(8 AM Sunday: Oops forgot to hit Publish before going out)
I got an unexpected treat yesterday. I left my apartment about 5:00, walking down the Main Street Mall, the Flying Saucer my destination. Right before I got to Union I ran into two of my BBQ teammates. “We’re about to go up to Start Co.,” they told me. “Why don’t you join us?” Start Co. is our new BBQ team sponsor, and I had not yet seen the new office on the second floor of 88 Union, so that sounded like a plan.
What a beautiful space. The main room is a huge open space with about 15 tables where entrepreneurs can connect to the Wi-Fi and get work done, using Start Co as their office. Start Co. advises and provides resources to entrepreneurs who are in the infancy phase of their business. If I were an entrepreneur, sitting there working and looking out over Main and Union, one of the premier corners in Memphis, I’d feel like I’d already made it. (I’d also feel hungry because the space looks out toward Huey’s as well.) There are several side rooms for meetings, a full kitchen, and a living room-type space with TV and stereo. In the kitchen is a kegerator with Ghost River beer for when it’s time for beer:30. Everything about the space is first-class.
You know, total immersion is expected from the entrepreneurs who go through Start Co.’s accelerator programs, but the company understands that all that hard work has to be fun. That’s why they have perks like a dinner at Flight that happened last week, the kegerator, the Moody Ques booth for their clients to hang out at BBQ Fest. If you have an idea for a small business that you think would work, but you don’t know where to start, talk to Eric and Andre and the fine folks at Start Co.
Team news: We almost have the member packets ready. We’re waiting on one remaining item, the rubber wristbands that team members wear. All the other stuff, including the T-shirts, is ready. We didn’t print any team tube tops this year (this was not my decision) but if you want one, buy a tube top and take it to Josh at Winfield’s at 2 S. Main. For a fee he can print the logo on the tube top.
I love every Saturday but I’m really looking forward to next Saturday. Next Saturday is load-in day. That means I will be at the Flying Saucer, loading extra limes into my Dos Equis Lager while my BBQ teammates get the team booth materials delivered to our spot in Tom Lee Park. It’s super important for the BBQ team to keep one team member behind at the Saucer to handle anything that comes up. It’s my responsibility this year to hold down the fort.
South Main news: The neighborhood is getting banners, a visitor’s guide, and a walking tour.
There’s a Groupon for Sesame Street Live at the FedExForum on June 28. The show is titled “Can’t Stop Singing.”
In case you’ve been living in a cave for the past day, Zach Randolph has been suspended for tonight’s Game 7 at Oklahoma City for throwing a punch in Game 6. With Z-bo out, Conley’s playing ability hampered by a bad hamstring, and the fact that the game is in OKC, the Grizzlies’ chances of moving on to the conference semis are dim indeed. Game is at 7 on TNT.
Forecast for the weekend is highs in the 80s, lows around 60 with no chance of rain. It is going to be tube top heaven Downtown this weekend! I’m going to lead off at Bardog as usual, then decide between heading south to Brewery Untapped or staying in the core and checking out the freak show that is Beale Street during Music Fest weekend. Time to pop open a PBR and get things started!