JENSIZED LAST ACTIVITY IN MEMPHIS TOWN

Growing out a lion cut, week three

By Jen

I’m late posting these. Baldcat is now … Softcat.

And my favorite:

Week two

Week one

Jeff Buckley 1966-1997

By Jen

I can’t believe it’s been fifteen years since Jeff Buckley drowned in the Wolf River, here in Memphis. I remember watching the news stories about him on the floor of my parents’ living room in Collierville like it was yesterday.

You’ll probably see his rendition of “Hallelujah” posted a few times today, but these are a couple of my favorites:

What a voice.

Parker Water Ice: a frozen oasis in Hickory Hill

By Jen

If you’re like me and live in Memphis, you love Jerry’s Sno Cones but you aren’t crazy about standing in line in the sun for 30 minutes. Desperate for another option, I found Parker’s Water Ice on Yelp.

Wikipedia says water ice is just another term for Italian ice, which unlike shaved ice, is made by the same process as ice cream. The ingredients — in this case, fruit, flavoring and water — are frozen as they’re combined. Don’t say that to anyone from Philadelphia though. They consider it a local delicacy, and that’s one group of folks I wouldn’t want to piss off.

Parker’s is located near the intersection of Winchester and Riverdale, near the Malco Majestic theatre. It’s not visible from Winchester, but if you’re heading eastbound, turn right when you see the IHOP. Parker’s is in the same little shopping center as D’Bo’s. I wonder if they’ve considered making ranch and celery flavors and partnering up? (Gross. Maybe.)

I went Friday at lunchtime and I was the only one there.

The shop is small: just a counter, really, where you can walk up and order. Flavors are listed on a dry-erase board above but the list isn’t quite current. I asked for the “candy fish” flavor (yes, like Swedish Fish) and the sweet employee told me I was the first person who’d ever requested it. Sure enough, they didn’t have any. Bummer.

I got cotton candy and strawberry daiquiri instead. Not the most inspired combination, I know. I got a little sample on a spoon to make sure the flavors tasted good together.

This is a small. It cost about $2.50.

I ate about half in the car. Well, I guess I ate the whole thing in the car, because the rest I ate during the drive home. The texture was light and thick at the same time. It’s tough to explain: it’s just dense enough that it requires a spoon. If I had to pick something to compare the consistency to, I guess I’d say gelato.

If Hickory Hill is too much of a trek for you, keep an eye on their Twitter or Facebook to see when their food truck is out and about.

LUSH Oak Court update

By Jen

I went to Macy’s today to stock up on LUSH products. The selection is already pretty picked over, as you can see.

There are still some bath bombs on the other side of the display – minus the three I bought – but there are only a few bubble bars. One of the employees told me they’re getting a shipment of Fresh Face Masks next week but it doesn’t look like they’ll be restocking anything else.

She also told me a real estate person was there yesterday, so they’re just waiting to hear where and when a new store will open.

I felt like a dear friend was moving away. The staff are so sweet… I hope to see them again soon.

I think I have enough stuff to hold me over until then. Maybe.

LUSH Cosmetic in Oak Court closing May 28

By Jen

UPDATE: A rep from LUSH replied to my post on their Facebook page, saying they are “already close to securing a new space” for a freestanding location. Fingers crossed!

I’m late seeing this, but the last day of business for the LUSH Cosmetics in Macy’s Oak Court is May 28. They posted the news on their Facebook page May 3. They are looking for a freestanding location, which they hope to have open by fall. I think Laurelwood, Saddle Creek or South Main would be ideal for LUSH.

The Oak Court location was the only LUSH outlet in Tennessee (you hear that Nashville?). I’m not sure why it’s closing. I know I can’t seem to walk through Macy’s without spending at least $20 at that counter. When I was Christmas shopping, I even bought myself a stocking stuffer, despite the fact that I knew from the aroma that there was already a box of LUSH goodies under the tree.

So I guess I’ll have to stock up on Coco Lotion, Fair Trade Foot Lotion, and all the bath bombs and bubble bars our bathroom can hold until fall.

That is, if another location opens. I know it had a lot of loyal customers (besides me), so I’m staying optimistic. But I’ve seen enough of my favorite stores leave Memphis and never return. So I’ll be Tweeting and emailing and Facebooking LUSH to make sure they know how much Memphis values their presence. If you enjoy their products I suggest you do the same.