Pandas in Memphis

Ya Ya at the Memphis Zoo; Photo - Memphis Zoo Memphis is known for many things - Blues, barbecue, Al Green - and now they've added another jewel: PANDAS. The Times examines Memphis' determination to reinvigorate their economy by adding pandas to the Memphis Zoo. (More information about the Memphis Zoo's panda is lovingly detailed at their site.) Now the pressure is on for the pandas, Ya Ya and Le Le to mate, and have a panda baby, so the zoo can attract more visitors and sell baby panda paraphenalia. While the Zoo does have "Panda Hotel Packages," Gothamist thinks a surefire hit for a Memphis tourist package would be a "Ribs 'N' Panda Weekend" where you'd get to try the best barbecue AND see the pandas.

All this deserved fuss prompts Gothamist reexamine one of our favorite posts: Panda Passion Play, the mating of Mei Xiang and Tian Tian of the National Zoo, complete with pictures from the zoo's cameras.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in Arts & Entertainment on June 16, 2003 12:18 PM

Comments [rss]

Jen

I don't think near-extinction is a good thing for something so adorable. If having them in zoos gives them happy, healthy lives and people can buy various panda toys and books and computer games, then pandas all around.

Lena

Pandas? In Memphis? I'll definitely make a trip there now. When I last visited Memphis, Elvis was still alive - actually passed the Graceland gates. Besides enjoying the ribs, I also went to see the motel balcony where Martin Luther King was shot.

abe

Pandas? I don't understand the attraction. Yeah, they're cute. But let's face it, near-extinction is the best thing they have going for them. They're like that favorite sweater of yours, great only because you know nobody else anywhere has, or can get, one.

Patrick

I'm leery of claims that the presence of pandas will draw people when, in this age of e-creepiness, one can satisfy one's panda fetish in the confines of a cubicle, unhaunted by the ghost of Elvis.

Witness PandaCam:

http://www.sandiegozoo.org/pandas/pandacam/index.html

Jen

Jesus, Robin Williams would know, he's like a panda himself...furry menace.

anonymemphis

Memphis rocks! The pandas are precious and we are thrilled that they are with us for a while.

Everybody knows that Elvis is from Memphis and that we have the best (pork) BBQ. We also have two world class museums established with the help of the Smithsonian, the National Civil Rights Museum and the Rock & Soul Museum. We also have two above average art museums, the Brooks and the Dixon. The music history here runs deep, in addition to the Rock & Soul Museum, we recently opened Soulsville a museum and interactive experience in the space that formerly housed Stax Records. Also there is a fabulous tour of the Sun Studios.

And BBQ we have out the wazoo. I would direct vistors to Cozy Corner BBQ, Central BBQ, Interstate BBQ, Paynes BBQ and quite a few other places. There is even a FABULOUS BBQ place in the airport outside of gate B26...

Memphis is a great place to spend a weekend! Catch a flight and come for a visit y'all!

callalillie

Robin Williams did a hilarious piece in his recent Broadway stint the push to have pandas mate. He asserted that maybe the male panda found his "arranged bride" to be ugly as sin. The ugliest panda he'd ever seen. Wouldn't touch her...

Jen

Hey, watch what you say about Memphis: any city that has the Reverand Al Green must be at least okay. And pandas are the best. I am hoping that this drive to have pandas everywhere will result in a panda in Riverside Park.

tp

memphis and pandas??? very very boring.

Alex

Everyone is sure excited about those Pandas--I was just down in memphis last weekend. How can the Pandas bring that many jobs, though? It's a mystery. It's classic substitution complex for the lack of an NFL team, too...

And if the Pandas don't mate, will barbequed panda be the end result? I hope not. They sure are cute.