The big event happening Downtown tonight is the Bar-Kays 50th anniversary celebration at the Cannon Center. Doors open at 6 for cocktails, with red carpet 6:30 to 7:30. Performances will include The Dazz Band, Eddie Levert, The Mary Jane Girls, George Clinton, Confunkshun, Willie Clayton, Jazze Pha, Shirley Brown, Sir Charles Jones, and D.J. Quick. Tickets are $97.11. More info here.
If you’re looking for some good college basketball to watch tonight, turn on ESPN2 at 7. #18 Arkansas takes on #20 Iowa State. Bobby Portis is Arkansas’ big star, but keep an eye on Michael Qualls too. He’s the one who made that last-second putback last year to upset Kentucky. Given the state of Memphis’ basketball program this year I’m glad I have the Hogs as a fallback team to watch.
It has now been announced that BOTH the Blind Bear Speakeasy and the Silly Goose Lounge will be doing Prohibition Repeal Day parties tomorrow night. Here are the details, pasted from Facebook.
Blind Bear
Repeal Day Anniversary Party…Celebrating the End of Prohibition!!!! Dress up in your Best Speakeasy 1933 attire and be ready to Celebrate 81 years of Non Prohibited Drinking!!! Drink Specials!! Costume Contests!! Lee Taylor Band @10pm!! Photographer ready to add to the Dining Room Wall!! $4 Moonshine Shots in the cutest Mason shot glasses ever, $5 Moonshine Shooters, $6 Moscow Mules, Manhattans, Champagne Cocktails & Whisper Sisters (all on Giggle Water Cocktail list, with Yummy Brands, no well / house)
Silly Goose
Friday – REPEAL DAY! two days away. In spirit of America’s social culture the trinity of cocktail will be on special for $5 (Manhattan, Oldfashioned, and Martini) Dress it up as we will be awarding the most dapper couple with $200 second $100 and third $50 Gift Certificate. Cody will be mashing and mixing music from the Roaring twenties in Great Gatsby fashion.
Both bars having repeal parties the same night is an excellent idea. It will allow patrons to bar-hop without looking out of place in costume. I plan on being at both events.
Rachel’s Salon, where I get my hair cut a few times a year, is having a special this weekend: Purchase $100 in Aveda holiday items or a gift certificate for $75, and receive a $20 gift card for yourself. The salon is also offering double Pure Points (don’t ask me what those are, no idea) on Aveda products and gifts.
You can get a free Grizzlies T-shirt tomorrow at C-spire locations around town. Closest location to Downtown is 1680 Union.
The Grizzlies are having a beer tasting night at next Friday, December 12’s game vs. the Charlotte Hornets featuring SweetWater beer. You can take part in the tasting with the purchase of a special $85 Club level ticket or $40 Terrace IV ticket.
Yesterday I reported that Trader Joe’s was scouting Germantown locations. That is true, but the chain has no immediate plans for Memphis.
Interesting graphic I found on FiveThirtyEight: How predictable is severe weather in your area? The West Coast (except Northern California), Alaska, Hawaii, and southern Florida are the most predictable; the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles, western Kansas, and western South Dakota are the least. Memphis is slightly less predictable than average.
Interesting conversations last night at happy hour… seems like damn near every time I go out, I hear a new story about the same person throwing things, starting arguments, provoking fights, throwing punches… and yet that person manages to charm bar owners and managers to the point that they are not only allowed back in, but welcomed. I just don’t get it.
Happy birthday to my BBQ team’s vice-president today… I’m sure “Mr. Load-in” will have a beer with you sometime this weekend. Back to work for now. Leading off at the Silly Goose after work as usual for Thursday. Possibly enough news for a second after-work news update, so check back.