Want to smash stuff and get away with it? The First United Methodist Church is looking for volunteers to help them with demolition, beginning this Saturday at 9 AM. The church was destroyed by fire in 2006 and unsalvageable parts of it need to be torn down before rebuilding can begin. Work will begin on the Pepper Building at Second and Exchange, and tools will be provided. Questions, call Sharon Ammons at (901) 260-1160. The church will save $75,00 by doing the demolition themselves.
One of my media contacts told me that he’s now hearing late February-early March as the projected opening date of the Blue Monkey Downtown. February-March of what year? I think Memphis Limelight has the best projected time for the Monkey’s reopening – perpetually two months from now.
The Downtown Neighborhood Association has its first meeting of the year tonight at TJ Mulligan’s. There will be a State of DNA address, introductions of the 2008 board and music by Nora & Guy. Free for members, $5 nonmembers. Social at 6:30, program at 7.
Just received an e-mail that Itta Bena, on the third floor of BB King’s, will start a happy hour beginning today. Happy hour will run from 5-7 PM Monday-Friday and will feature $5 well drinks (Absolut, Tanqueray, Jim Beam, Johnnie Walker Red, Bacardi Light, and Zapopan Tequila) and $10 martinis. The Citrus Raspberry Martini and Green Tea Martini were mentioned as particular standouts.
A couple of times a week I get e-mail from out-of-towners and people who live in other parts of the city, asking for restaurant recommendations Downtown. Lately I’ve listed Itta Bena as my top choice for those looking for a quality meal in a place with a cozy, unique atmosphere. I also list the Majestic Grille, Circa, and LoLo’s Table as other top recommendations, along with EP’s if you get there early enough to avoid the nightclub crowd. For seafood I send ’em to Pearl’s; for sushi I send ’em to Bluefin; for casual dining I send ’em to Big Foot Lodge, or possibly Huey’s if they’re from out of town and have never been to a Huey’s. That’s basically my response to all of those queries.
I’m meeting friends for a double birthday dinner at Pa Pa Pia’s on Union tomorrow night and will give it a fair and honest review. Many of you know I’m not a fan of a nearby restaurant owned by the same management company, but I won’t let that influence my review of PPP’s. Honestly, most of the feedback I’ve heard from others about PPP’s has been positive – they’ve liked the food and said it was surprisingly inexpensive. I look forward to trying it myself.
Not sure what I’ll get into after work. The Fire Sale at the Saucer today is Old Scratch, which doesn’t exactly send me running down there. Circa’s Thursday happy hour special is the least appealing of the entire week to me – $2 off single-barrel scotch – and besides, bartender extraordinaire House has the night off. No Grizzlies or Tigers game to watch. I’ll find something to do, I’m sure. It’s a safe bet that I’ll stop by the Saucer to say hello to my waitresses and have at least one beer at some point. On Thursdays it’s always a good possibility that I’ll put in an appearance at Hoop’s Bar/EP’s too.
Debating whether to pick up food from Court House Deli or make a return trip to McAlister’s for food to take back to my desk. Most likely the length of the line at Court House will be the determining factor.