Friday update: 107 S. Main roof partially collapses, plus more news

If 107 S. Main is structurally sound, why did SERVPRO have to be called after heavy storms dumped rain on the roof?
If 107 S. Main is structurally sound, why did SERVPRO have to be called after heavy storms dumped rain on the roof?

Paul Morris who runs DMC reported yesterday that the roof of 107 S. Main has partially collapsed and water was flowing into the building after yesterday’s heavy storms. The water endangered the building’s neighbors. The fire department had to be called. This is the building DMC took to court for blight, but the court dismissed the case and the city inspector said the building was safe. Guess the city inspector was wrong.

The Orpheum is holding a Fright Night double feature for its Summer Movie Series tonight beginning at 7. Friday the 13th will be up first, then Nightmare on Elm Street.

Kingfish Ingram and Gary Burnside will play a free concert tonight at Memphis Jams on Beale at Handy Park, at the corner of Third and Beale. The concert is presented by Whitney Entertainment Brokers and start time is 6 PM.

The Redbirds are back in town tonight and will be giving away Jacob Wilson T-shirt jersey replicas to the first 2000 fans. Wilson is a Bartlett native and a former Memphis Tigers star. Campbell Clinic is sponsoring the giveaway. The Iowa Cubs will be the opponent, the first pitch is 7:05, and gates open at 5 for a block party with live music by Chinese Connection Dub Embassy and select $2 domestic drafts.

The MBJ reports that Downtown restaurant Itta Bena is expanding to Orlando. Midtown music room Lafayette’s is expanding to that city as well.

“Let’s Get Peachy” is the theme at the Memphis Farmers Market this Saturday, July 25. We are right in the middle of high peach season, which is June through August. However, with canning you can have peaches all year around. There will be a canning and preserving demo at the Market this week. At 10:15, Carolyn Dodson King of Dodson Farms will show you how easy it is to can your Market bounty. Then there will be a demo of Foodsaver, a vacuum-sealing system that keeps food fresh up to 5 times as long as other storage methods. From 7 until noon there will be a presentation by folks from The Elephant Sanctuary, the largest sanctuary in the U.S. for endangered elephants. The habitat is not open to the public, but at the Farmers Market you will learn what you can do to help provide these elephants with a natural, lifelong habitat. Live music by Bill Stanek 8:30-10. 7 AM to 1 PM, at the pavilion at the corner of Front and G.E. Patterson.

I look forward to learning about the elephants, because I WILL be at the market this Saturday. Earlier this week I posted that I was considering a hiatus until October 1. I have decided against the hiatus after several people have told me “We would miss seeing you at the market, and are worried you wouldn’t write about us as much if you weren’t here.” As for the lady who caused me to consider the hiatus, I hope we can sit down and talk soon and work through our differences as adults. I would sincerely like to be friends with you.

I’ll also mention one more time that the Farmers Market’s annual Rock ‘n Wild Picnic is this Saturday at 5 PM. Pizza from Rock ‘n Dough, gourmet wraps, beer, wine, live music, and the event is picnic-style on the lawn so you can bring whatever you would like to sit on. Buy picnic tickets here.

A couple of Memphis Tigers alumni made it to the pros this week. The Detroit Pistons announced that Adonis Thomas has officially signed with the team. Over in South Korea, Joe Jackson has signed with the Goyang Orions after being selected in the second round of the league draft. Joe will earn about $140,000 next season. Congratulations to both.

The Memphis Tigers football team has sold more season tickets as of yesterday than they did for all of the 2014 season. Not surprised.

Time to go to work. Possibly back at lunchtime or late afternoon with another post.