Today I start off my post with GREAT NEWS for Downtown and for Beale Street in particular. Yesterday a judge ruled on the situation at Club Crave, where there have been a number of shootings and violent incidents over the years, both under the Crave name and previous names including Plush Club. The ruling was that the operators of Club Crave 1) cannot operate any business at 380 Beale ever again; 2) cannot operate any business under the name “Crave” ever again; 3) cannot operate any event if the event had previously been held at Club Crave. Huge win for the city, and I hope the next win involves the demolition of 380 Beale.
The Flyer has a must-read article if you’re in the future of Downtown. 2013 is likely to be a turning point for Bass Pro Pyramid, the Beale Street Entertainment District, Heritage Trail, and the fairgrounds. The article lays out the reasons why, and explains why Robert Lipscomb is the key man in all of it. Lipscomb, by the way, will speak on the Heritage Trail project involving the redevelopment of the Foote and Clayborn Homes housing projects at next week’s Downtown Memphis Association meeting. The meeting will be Tuesday, January 22, at the Calliope Room, 456 Tennessee Street. 6:00 social, 6:30 meeting.
The Brass Door will have live music tonight. Tim Free, “Bigeasy Freezy” the Piano Man, will perform. The living Louisiana piano legend will bring the sounds of New Orleans blues, jazz, and Mardi Gras to the Brass Door.
Food truck fan? A new truck is about to hit the streets of Memphis and Southaven. Follow the truck at @PopsSmokehouse on Twitter to learn where it will be from day to day.
There will be a segment about Memphis in May BBQ Fest on the Travel Channel next weekend. It will air as part of Exposed: Cooking Competitions to air Sunday, January 27 at 4 PM. Thanks to local BBQ team Too Sauced to Pork for posting the information to their Facebook page.
The Orpheum is conducting a Million Dollar Quartet Giveaway on Facebook. Enter here. Prize package is pretty significant and includes
- 2 Roundtrip Flights to Memphis, TN
- 3 Nights hotel at the Westin Memphis
- 2 tickets for Million Dollar Quartet at The Orpheum Theatre on March 30, 2013 at 8:00 PM
- 2 tickets for the Sun Studios Tour
- 2 Tickets for the Graceland Platinum Tour
- 2 tickets for the Rock’n’Soul Museum
- $50 Gift Card for Hard Rock Café on Beale Street
Cardinals reliever Jason Motte has been added to the lineup appearing at Cardinals Caravan Sunday, January 20 at AutoZone Park. Gates open at 5:30, free admission, first come first served, program starts at 6:30.
Muddy’s Bake Shop will celebrate National Pie Day next Wednesday by giving away pie in the afternoon. Kerry has the details in her blog. Not a Downtown event, but hey, free pie is worth a mention. Wonder if the Nuh-Uh Girl will show up?
Plans for tonight: About 50-50 on whether I’ll play poker at Dancin’ Jimmy’s tonight (8 PM game time). I’ll be out about 6:45, giving me a little over an hour to decide while sipping ice cold beer.