Thur update: Michele’s baseball bat, cops cracking down, vegan/vegetarian dinner, Redbirds open practice, beerfest ticket giveaway, teams to root against this week

Everyone be sure to read the lead story in the Memphis Flyer this week, in which they put local bartenders to the test. MICHELE’S BASEBALL BAT GOT MENTIONED!!! The article states that Michele has a bat behind the bar at Max’s Sports Bar, but she keeps things under control and rarely has to use it. Heh. I remember her almost using it one day, when obnoxious customer Sweaty McDrippy decided he didn’t want to pay for a beer he ordered. Two other Downtown bartenders, Erin from the Monkey and Jeannette from the Blind Bear, were also put to the test.

Warning to those of you who take I-240: The cops are cracking down on speeders. There’s a debate whether this is being done to generate revenue or to actually control speeding. As someone who drives home on 240, from I-55 north to the midtown I-40 interchange, I can tell you the cops have a very good reason for cracking down. Lots of reckless drivers, lots of drivers who don’t care at all if they rear-end you if you don’t speed up and get out of their way. Lots of drivers who weave from the center lane into the left, then back across two lanes for a last-minute exit (usually the Lamar exit).

Felicia Suzanne’s is having a 4-course vegan and vegetarian dinner on Thursday, March 22. Courses are paired with sustainable wines. Details here.

The Redbirds will have an open practice Tuesday, April 3 at AutoZone Park from 11 AM to 2 PM. The public is invited to come watch. Free hot dogs, nachos, and soda. Free food? Wonder if the Nuh-Uh Girl will show up.

There’s another ticket giveaway going on for the River City Brewers Fest. See the Fuzzy Brew blog for details.

Teams to root against in conference tournaments this weekend: Notre Dame, Vanderbilt, Gonzaga, New Mexico, Murray State, St. Mary’s, San Diego State, and Creighton. Why? Joe Lunardi of ESPN’s Bracketology has those teams projected as #6 and #7 seeds in the NCAA tournament. Memphis (projected 8 seed) stands to move up if those teams lose.

Plans for tonight: Drive home in the rain. Walk to a bar in the rain. Drink beer. Walk home from the bar in the rain.

At least I’m not sick anymore.