Hi friends and neighbors!
Wow! Spring is bustin’ out all over! I know I’ve said this before but no city in America is as beautiful this time of year as Memphis. Why not take advantage of this gorgeous weather an take the family downtown? One of the great things about downtown Memphis is that you can have a ball without spending a lot of money. There’s a lot to see too, and the best way to see it is on the MATA trolley. drive to the North End Terminal, a hub which serves both trollies and buses. The parking there was free. You can buy two all-day trolley passes there. You can buy 1-2-or-3 day passes from the trolley operators, but if you want to buy the monthly passes you would have to go to the North End Terminal (between Auction and Overton on Main St, just north of I-40).
Once you board the trolley, you place your brand new pass in the change machine and it time stamps it. You only have to do that once and any time after that, you just show the pass to the operator. You can also pay cash when you board. It’s only about a buck to ride the whole Riverside Loop. You’ll pass all the most interesting parts of downtown along the way. The Orpheum Theater, The Civil Rights Museum, and All the wonderful eclectic spots on South Main too. Grab a Soulburger at Earnestine and Hazel’s, take in the Arcade, Pearl’s Oyster House,  or if you’re looking for a good cheap sandwich or hot dog with some ice cream you can’t go wrong with a little place named Sam’s at the corner of Main and Madison. Spend a leisurely afternoon at Court Square feeding pigeons, or just enjoy the view of the Mighty Mississippi from your window seat of one of our Vintage Trolley cars. Downtown Memphis is filled with all the funk and history you can handle and it’s worth a half-day of your time. Especially in the Spring. Have a great Easter Sunday and enjoy your weekend! Bill

Glee producers have kicked off a nationwide casting call. EW.com reports that performers between the ages of 16 and 26 interested in appearing on the hit series can upload video auditions to MySpace from now until April 26th.

The videos should explain why you want to be on Glee and feature a performance of one of Glee’s hit tracks, like “True Colors,” “You Can’t Always Get What You Want,” and “Lean on Me.”

• Performances can either be a cappella or with a single instrument via My Space karaoke. Videos should be only five minutes in length (one-minute intro, four-minute performance) and are limited to one per person.

To audition, go to: http://www.myspace.com/gleeauditions

Teri Hatcher is launching a new website this spring with the goal of empowering women. Variety reports that GetHatched.com, which is in conjunction with Disney, will “provide, with humor, insight and vulnerability, solutions to the needs and obligations of today’s modern women.”

The actress plans to give advice in cyberspace via articles, blogs, and webisodes. Hatcher, along with a staff, will oversee the creative and editorial content. DisneyFamily.com will produce the website.

• This is not Hatcher’s first foray into professional advice-giving. The actress also authored a book in 2006 called “Burnt Toast and Other Philosophies of Life,” which provides family and career advice to women.

So, what do you think?  Here are some internet comments already in:

Hi friends and neighbors!
Hope you had a fabulous weekend! The Bannister’s took in another day at the Zoo Saturday to celebrate  the  gorgeous Spring weather. Of course Sunday was kind of blah, but instead of staying in we decided to get some shopping done, so we hit the road about 10:30 for our weekly trip to Whole Foods. First we took a ride out to our old neighborhood Cooper-Young for brunch at one of my Memphis favorites, Celtic Crossing Pub at the corner of Cooper and Oliver. This place holds a special place in our hearts and many an afternoon pint has been consumed at that big old wooden bar. Celtic Crossing is as close to being in Ireland as you can get while still being in Memphis, and not only do they have Guinness on tap that tastes like the smoothest velvet, but one the best Irish brunch menus this side of Dublin. I highly recommend a visit soon. During the week it’s strictly 21 and up, but on Sunday’s the ashtrays get boxed up and Celtic Crossing becomes one of the best family destinations in town for a great authentic Irish meal. Try the Corned beef and cabbage,  te Guinness Beef Stew, the classic Shepherd’s pie, or my favorite, traditional Irish Bangers and Mash. Celtic Crossing also has the best Fish and Chips this side of the Atlantic.  They have a great partially covered patio where you can watch the comings and goings in this fabulous Midtown neighborhood while you enjoy your brunch with a pint of Guinness. Celtic Crossing is my Memphis pick of the week. Try ‘em soon.  Join me for your ride home all this week on WRVR 104.5 The River!

Who says Sanjaya can’t even get arrested these days?  Well,  he wasn’t arrested, but he did get a $411 speeding ticket.  Where does he have to be?  And, is he old enough to drive???

Here’s the story:

Former American Idol contestant Sanjaya Malakar was issued a $411 ticket after police caught him speeding in Washington state. Trooper Dan MacDonald told The Seattle Times there was no one else on the freeway at the time so Malakar does not face a reckless endangerment charge for going 110 mph.

More AI news…

Rumor has it that the next season of American Idol could also be the last. Star magazine claims that with both Paula and Simon gone — the show isn’t going to work.

A source said, “Producers know Simon really makes the show, and they feel like they could go only one season without him and the quality will suffer after that.”

Another insider added, “By (2012), the show will have been on the air for more than a decade, and the producers figure that’s long enough . . . That’s the reason why FOX is planning to conclude the show in three years, and why they’ve signed host Ryan Seacrest to a new contract for three years.”

• Fox supposedly isn’t too concerned about its top show going off the air because Cowell’s upcoming series The X Factor will be able to fill the void.

Out now is a new book focusing on the Beatles‘ session work for outside musicians. While researching Beatles Deeper Undercover author/historian Kristofer Engelhardt discovered two unknown early-’80s Paul McCartney songs recorded by an obscure band from Barbados called, Ivory.

Well, I guess that means, Paul wasn’t exactly thrilled with the songs.  Sorry, Sir Paul Mac- they found em!

CHECK IT OUT: To order Beatles Deeper Undercover, log on to: http://tinyurl.com/ya2muqx

The cast of Glee is covering Madonna songs for a new EP, due out April 20th, featuring seven tracks, including “Like a Virgin,” “Like A Prayer” and “Vogue,” among others. The set coincides with a Madonna-themed episode.

How in the WORLD do you pick the best 7  Madonna songs??  I wouldn’t want that job!

Here’s what they chose:

The Power of Madonna Track Listing

1. Express Yourself

2. Borderline/Open Your Heart

3. Vogue

4. Like A Virgin

5. 4 Minutes

6. What It Feels Like For A Girl

7. Like A Prayer

Well here we are midweek and I’m enjoying the weather before the rain hits. Something about a sunny day that just puts you in a better mood. Amanda and I are constantly looking for what we consider to be the best of Memphis, and today I want to turn you on to Kabob International in Cordova at 8050 Dexter Rd Ste 105. We both love those yummy Greek sandwiches called Gyros, and We’ve had them all over Memphis, but friends, there is nothing and I mean NOTHING that can compare to the Gyro served up at Kabob International. Amanda likes the chicken. I always go for the lamb, but however you order it, it’s the most mouthwatering treat you could ask for. I think it’s the freshness of the onions and tomato along with a special Tzatziki sauce that makes this Gyro so special.  It also comes in a larger size which I always get now, cause the first one I had left me wanting more. And the Gyros at Kabob International are just the beginning. They also specialize in Persian and other Mediterranean delights. My aunt Rosa was from Iran, and I grew up eating the best Persian food on the planet, so I can say with authority that Kabob International is the real thing. It’s a super clean family oriented place that I couldn’t speak higher about. Give Kabob International a shot soon, and I know you’ll agree. YUM! Bill

This past weekend Kim K was in Miami, enjoying one her favorite pastimes: helping those less fortunate.  JUST KIDDING!!, she spent in poolside, while the paps flashed away!  And, more importanly while her honey Reggie, was MILES away- in NYC.  Here’s what E! has to say about the Bush n Tush breakup!

E! CONFIRMS REGGIE AND KIM ARE DUNZO

It’s pretty much official that Kim Kardashian and Reggie Bush are over. Sources confirm to E! that the two ended their second go-round at romance because of ongoing problems relating to Kim’s fame and crazy schedule.

The E! source says there’s no bad blood between the two – but reports of Reggie’s womanizing ways have been surfacing. Star magazine claims a 27-year-old “hot blonde” slept over at Bush’s place just over a week ago. An eyewitness told the magazine, “She went in through a side entrance and stayed all night!”

Another insider told the magazine, “Unfortunately, they are always in different places because of their jobs, so it’s easy for Reggie to stray. Kim can’t keep an eye on him 24/7.”

• Still, People magazine is drawing out the breakup, claiming “They are trying to decide what to do right now. Reggie has issues with her busy life and schedule and she can’t give it all up.”
• Kim has been in Florida shooting the second season of Kourtney and Khloe Take Miami, and while E! says the couple agreed not to discuss the split in public – MediaTakeOut.com claims their cameras caught the whole thing on tape.

Well, it seems Kimmy isn’t alone when it comes to the ‘fame game’..

CHECK IT OUT: Reality TV famewhores: http://tinyurl.com/ydmlu7t