No responses to my query about whether bars will be open early for the marathon, but at least a clothing store will be open. Lansky 126 will open early tomorrow, and they invite spectators to come in and take a break from the cold.
Speaking of the marathon, tonight is “carb-up” night, when many restaurants Downtown and in other parts of the city offer discounts on pasta and other high-carb dishes. Here’s a list of restaurants. Most of them require you to show your official marathon number to get the discount, but I know of at least one (Bardog) that is offering the deal to everyone. Wonder if the Nuh-Uh Girl is trying to print a fake marathon number on her office printer this afternoon.
If you’re unfamiliar with it, here’s a link to more information about the St. Jude marathon, half-marathon, and 5K. Good luck to my friends Mary Pat, Gina, Glo, Lee’s mom, and anyone else I know who is running tomorrow. If you plan on driving anywhere Downtown tomorrow morning, expect delays as the streets are clogged with runners.
In other news: Rehab Disco will open in the old Orleans on Front space after Christmas. So far I don’t have a whole lot of details about the place. I need to get by and take a look… Carlos who used to manage Circa is one of the people opening the new disco. Three discos in one neighborhood… no wonder Downtown is the best part of Memphis.
I saw on Facebook last night that the Memphis Grizzlies Grandmas and Grandpas dance team will be part of the holiday parade tomorrow at 5 PM on South Main. They are a lot of fun and I look forward to seeing them. Don’t forget to become a fan of theirs if you’re on Facebook.
Not Downtown news, but an item of interest to my fellow poker fans: Christy Moneymaker will open a high-end store for babies, children and tweens in Sanderlin Place. The store will sell clothes, custom bedding, furniture, toys and gifts. Christy is the wife of poker pro Chris Moneymaker, and his poker sponsor is supporting the opening of the store financially. Chris Moneymaker won the World Series main event in 2003, coming out of nowhere and gaining entry into the tournament through a PokerStars satellite. His victory marked the beginning of the Internet poker craze.
I’ve heard a lot of complaints that there’s “too much going on” tomorrow. Kinda true… the marathon, the parade, Stumbling Santa, the Blues Ball, a Tiger home game, the SEC championship game on TV. I’ve heard numerous people wish out loud that some of that stuff would be moved back to the second week in December next year, although I guess that’s hard to do too because then you’re into office and private Christmas party season.
No big plans for me tonight… I’ll probably hit happy hour at the Saucer, and after that, who knows… maybe I’ll chat with some of the 15,000 people in town for the marathon.
Still working on my rant in support of the new panhandling ordinance… it’ll have to wait until tomorrow or Monday.