Healthy Memphis

An e-mail arrived recently from a pharmaceutical company offering this truly useful service - an informational Web site ranking public restrooms nationwide.

The makers of Cystex, an over-the-counter urinary pain reliever, have partnered with The Bathroom Diaries in a project that might reduce the number of times you gingerly open the door of a public bathroom and find yourself immediately backing out.

Each entry includes the bathroom's location as well as space for an overall ranking plus space for commentary on the bathroom's style and practical information like cost, handicap accessibility, safety and cleanliness.

The 11 Memphis-area entries include four Old Navy Stores (every retailers dream), a Borders Books, two Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Bookstar (including helpful advice on exactly where to find the bathroom), The Peabody, Wild Oats Natural Marketplace and the Texaco at 3975 Summer. Wild Oats and Texaco get the biggest raves.Here's the address. Check it out and add your own. (Personally, I think fast food restaurants aren't a bad option.)