Thur update: Big East probably dead, restaurant recognition, stupid development proposal DOA, Kooky half-off gift card sale today, South Main Precinct town hall meeting, blues nominees, busy week coming up at FedExForum

The Big East, the conference that the Memphis Tigers were set to join in all sports in mid-2013, appears to be dead. As of right now, there are 10 active members, and according to the bylaws the conference can be dissolved by a two-thirds majority. The seven non-football schools, most of whom are strong in basketball, are unhappy about their conference schedules being watered down by new additions such as Tulane. They’re ready to vote to dissolve. That would leave the Tigers without a conference home next year.

This thing could drag out in court for a while. One issue is what to do with the Big East TV contract. Another is the millions of dollars the remaining members (as of right now) are due in exit fees from members who have already left. There will be lawsuits.

The basketball-only schools are talking about forming a non-football conference with a few other schools that are strong in basketball. Butler, Xavier, and VCU have been mentioned. Memphis would be a perfect fit for that conference… except wait, no we wouldn’t, we play football. There’s absolutely no telling what is going to happen.

So, yeah, thanks for getting us into the Big East, R.C. And now, let’s get on to the news…

Congratulations to Aldo’s Pizza Pies and Double J Smokehouse and Saloon. These two restaurants made UrbanSpoon’s list of 50 best new restaurants for 2012.

A proposal to redevelop the Foote Homes area in the southeast part of Downtown appears dead on arrival to the County Commission. The proposal would provide 20 years of funding to the area by declaring all of Downtown Memphis a slum. Because, you know, when I think of Felicia Suzanne’s, the Madison Hotel, the Peabody Hotel, and 4 million dollar homes on Tennessee Street, I think “slum.” STUPID STUPID STUPID. Glad to hear this idea will die.

Don’t forget that there’s a half-off gift card sale happening today at Kooky Canuck from 11 AM to 7 PM.

There will be a South Main Precinct Town Hall Meeting tonight at the Downtown Memphis Commission office, corner of Main at Adams. You may have heard that the Memphis Police Department is restructuring its nine precincts. South Main precinct commander Col. Knight will discuss the new boundaries of the precinct and what this will mean for Downtown. Meeting is at 6 PM.

The nominees for the 34th annual Blues Music Awards have been posted. The awards ceremony will happen at the Cook Convention Center on May 9. Awards are presented by the Blues Foundation, headquartered Downtown.

Busy week at the FedExForum next week! Grizzlies games Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Tigers on Thursday. Carrie Underwood concert on Tuesday. I’ll probably move my happy hour headquarters to the Silly Goose for a week since my normal spot the Saucer gets packed with pre-Forum event crowds. The Grizzlies play at 8:30 Wednesday, which likely indicates a nationally televised game.

Something I’ve discovered, for those of you who care about points on Foursquare. I’m currently at a 168-day streak at the Flying Saucer. If I make someplace else my first stop of the evening, I get bonus points for 168 days at Bars, then more bonus points for 168 days at the same venue when I check in at the Saucer. If the Saucer is my first stop I miss out on the Bars points. Thanks to the holidays the streak will regrettably come to an end soon.

It’s too bad points aren’t redeemable for anything. I’d have a damn 72″ LCD TV by now, given all the times I check in.

Plan for tonight: Quick beer at the Saucer to extend the streak to 169, then over to the Main Street Branch Office AKA the Blind Bear where I have some work to get done.