I had a relatively new Memphian talk to me yesterday, and he told me that he really liked my post about Downtown Olympics, happening Saturday, April 16. He said, “Paul, I know April is a busy month Downtown, with a lot of outdoor festivals and events. Give me the inside scoop, man. Which ones will YOU be going to?” Okay, in addition to the aforementioned Downtown Olympics, here are some events in April that I plan to attend.
– The day after Downtown Olympics is Rajun Cajun Crawfish Fest benefiting Porter-Leath. In addition to crawfish, you can purchase boiled shrimp, traditional carnival fare (funnel cakes, snow cones, stuff like that) and food from several food trucks. The festival is on Riverside and Wagner Place between Union and Beale. Live zydeco music, crawfish races, bobbing for crawfish. A lot of fun and if the weather is right, the tube top watching can be excellent.
– The Southern Hot Wing Festival is Saturday, April 23 on Riverside Drive between Jefferson and Monroe. Teams compete to see who has the best wings. I have not been to this one the past couple of years, but plan on going in 2016 because I know more teams competing. I think my friends on Squeal Street BBQ told me they were entering this year. The wing fest is sponsored by my friends at Jack Pirtle’s. There will be live music and a hot wing eating contest. You can sample wings from the cook teams for a donation to Ronald McDonald House.
(Note to my BBQ team: My attendance at Hot Wing Fest means I will NOT be at the Southaven regional that weekend. I need someone to take photos and send them to me)
– The Beale Street Wine Race, or as I call it Debauchery Day, is Sunday, April 24. Teams from local restaurants and bars compete in an opening parade, Queen of the Vine, a grape stomp, and a relay race where the runners carry a tray of wine bottles. The event starts at 1 PM and you want to get there early, because the Queen of the Vine pageant is truly a sight to behold. If you aren’t driving, go to Wet Willie’s and get a Call-a-Cab before the pageant begins.
– This isn’t a festival, but since I was asked about outdoor events I will mention this: Downtown Memphis has one of the best farmers markets in the country, the Memphis Farmers Market, at the corner of Front and G.E. Patterson. Once market season begins on April 2, MFM happens every Saturday from 7 AM to 1 PM. What makes this market one of the best is that there is so much more than fresh produce: Live music, food trucks, dog adoptions, health fair presentations, cooking demos, meat vendors, bread vendors, salsa vendors, pre-prepared food vendors, crafts. Schedule and weather permitting, I like to go down there 9:45-10ish and stay until I have to be at Panda Time/Brunch with Bloom at Bardog at 11. Where Rajun Cajun is known for great tube top watching, the Farmers Market is known for great yoga pants watching.
– Another outdoor event that happens in April, as well as the other 11 months of the year, is South Main Trolley Night. The shops and galleries of South Main stay open the last Friday of every month from 6 to 9 PM, or really “6 PM until the musicians go home.” Live music up and down Main Street, art shows, and more. Excellent chance to meet your neighbors and mingle with them. In particular check out South Main Songwriter Night at 550 S. Main when you go. Some of Memphis’ best talent performs there, and it’s free to attend.
Moody Ques news: I have added a 2016 team member list to the team website sidebar (or footer if you’re on mobile). We have some awesome people on our team and a member list is something I have been wanting to do for a while. Team president Clay asked me yesterday, “Some of the people who were team members in 2015 are not listed, can you find a subtle reason to explain why?” Sure, I’m on it. I hope this conveys the right degree of subtlety:
WE WANT YOUR MONEY
If you haven’t paid your 2016 dues yet, pay them and I will add your name to the 2016 team member list. I will try to get you added within 24-72 hours.
On to the news… The Mersey Beatles play the Halloran Centre tonight. This is the most widely-known Beatles tribute band, with several costume changes, covering the Beatles’ entire catalog. In addition, John Lennon’s sister Julia will be there.
107 S. Main has a new owner. Allan Long has sold the blighted building on an otherwise bustling block of Main. This is great news. A mural is being commissioned to cover up the facade of that eyesore in the short term, and the building will be redeveloped in 1-2 years.
Wondering why the I-40 “M” bridge is dark at night? Electrical short.
The Grizzlies host the Utah Jazz tonight at 7, and they will host their first ever Go Green Game this Sunday, March 6. Prior to the game, from 1 to 3 fans can visit interactive stations around the lobby and get eco-friendly tips. They will be able to take photos with cutouts of their favorite Grizzlies and have them printed out immediately. The following Saturday, the Grizzlies will participate in a tree-planting event at Shelby Farms and fans are invited to join.
Five days after the Go Green Game, the Grizzlies have a big giveaway. Next Friday, March 11, the Grizzlies host the New Orleans Pelicans at 7 PM. It’s Wrestling Night and the first 3000 fans through the door get a Grizzlies Luchador Mask. I wonder if Jerry Lawler will show up and piledrive someone. If I remember correctly, they brought in “Nature Boy” Ric Flair for a previous wrestling night. WHOOOOOOOO!
Grizzlies center Chris “Birdman” Andersen has a new nickname: “Grizzilla.” Sache is making T-shirts.
Google searches for “Move to Canada” are up 350 percent since Donald Trump had a big showing on Super Tuesday. There’s a viral photo going around of Donald Trump Jr. holding the trunk of a dismembered elephant. It’s the perfect metaphor for the GOP right now.
Given Trump’s skin color and the fact that he’s a Republican in name only, should we color states he wins in November orange, rather than red?
That’s it for this long, newsy post. I will probably lead off at happy hour with Mary at the Blind Bear 5:30ish then figure out the rest of the evening from there.