KY Review

When I set out from Tennessee, the weather was dry and unforgiving.

I came upon this house, which supposedly inspired Stephen Foster to write the song "My Old Kentucky Home." You may recognize this house if you've ever looked closely at the famous Kentucky state quarter. It is requested that you disregard the fact that this wasn't actually his home. And also that he wasn't from Kentucky. This song is the official state song, and is sung annually at the Kentucky Derby. It is a testament to the human tendency to always feel envious of other people's homes.


As I traveled deeper into the state, the weather started to feel downright pleasant and moist. It even got warmer.

I decided to check up on the bourbon production.
Moments after this picture was taken, a chubby young German boy fell into the fermentation vat and got sucked through the tubes. God, I hope he's all right.


In this state, bourbon is a social lubricant.

This is where Maker's Mark makes their famous red plastic polymer that they dip their bottles in.
How quaint!


This particular county is a dry county, as they say. Thus, no free bourbon at the end of the tour. I'm still chafing with anger.

There's whiskey in them there barrels, in them there windows.


Our last true national hero.
They say that every boy named "Peter" that was born in the mid-70s was named after this man. Do you know any? Does he like to gamble? I'll bet he does.


Some people think Pete Rose should be in the Hall of Fame. That argument is a slippery slope.

Ken Griffey Jr. and 1990 World Series hero Billy Hatcher share a joke, anecdote, piece of important information, or recipe.


Cincinnati was alright too. But I just didn't think OH was as good as KY. It wasn't as safe, sensual and gentle. Not to mention fragrance-free.

A day at the zoo. Yay!

The zoo!

Reptiles!

Pachyderms!

Something!

This is a rough town. No matter what you do, it's never macho enough.


Next week: Tejas.

This is from a trip I took with my tejoing pal to Lockhart, TX.

Tourist stuff

Peabody Hotel. They got ducks hanging out in the fountain.
So, that's their whole deal.

Lorraine Motel. According to the review on hotels.com, "convenient location, but room was dirty, card keys didn't work, service was horrible, blood stains everywhere."


I had received so many e-mails requesting a photo of country music singer Charlie Louvin getting off the bus, I felt I must oblige.

I had never heard of this fellow, so I went home and looked him up on my Internet.

According to imdb.com, he apparently wrote a bunch of movies, many of which, quite frankly, I had never heard of. Although, his 1985 made-for-TV movie "The Long Hot Summer" featured William Forsythe. You remember him from "Raising Arizona." (see below)


We went and checked out the campus of Ole Miss. I thought it was progressive of them to have this statue of James Meredith, who just 45 years earlier, in a landmark event in the Civil Rights movement, became the first black student to attend classes at the university.

Naw, I'm just messing. It's a memorial for Confederate soldiers.
Did I have you going?
I'm a rascal.

Here's a Buddy Guy concert we stumbled upon.

And, we end the night at Graceland Too.

This museum is fantastic. And it's open 24-7. Ring the doorbell at any hour of the night, and the curator will gladly give you a tour.

Food Review: Stuff We're Gonna Miss, Although We Will Surely Forget About It All In Due Time. In Due Time, My Child, In Due Time.

Phillip's Grocery in Holly Springs, Mississippi

Home of the Phil-Up Burger


Go ahead and click on that.

Payne's BBQ in Memphis



Sometimes their McRib sandwich makes my teeth hurt.

Germantown Commissary in Germantown. Duh. You knew that.

Some good meat, flanked by extraneous garnish.

BBQ Review: My goddam head

Photography by LR.





There's a reason Warren Lewis has a street named after him. Warren Lewis Street. In fact, he also has a town named after him. Warrentown. And he's the mayor. If you ever have the opportunity to get your hair cut by someone who is the mayor of a town named after him, you should definitely do it.

Needless to say, I look so awesome.