The night is rainy, but warm.
It is the last day of the month and early in the evening.
You want something different, not a movie or play, but something international.
The solution -- the South Main Art Tour.
The tour is free and a trolley takes you from the grand Orpheum Theatre, past the National Civil Rights Museum, to the Arcade Restaurant.
The tour is the last Friday of each month from 5:30 p.m. until 9 p.m.
Along the way is an international art gallery called Art Village Gallery.
The gallery is located at 412 Main St., across the street from Jay Etkin's gallery.
The artist/owner is Ephraim Urevbu, a Nigerian-born painter, scholar and created of paintings featured in such events as the National Black Family Day and local businesses and malls, including the Wolfchase Gallera.
His specialty is African-American and Caribbean fine art.
The gallery is open Tuesday -- Saturday, from 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
His paintings are very colorful and vivid.
Many of the canvases are about life experiences in both Africa and America.
One painting in particular, called "Dressing One's Self," is very expressive.
It is about a little boy who dresses himself for the first time and nothing he puts on matches -- shoes, pants, shirt and socks.
Urevbu is a Memphis State University graduate with both a BA and MA in Fine Art.
His studio, storage and gallery is all in one location with the attached cafe.
The coffee shop/restaurant is Zanzibar Coffee Art Cafe.
The prices are reasonable, with house coffee priced at $1.35, espresso for $1.50 and The Main St. Mudslide, which is espresso, semisweet hot chocolate, hazelnut and creme de cacao for $3.15.
I tried the Toddy Trio Cream, it is iced and mocha-based with whipped cream, $2.65.
Drink selections also include hot tea, iced tea, the Chai Steamer, for $2.70, a full-flavored Chai mixed with latte-style milk.
Other galleries in the South District include the National Civil Rights Museum, 450 Mulberry St., in the Lorraine Motel.
The hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday; 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday; and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
The museum is closed Tuesdays.
Admission is $5 for college students with a valid I.D.
I concluded my visit to Art Village Gallery with a piece of cheesecake, $5.50.
The cafe is a great place to escape from the rain, carry a date or just to go and escape from life.
