters have seen one or more of these championships. These reasons, to Cardinal fans, won’t be enough to stop the Cardinals stretched-out offense.
“The Cardinals’ spread-offense is something Pittsburgh hasn’t faced off against yet. (Larry)Fitzgerald will be able to spread the field out enough to score points,” Michael Wills, 18, a freshman undecided major at The University of Memphis, said favoring the Cardinals. “Their defense can contain Pittsburgh’s offense easily to secure a win.”
The leading factors for the Cardinals are going to be wide receiver, Fitzgerald, and their veteran quarterback, Kurt Warner, who has been in the game for over 10 years. Fitzgerald made a lasting impression with 419 yards from 23 receptions during the post-season. He averages 18.2 yards this should even make the Steelers defense wary about covering him.
For a Cardinals victory one thing stands in the way, and that’s the challenge against the rugged and relentless Pittsburgh defense.
“Arizona will lose because they have not gone up against a tough defense like Pitts yet. Pittsburgh is the winning team with an expert quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, and a solid defense,” said Heath Hatfield, 18, a freshman undecided major at The University of Memphis.
On the Steelers defense, Polamalu accompanied with other linebackers will be the main push toward a Steelers victory. Not saying that Ben Roethlisberger won’t make his game-turning plays, but like an old saying, ‘Defense wins championships.’
The Steelers have game winning veterans for the most part. This team has seen Super Bowl games, won Super Bowl games, and has the desire for another. When compared to the Steelers track record for appearances and victories in Super Bowls, the Cardinals record is little to none.
“Steelers have the greatest chance of winning because they have all played in a Super Bowl,” said Rob Williams, 23, a senior sports management major at the University of Memphis. “With it being the Cardinals first time at a Super Bowl since being moved to Arizona, this could be a main attribute to them losing.”
For the Steelers, they are working on their sixth NFL Super Bowl Championship victory. With a leading defense in the NFL, the Steelers have great odds of winning. The Cardinals offense must penetrate the Steelers defense in order to come out of this battle as champions.
Cardinals will be an underdog to the majority’s opinion. According to ESPN, Pittsburgh is favored 68 percent over Cardinals 31 percent. When overall stats are compared on both teams, the Cardinals defense allows 100 more yards per game than the Steelers defense. From the same source, it also says the Steelers offense lacks 56 yards per game compared to the Cardinals 365 yard average.
“Polamalu and the linebackers are the Steelers defense, with them they are stacked on that (the defensive) side. Still with the Cardinals being the underdog, that may make them play harder and come up with a win. It should be a good game with a close score, 28 – 24 Steelers,” said Tony Jackson, 19, a freshman recording technology major at The University of Memphis.
It's About Me
By Chris Brinson
Memphis – This spring and fall, seniors celebrate graduating from colleges and universities all around the nation. After years of education, they seek for a future in an economy that will challenge what they claim to know. For them, only the strong survive.
At The University of Memphis, senior Chris Brinson, who is one semester short of graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism, believes that positive attitude and hard work will help him finish strong.
Brinson, 22, of Germantown, has pursued the journalism degree at The University of Memphis since being a transferred sophomore. He recently attended the University of Mississippi in Oxford.
“I am excited to be graduating this fall ’09 from The University of Memphis with a degree in journalism,” Brinson said. “I see that journalism itself can introduce you to wonderful opportunities and interesting people. More importantly, I see that I’ve found something I will enjoy doing.”
Brinson follows the journalism career because he enjoys writing and researching matters like movies, videogames and human interests. During the summer, he will take a swing at interning for The Commercial Appeal.
“I have an internship opportunity at The Commercial Appeal that I am anxious about,” he said. “No matter the employer, I want to show them through my work what I can do and what type of person I am.”
Brinson hopes to write for a large newspaper or men’s magazine in the future. By graduation, he wants a job secured for him in one of these mediums. He knows with hard work he can succeed in either one.
Although the economy and job force may be challenging, his main focus is to never stop the effort he always gives.
Brinson wants to be able to support his new family with a good career so they will be able to live a happy and healthy life. Work is important but family is more valuable to him, especially his six-month-old baby girl, Isabella Brinson.
Brinson was born in Memphis, and lives with his fiancé and their baby in Germantown. He works now at Dan West Garden Center on Poplar Avenue and attends school full-time.
“I know Chris will graduate from Memphis and get the job he strives for because of his hard work, big heart and good mind,” said his fiancé Viviana Dunn. “He always puts his best efforts in to what he loves and never backs down from a challenge.”
Memphis – This spring and fall, seniors celebrate graduating from colleges and universities all around the nation. After years of education, they seek for a future in an economy that will challenge what they claim to know. For them, only the strong survive.
At The University of Memphis, senior Chris Brinson, who is one semester short of graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism, believes that positive attitude and hard work will help him finish strong.
Brinson, 22, of Germantown, has pursued the journalism degree at The University of Memphis since being a transferred sophomore. He recently attended the University of Mississippi in Oxford.
“I am excited to be graduating this fall ’09 from The University of Memphis with a degree in journalism,” Brinson said. “I see that journalism itself can introduce you to wonderful opportunities and interesting people. More importantly, I see that I’ve found something I will enjoy doing.”
Brinson follows the journalism career because he enjoys writing and researching matters like movies, videogames and human interests. During the summer, he will take a swing at interning for The Commercial Appeal.
“I have an internship opportunity at The Commercial Appeal that I am anxious about,” he said. “No matter the employer, I want to show them through my work what I can do and what type of person I am.”
Brinson hopes to write for a large newspaper or men’s magazine in the future. By graduation, he wants a job secured for him in one of these mediums. He knows with hard work he can succeed in either one.
Although the economy and job force may be challenging, his main focus is to never stop the effort he always gives.
Brinson wants to be able to support his new family with a good career so they will be able to live a happy and healthy life. Work is important but family is more valuable to him, especially his six-month-old baby girl, Isabella Brinson.
Brinson was born in Memphis, and lives with his fiancé and their baby in Germantown. He works now at Dan West Garden Center on Poplar Avenue and attends school full-time.
“I know Chris will graduate from Memphis and get the job he strives for because of his hard work, big heart and good mind,” said his fiancé Viviana Dunn. “He always puts his best efforts in to what he loves and never backs down from a challenge.”
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