I want to start off this post with a “thank you” to the Memphis Police Department. The past few days, I have seen a uniformed officer patrolling on foot in the area around Main, Second, Madison, and Monroe. That area has long been a problem because of the liquor store on Madison that sells the low-priced stuff. There are a group of 6 to 10 “regulars” who hang out in the area, panhandling to get a few dollars, going to the liquor store, drinking, then repeating. These people get quite drunk and have a history of harassing the public at the Madison trolley stop on Main, in front of the convenience store at Second and Madison, and along that block of Madison. They tried putting a police camera on the block, but it didn’t deter the panhandlers. A uniformed officer is a welcome sight and I have not seen the usual suspects for several days now.
Here’s something to consider: Look how much South Main has improved since Frank’s Liquors, another store that sold the cheapest of the cheap booze, closed several years ago. The area is by no means free of panhandlers, but they don’t have a central point of orbit down there anymore. I see the block of Madison between Second and Third having as much potential as the block of Main between Talbot and Huling – but on Madison, it’s largely unrealized potential because the bums discourage people from wanting to come to that area. I wonder how much business Havana’s Pilon, Qahwa, and the Brass Door have lost because of them.
Loflin Yard, “Downtown’s backyard” the new restaurant/bar at 7 West Carolina, opens Thursday. This seems like it is going to be a really neat space. Anyone want to walk/Lyft down there Thursday and check this place out? The MBJ has a slideshow with 35 photos.
If you’re a fan of late ’80s and early ’90s music, you might want to organize a road trip to Little Rock on July 29. There will be an I Love the ’90s concert featuring Salt-N-Pepa, Vanilla Ice, Kid & Play and others.
Closer to home, there will be a punk rock fest June 3-6 in Memphis. There will be multiple venues, with punk bands from around the region performing.
Another brewery has decided to expand its taproom hours. Starting April 19, the High Cotton taproom at 598 Monroe will be open six days a week. Tuesday-Friday the taproom will be open 4 to 9, then on Saturday 2 to 10 and Sunday 1 to 6.
As if the event list for Saturday, April 16 were not crowded enough already with Downtown Olympics, Memphis Brewfest, and the Memphis Flyer Bacon and Bourbon Fest, here’s one more… The Harbor Town Crawfish Fest will happen that Saturday from noon to 7. The festival will happen outside Move & Pizza Company at 110 Harbor Town Square on Mud Island. It benefits the Mid-South Food Bank and the cost to get in is $5 or 2 canned goods. Gerry Finney will provide the live music.
Holly has an excellent post on what you need to know about the 2016 Memphis Redbirds baseball season. She has ticket prices, promotions, and things that are new at AutoZone Park this year.
Max’s Sports Bar will open at 1 PM today for those who want to watch some baseball.
The Grizzlies have lost six in a row but remain 5th in the Western Conference for now, with 5 games remaining. Ninth-place Houston, who would be first out of the playoffs if the season ended today, trails Memphis by 3 games. Two of the Grizzlies’ five remaining games are against 69-8 Golden State, which is about as far from an ideal schedule as it gets.
That’ll do it for now. I’ll be out at Melissa Monday at Bardog after work, then wander over to the Blind Bear a little after 7. Another post is a possibility this evening.