Anna Across America - Memphis, Tennessee (Go Grizzlies Edition)

The FedEx Forum, home of the Memphis Grizzlies of the NBA and the University of Memphis Tigers, is a basketball palace just steps off of world famous Beale Street.

Anna visited in late December and captured these Dr Pepper / Anna can selfies from her courtside seat at the arena prior to Grizzlies game.

The Grizzlies are in a Western Conference series showdown with the Oklahoma City Thunder in the playoff's opening round.   The best of seven series is tied 2-2 with three of the games going into overtime.

Another memorable game at the FedEx Forum pitted #2 Tennessee versus the #1 ranked Memphis Tigers (26-0) in 2008.  It was considered the biggest sporting event in Memphis history.  Peyton Manning was there.  So was Justin Timberlake, Priscilla Presley, and an Entertainment Tonight film crew, not to mention a national TV audience, which turned out to be the highest rated ESPN college basketball game ever.  The Volunteers prevailed 66-62 in what UT Coach Bruce Pearl called "a great night for college basketball and the state of Tennessee."

Let's join UT broadcaster Bob Kesling and Coach Pearl as they relive the historic win in Memphis.

http://youtu.be/uQPCpsRQMGQ

Anna Across America - Raleigh, North Carolina (Andy Griffith Tribute Week)

It is only appropriate that we conclude our Andy Griffith Show Tribute Week in Raleigh, North Carolina.   For it was Raleigh that was the faraway "big city" on the show...and a well-known getaway for legendary lawman Bernard P. Fife.   When Barney came to Raleigh it was "go, go, go" from the minute he got there. Sometimes he had so much fun at the Arcade playing Skeeball that his head would not hit the pillow until 11:15 p.m.  The lure of the big city finally brought Barney to Raleigh full time when he took a job with the Police Department handling the fingerprint files - N through R.    Although Barney (Don Knotts) left the Andy Griffith Show prior to its successful conclusion in 1968, he made several appearances on the show including this episode when Andy visited Barney in Raleigh.

http://youtu.be/nojWwTZUAig

A statue honoring television's Andy Griffith Show graces a scenic park near downtown Raleigh. The statue depicts Andy Taylor (enjoying a Dr Pepper) and son Opie heading to the lake as in the show's opening scene.  In the show, Raleigh was the big city where high living abounds. Sheriff Taylor sometimes exhorted his deputy Barney Fife to "pack up the 'ol salt-and-pepper' (suit), head to Raleigh, get a corner room at the "Y", and really live it up."

Thanks for joining us for this tribute....

http://youtu.be/IKMODe1Mf8s

Anna Across America - Pilot Mountain, North Carolina (Andy Griffith Tribute Week)

Pilot Mountain, which rises 2421 feet  into the blue North Carolina sky and topped by a rock hill called Big Pinnacle, is one of the state's most distinctive natural features.   A mountain, state park, and a small town all bear the Pilot Mountain name.

Just down the road from Mount Airy - the boyhood home of Andy Griffith - Pilot Mountain is believed to be the inspiration of the fictional town of Mt. Pilot on the Andy Griffith Show.   Mayberry, just 12 miles away, always aspired to be Mt. Pilot, seen as larger and more sophisticated.

 Without question, the most famous residents of Mt. Pilot were the "Fun Girls" - Daphne and Skippy.  The duo made three appearances on the show and each time managed to keep Barney flummoxed and Andy downright irritated.  One of the show's funniest episodes is presented below in its entirety with the "Fun Girls" making their appearance at the seven and a half minute mark.  This episode will surely leave you saying..."Hey Doll."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrHVz4n0dzc

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Obligatory Dr Pepper Advertisement:  Would you like to own a replica of the Dr Pepper jersey worn by Anna and her fellow Dr Pepper Tuition Giveaway winners?  The all-new Dr Pepper eStore is coming soon.  Check www.drpepper.com for details.

Anna Across America - Mount Airy, North Carolina (Andy Griffith Tribute Week)

In a special weeklong exclusive, Anna's father David - who has never met a road trip that he didn't like - takes the Dr. Pepper commemorative can of Anna and the rest of us along for the ride to pay tribute to actor Andy Griffith and the 1960s television show that bears his name.    First stop is Mount Airy, North Carolina, which is Griffith's hometown, and the inspiration for the story lines, southern ideals, and characters on the show.

Long after the show has ended, Andy Griffith Show fans like David make the pilgrimmage to the small town in the northwestern part of the state.   As many as 50,000 attend the annual "Mayberry Days" celebration in September.

So pull up a rocker and "sit a spell" on the front porch this week as David takes us on a tour that captures the spirit of one of television's greatest shows through photos and video clips.  We'll begin with the oft-whistled opening and closing theme music.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLPmrJEO6sA

Throughout the town of Mount Airy, the characters from the Andy Griffith Show are prominently featured.   First and foremost, Sheriff Andy Taylor (Griffith) and his deputy and friend Barney Fife (Don Knotts) can be found everywhere.   But all the characters get play as well.  There is Floyd's Barber Shop, Opie's Candy Store, the Snappy Lunch Diner where Juanita occasionally heard poems and songs over the phone from Barney.

Mayberry takes us back to a simpler time despite the show's run from 1960 to 1968 which was anything but peaceful in America.   And perhaps the temporary respite from the tragedy and turbulence of the times was its appeal.

The widowed Andy had a son named Opie (Ron Howard) who he raised along with his Aunt Bee (Frances Bavier).   The cast of memorable town characters - too numerous to mention but vital to the show's success -  provided many hilarious and touching moments.   Barney's girlfriend on the show, Thelma Lou (played by Betty Lynn), decided to move to Mount Airy several years ago and makes frequent appearances in the town.

In the clips below Andy and Barney, longtime friends and classmates at Mayberry Union High, sing the school's alma mater during a 1960s episode and again two decades later in a 1986 reunion show.

http://youtu.be/ODjnlgo8EOo

http://youtu.be/4yg9LF5lS0c

In Mount Airy, visitors can drop by the striking replica of the Mayberry courthouse.   It is in the courthouse where a lot of the Andy Griffith Show's scenes take place . . . including the memorable moments below.





https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yx5d3haRG7M

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yHuv0tufcE

Barney shows off the courthouse jail's maximum security cell to Opie's friends with an oft-repeated ending.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQcNEGrjn1M&list=RDYtsvsLFYYSg

In this short clip, Barney provides the rules of the Mayberry jail that he calls "The Rock"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtsvsLFYYSg&list=RDYtsvsLFYYSg

Barney's Diner in Mount Airy pays tribute to the lovable lawman Bernard P. Fife. 

Barney kept order in Mayberry by operating by the book to the amusement and sometimes consternation of the citizenry.   One of his favorite lines was that you have to "nip it in the bud."   A compilation of these scenes is provided below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=de_P2aUZJyA

The Mayberry townspeople and sometimes Andy loved to have fun with old Barney, particularly when he got a little full of himself.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=541RwJSUhNc

Wally's Service Station made numerous appearances on the show.   TV's best known mechanics - cousins Gomer and Goober Pyle - were employed here as well.

In one of the show's most endearing episodes, "A Man In A Hurry", a haggard businessman gets stranded in Mayberry and learns to appreciate the town's friendly pace and people.  The episode is provided below in its entirety.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9eYPvdL4AE

The Andy Griffith Museum is dedicated to the life and career of the late actor.  It contains the world's largest collection of Andy Griffith memorabilia, including sets from his namesake show as well as Matlock.  It is located a half mile from Griffith's boyhood home in Mount Airy.

Across America And Around The World . . .

Happy Easter!

Christ is Risen!  He is Risen Indeed!

Christus ist erstanden!   Wahrlich is er erstanden! (Germany)

Cristo ha resucitado!  En verdad ha resucitado! (Spain)

Helisituosi fuhuole!  Queshi fuhuole! (China)

Khristos voskrese!  Voistinue voskrese! (Russia)

Kristus telah bangkit!  Benar dia telah bangkit! (Indonesia)

Le Christ est ressucite!  En verite il est ressuscite! (France, Canada)

Khristos voskres!  Voistiun voskres! (Ukraine)

Cristo ressucitou!  Em verdade ressuscitou! (Brazil)
Krista haya udgata!   Tini haya udgata prakatrapaske! (Bangladesh)

http://youtu.be/nzBFv3Bzn3o

Anna Across America - New Orleans

Near the mouth of the Mississippi River lies America's most unique city -- New Orleans, Louisiana.        One of this country's oldest cities, New Orleans has an identifiable French sophistication but is heavily influenced by the cultures of countries throughout the world.  The city was established under French rule in 1718 as "Nouvelle-Orléans" and over the next century immigrants from Spain, England, Africa, Germany, Ireland, and the islands of the Caribbean swelled the city's population and began establishing its fascinating culture.

Take a trip around the Big Easy with us while listening to Le Roux's endearing ballad New Orleans Ladies.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQvl6bG940I

Through the years, New Orleans has been the subject of numerous hit songs as the city provides an endless amount in inspiration for singers and songwiters.  An extensive list of these songs is provided in the link below.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_songs_about_New_Orleans

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Dr Pepperazzi Induction:  The photos from the AAA tour of New Orleans are provided by Anna's Chi Omega sorority sister Lauren, who will be graduating next month from Mississippi State and entering graduate school at the University of Tennessee.   Thanks for joining the Pepperazzi, Lauren, and welcome to Knoxville!

St. Louis Cathedral - an iconic symbol of New Orleans - is the oldest cathedral in the United States.  Worship has taken place on this site since 1720.   Two popes have visited here - Pope Paul VI in 1964 and Pope John II in 1987.


The cathedral is the centerpiece of Jackson Square - so named for war general and president Andrew Jackson.  One of America's great public spaces, the park also is a gathering place for artists, street performers, and live music events.

Any representation of New Orleans on stage, television, or movies will likely feature this Crescent City landmark at some point, including the opening scene from Disney's animation hit The Princess and the Frog.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBhO_T6mvco

Nothing screams New Orleans' French influence as much as Café Du Monde, the venerable coffee stand in the French Quarter.  For it was New Orleans where coffee was first brought to North America in the 1700s by the French, who began to settle along the Mississippi.

Since 1862, Café Du Monde has been serving its unique coffee and chicory blend along with the highly acclaimed beignets, another French import of  square fried dough generously sprinkled with powdered sugar.

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With a tip of our beret to blog viewers from France and French-speaking Canada, we serve up this Dr Pepper commercial that premiered in Quebec last year.  The ad, which has fun with the product's medical connection, reminds the viewer: "Dr Pepper, c'est juste de la liqueur" ("Dr Pepper, it's only a soft drink").

http://youtu.be/_ew6HGuhCEU

Courtyards containing beautiful fountains are plentiful throughout the French Quarter.    Vieux Carre, another name for the French Quarter, is the oldest neighborhood in New Orleans.

The Quarter (as the locals call it) covers about 78 city blocks.  The epicenter of the French Quarter is without question Bourbon Street.  Clubs and bars line Rue Bourbon - most notably Pat O'Brien's, the birthplace of the Hurricane cocktail.  World famous restaurants and hotels, large and small, are scattered throughout the district.

Of course Bourbon Street is home to one of the biggest parties in the world -- Mardi Gras.

Anna Across America - Montgomery, Alabama

The tour of state capitals leads us to Montgomery, Alabama.  The city incorporated in 1819 was named after Richard Montgomery, a Revolutionary War hero.

The city of Montgomery played a prominent role in the Civil Rights Movement.  Rosa Parks in 1955 refused to give up her seat on a city bus to a white man, drawing national attention to the unfortunate racial segregation of the South at the time.   For her courage, Rosa Parks earned the well deserved title of the "first lady of civil rights."

At left, is the Alabama State Capitol, which opened in 1851.    When Alabama seceded from the Union, it was briefly the Capitol of the Confederacy.  A century later, Martin Luther King's historic march from Selma to Montomery - another pivotal moment in the push for civil rights - ended at the Capitol steps.  Civil Rights activists such as Ralph Abernathy, actor/singer Harry Belafonte, and folk singer Joan Baez were also a part of this march which called attention to equal voting rights.

Several musical giants have hailed from Montgomery incuding jazz great Nathaniel Adams Cole (better known as Nat King Cole), R&B artist Clarence Carter, and country music legend Hank Williams, Sr.   Alan Jackson wrote and performed "Midnight in Montgomery" to honor Hank, Sr.

http://www.artistdirect.com/video/alan-jackson-midnight-in-montgomery/33868

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Today's photo contribution is provided by Anna herself as she detoured an hour and a half out of her way en route from Atlanta to Starkville  to provide this first person dispatch.

Anna Across America - Topsail Island, North Carolina

The long winter having finally abandoned its nationwide assault, we are due for some well-deserved beach time.  A great place for the Anna / Dr Pepper can to soak up some of the first rays of Spring is Topsail Island and its 26-miles of sandy beaches on the North Carolina coast.

Topsail Island has a rich and colorful history.   Local legend  claims that notorious pirate Blackbeard and his nefarious band of marauders pillaged merchant ships along the coast and hid their treasure on the island.  Because the pirates awaited their prey in a channel behind the island, the merchant ships learned to look over the dunes for the top of the sails of pirate ships -- hence the name Topsail.

A couple of centuries later after World War II, the island served as a development and test site for experimental missiles.   During the 18-months of the top-secret project, more than 200 missiles were launched from the coast.

Today, Topsail Island, pronounced Tops'l by the locals, and the unspoiled beaches along the Atlantic remain somewhat of a secret, thanks in part to strict building codes that prevent gross overdevelopment, which threatens the existence of the island's sea turtle population and its tranquil shores.

Part-time residents like Anna's Uncle John and Aunt Robin were attracted to this serenity, preferring the beauty of the seascape over the condo canyons that often beckon beachgoers in other oceanside locales.    Although Blackbeard's purported treasures may have long since been discovered, beachcombers on Topsail Island can be rewarded by finding a plethora of seashells and shark teeth along the beach.

Dr Pepperazzi Photo By:  D. Trundle

Anna Across America - Columbia, South Carolina

The capital city tour with Anna and Dr Pepper continues today in Columbia, South Carolina. The city, named after Christopher Columbus, has approximately 130,000 residents.   At left, is the State House which was built over the course of 50 years.   Construction began in the 1850s and was slowed by the Civil War (although the building withstood the brunt of General Sherman's cannon fire).   Post-war reconstruction and resulting poverty in the state delayed completion until the early 1900s.

Columbia is home to the University of South Carolina and its 27,500 students.   Our favorite USC alumnus is without question Anna's older sister Martha.   In 2009, Martha graduated with honors from South Carolina with a concentration in public relations and business administration.  She and her husband Robert are card-carrying photo contributors of the Dr Pepperazzi in the Atlanta area.

Our second favorite former USC student is singer Darius Rucker, who was the lead singer for Hootie and the Blowfish.  The band was formed from humble beginnings as a quartet at the school with  Rucker's voice discovered while he was singing in the shower.   Rucker, who was the lead singer for the band, has since embarked on a successful country music career with two Grammy Awards and a Grand Ole Opry membership to his credit.

Rucker last year was the commencement speaker at the University of South Carolina  He is an ardent supporter of the USC Gamecocks and diehard sports fan who frequently performs the national anthem at major events of all sports.

 Below is a clip from Rucker's afternoon rehearsal at the Academy of Country Music Awards, sponsored in part by Dr Pepper, on Sunday night in Las Vegas.   Note the cap Rucker is wearing...he dons the South Carolina cap proudly at many of his performances.  The night following the ACM awards, Rucker sang the National Anthem at the NCAA Basketball Championship game in North Texas.

http://youtu.be/ob9cGzNuSpc

The ACM show clip from Sunday's performance is not yet available, but until then enjoy this clip from the Grand Ole Opry and raise your arms in a salute to Tennessee as Rucker does each time he performs "Wagon Wheel."

http://youtu.be/k6upvQVznAU

And then there is this clip from the 2011 ACM Awards that will touch your heart.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvhuwvZKN84

Dr Pepperazzi Photo Credit:  D. Trundle

Anna Across America - Birmingham (Sweet Home Alabama)

The next stop on the Anna / Dr Pepper tribute tour is Birmingham, Alabama.  Founded in 1871, Birmingham was a key city in the reconstruction of the South after the Civil War.   It became a major industrial center for the region in iron and steel production, earning the well deserved nickname, "The Pittsburgh of the South".  Today, the city's economy is also bolstered by banking and finance and health care research at the University of Alabama-Birmingham.

At left, the Vulcan Statue stands watch over Birmingham and honors the city's roots in the iron and steel industry.   The statue of Vulcan - the mythical god of fire and forge - was created for Birmingham's entry at the 1904 World's Fair (yes, the same World's Fair where Dr Pepper was first introduced to a worldwide audience).

The majestic Vulcan - the largest cast-iron statue in the world - is 56 feet tall and supported by a 126 foot pedestal on Red Mountain.

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Historic buildings housing a former Dr. Pepper syrup plant have been brought back to life as part of Birmingham's urban renewal efforts.   Located southeast of downtown, Pepper Place encompasses a number of buildings anchored by the former Dr Pepper plant.  Within the complex are furniture showrooms, a photography studio, architecture and design firms, restuarants, shops and a small community theater.  A popular farmer's market takes residence on the site between April and December.

The Five Points District is truly one of the hidden gems in Birmingham, if not the South. . . . and without question it has been one of our favorite finds from the Anna Across America Tour.

Five Points is a beautiful reminder of the diversity that flourishes when minds are open to its possibilities.   The vibrant neighborhood just south of downtown near the University of Alabama-Birmingham is centered around Five Points Circle, originally an intersection point for streetcar lines.  

Today, Five Points is the epicenter of a spirit that brings people together from all walks of life.  To wit:  sharing this intersection is a Methodist church and a nightclub...across the street from one of the South's finest restaurants (Highlands Grill) is a Waffle House...and there is a tattoo parlor overlooking an artist's display.

Need more proof?   College students on bikes give way to octogenarians in mobility scooters...a businessman with a briefcase speaks to a homeless person clutching a grocery bag...and a Auburn fan exchanges pleasantries with an Alabama fan believe it or not.   Five Points reflects the diversity of our country's people, creativity, and culture.   And it should be celebrated.

Perhaps this is the reason why Grammy-winning gospel singer Hezekiah Walker, who hails from Brooklyn, chose Five Points as the site for the video of his gospel hit "Every Praise".  Filmed in front of an unsuspecting audience last September, Walker performs with a gospel flash mob of singers and dancers - encouraging "all the people around the world to put their hands together because all the praise belongs to God."

So click the link below to enjoy the sights, sounds, and diversity of Five Points... and get your "Praise" on!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuuZMg6NVeA

Anna Across Baseball America

As we close out opening week festivities of major league baseball and settle in for another 162-game season, let's take another look at a few of the parks that host our national past time.  Thus far, our tour has taken us to eight ball parks and there undoubtedly will be more before the curtain comes down on the Anna Across America tour in late May / early June.  Enjoy a second look at the Fields of Dreams from our visits below with video accompaniment....but first a word from the world's most original soft drink, which has made the Anna tour possible.

http://youtu.be/2zG3hdfSghw

A tour of Minute Maid Park, located in the heart of downtown Houston

http://youtu.be/kEZMhj72iq4

A salute to the St.Louis Cardinals" improbable run to the 2011 World Series..

http://vimeo.com/34065724

http://youtu.be/jJFMYlKdMz8

...the Cardinals history in song...
http://youtu.be/nQ5AF7a7MJs

...and tribute to the game's greatest announcer
http://youtu.be/Q6GUnX7qMGk

Baseball in Cleveland

http://youtu.be/eKSWbdLK8Ys

A heartwarming story of a boy's wish to meet the Cleveland Indians

http://youtu.be/_ZSmKgo3oPE

The inimitable broadcaster Harry Caray leads the Wrigley Field faithful  in Take Me Out To The Ball Game, which continued to be a tradition in his honor long after he passed away with fellow announcers, athletes and celebrities taking the mike

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fo9fEADUqPs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96p7u2GezBg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICs2nxhmKRs#aid=P7cksiLOPUA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAS1gmNZDY8

The San Diego Padres' home opener featured a jump by the Navy Seals, who delivered a flag honoring longtime announcer Jerry Coleman

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5DuMCFfhdo

Perhaps the greatest of Baltimore Orioles, Cal Ripken Jr., broke Lou Gehrig's longstanding record for consecutive starts in 1995 in front of the home crowd at Camden Yards.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_csuRfhDow

A dramatic home run hit by long time Brave Chipper Jones in his final year with Atlanta in 2012

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7alOh_mn2Xc

And even more dramatic home run occurred 40 years ago this month at the stadium next door when Henry Aaron broke Babe Ruth's home run record

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEqDcHz40hw

Anna Across America - Kansas City (Opening Week Of Baseball)

In celebration of baseball's opening week, The Anna / Dr Pepper can travels to Ewing Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.

The stadium, home of the Kansas City Royals, opened in 1973.  Despite its age of 40 years, it is considered one of major league baseball's crown jewels.  The stadium has hosted two World Series (1980, 1985) and the 2012 All Star Game.  Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan - then of the California Angels - thew the first of seven no hitters here when the stadium was barely a month old.

Since 2008, a stadium tradition is for the fans to join Garth Brooks in a sing-along from the videoboard of his hit "Friends In Low Places."  The country music legend was once a Spring Training invitee of the Royals and he remains a Kansas City fan.

Garth Brooks is also a big fan of the great taste of Dr Pepper as the two clips below attest.

http://youtu.be/uxOUP_vA8-8

http://youtu.be/w4JK6OyiCv0