A blog reader who is on a BBQ Fest team e-mailed me today. He received a letter from Memphis in May telling his team that the only change in setup for 2009 is that some of the larger lots will be reduced in size. It doesn’t appear there will be a change in fees. So it looks like the rumor that entry fees will go way up next year is not true.
Last night I went to Court Square Center’s holiday party and open house, and some friends and I got to tour some of the upper-floor units. They are really neat… extremely high ceilings, some units with loft bedrooms accessible by ladder and with a separate entrance the next floor up. Wood paneling on the windows, great-looking kitchens… they did a great job, and it’s good to have new apartments on the market in the Downtown core. Check out their website for more info, and also info on the Lowenstein and CA2 buildings.
Big Foot Lodge has settled a lawsuit regarding similarities in its name and concept to two restaurants in California. With that behind them, according to this Commercial Appeal article, the restaurant is now looking to expand to a second location. The article notes that despite the slow economy, sales at the Downtown location have been extremely strong. Glad to see them looking to the future… with their fun menu and creative desserts, I think it’s a concept that would work really well in the suburbs.
Stopped by the Saucer last night for a beer… they have signs up that their leftover John McCain glasses are now on sale for $2.50. “Christmas gifts for your Republican friends!” the sign reads. “Sure to be a collector’s item!” Hmmm… the Saucer wasn’t around in 1984, but if it had been, I kinda doubt that Walter Mondale glasses would be “collector’s items” today. Every time I see those leftover glasses I think, “who would be dumb enough to buy one,” but then I remember that the Saucer has a location in Cordova.
Restaurant.com is running a new promotion: Enter code LIST at checkout for 60% off through Sunday, December 7. That means you can buy $25 face-value gift certificates to some of Memphis’ most popular restaurants for $4 instead of the usual price of $10. You can also give someone a membership to their Dinner of the Month Club and save 60% on the purchase through Sunday.
Happy birthday a day late to my friend Clay… his very-soon-to-be wife Jessica organized a surprise party for him at Itta Bena last night, although he totally had it figured out beforehand. Good to be at the bar at Itta Bena again, haven’t been there in a couple of months.
Don’t forget that there’s a Downtown group meeting outside the Arcade restaurant at 7:30 AM tomorrow to cheer on the marathon runners.
Time to get busy… gotta troubleshoot a WordPress installation, then work on my latest website idea. So far my only plans for tonight include a friend’s plate party at the Saucer.