Duffin from Bluff City Coffee @ Memphis Farmers Market + Sunday news

Yesterday I walked down to the Memphis Farmers Market and went to the food truck area in the back to survey my breakfast options. I wasn’t in the mood for a smoothie from the So Fresh Juice truck, and nothing at the Fuel or Monkey Train Grazing Co. food trucks quite struck a chord with me.

Then I turned around.

Over the years I have gone to the Farmers Market, I have tended to ignore the Bluff City Coffee booth because I am not a coffee drinker. However, I have failed to notice their huge selection of pastries and breads. The pastry case Bluff City brings to the Farmers Market seems as big as the one at the store itself.

“What is that?” I asked, pointing at a cinnamony-looking pastry.

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“That’s a duffin,” I was told. “It’s like, half doughnut and half muffin.” It was $3. I bought one and walked back to the Farmers Market concourse. All the tables were taken, so I sat on the wall in front of the Market and ate my duffin. It was good! It was cinnamon sugar flavored. There are other flavor duffins as well, which I will try in future weeks. If you want to read more about duffins, Holly wrote about them in 2014.

By the time I finished my duffin, the clock had ticked past the 10:00 hour. “Earnestine & Hazel’s is open,” I thought. “I’ll walk over and see what Clarence is up to.”

This is what Clarence was up to:

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HOLY ONIONS, BATMAN!!!

Earnestine & Hazel’s signature food item is the “Soul Burger,” a burger cooked on this very grill, with mustard, mayonnaise, pickle, the grilled onions you see above, and a bag of chips on the side. Many Memphians claim it is the city’s best burger. I disagree (the Double-Double at Dyer’s on Beale Street gets my vote) but it is definitely in the top ten. There are few experiences more Memphis than dropping a five in the jukebox, playing some tunes, and then ordering a Soul Burger and a beer.

After E&H it was time for my normal Saturday routine, brunch with Bloom at Bardog then over to Blind Bear to see my favorite pair of librarian glasses. We had a special visitor back in town for the weekend, the co-founder of my BBQ team, Moody.

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Moody was hitting all the spots and seeing her peeps. She won’t be able to make it for Burger Fest but will be back in town later this year.

Is this not the most awesome shirt ever?

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I walked over to the Peabody this morning to use their ATM. It’s across the walkway from Lansky Bros. clothing store, and this shirt was in the window. If you can’t tell (click the image to see it in a larger size), those are cassette tapes on the shirt. It’s a perfect gift for anyone who listened to music in the early Eighties.

Whoever thought to put an ATM next to Lansky was a genius. I bet there’s a lot of money that never even makes it out of the building.

Hotel Napoleon, the boutique hotel soon to open at the southeast corner of Third and Madison, is now hiring. Send a resume to hnhiringyou@gmail.com to be considered.

Quench is having a wine tasting Friday evening, August 5, from 5 to 8. Quench’s wine tastings are always educational, and this one will feature the products of Washington State producer Charles Smith. His wines are a modern style, designed to showcase the grape and the region in which it is grown, while being ready to drink right off the shelf. As always there is no charge for this tasting.

There will be a benefit concert for singer Ruby Wilson this afternoon at 2 at B.B. King’s on Beale Street. Live music, special guests, and a silent auction.

More live music: Melinda Milligan & Friends play the Center for Southern Folklore from 4 to 7 today.

Time for D-RANKS with B-RAD at Hung Over Like a Bear Sunday brunch at the Blind Bear. I just did a count; today will be my 83rd consecutive Sunday at Blind Bear. Later in the day I plan on spreading a little sunshine at my “home away from home on the south side,” Max’s Sports Bar. There’s no Sunday Fun Day like a Sunday Fun Day in Downtown Memphis and it is time to do it up right!

Saturday update

I have figured out one of the secrets of life, how to get myself to go home early on a Friday night. The trick is to buy extra food from Maciel’s Tortas and Tacos and leave it in the refrigerator. As early as 7:30 I was sitting at the Blind Bear, Jeannette asking if I want another beer. I had to stop and think, “DO I want another beer? Or do I want Maciel’s…” By 8:30 I was home eating Mexican food. “I’ll eat, then a quick nap, then back out for late night.” A friend was coming in town for the weekend, but her flight had been delayed so that plan made perfect sense. However, when I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was “3:47” in red digital letters, so that trip back out never happened.

There’s a cornhole tournament today at Loflin Yard. First Tennessee Bank Interns and the Memphis Young Professionals for the American Cancer Society are teaming up to present the tournament. Registration opens at noon and closes at 12:30. Prizes for best team name, best dressed, and first and second place. There is  no cost to enter but donations will be appreciated. Prizes include gift cards from some of Memphis’ best spots. Proceeds go to American Cancer Society – Memphis.

In addition, Loflin Yard will be rolling out a new seasonal cocktail menu this weekend.

Fun event coming up at Miss Cordelia’s and Cordelia’s Table Wednesday, August 3 from 5 to 8 in the evening. It will be a tap takeover by Memphis Made Brewing Co. Memphis Made co-owner Andy will be there to talk about the beers they brew. Hungry? The DeJaVu and Monkey Train Grazing Co. food trucks will be there, as will frozen pop vendor MEMPOPS.

In other Memphis Made news, their ever-popular beginner sushi class returns to the taproom on South Cooper Sunday, August 28. Birmingham Sushi Class will teach you how to roll sushi. $40 includes all food and supplies, and you get to eat what you roll. This will be the sushi class’s fifth time at the taproom, and the previous four have all been sellouts, so if you want to sign up, don’t delay. Sign up here (I have no idea why it says this is the Little Rock class, but I am pretty sure it is a typo.)

PRO TIP: Memphis Made is not far from Tiger Lane. What you could do is start that Sunday at Best Memphis Burger Fest, where my team The Moody Ques will be competing. For a small donation to animal charities you can sample our burger. Then you have a short drive or walk over to the sushi class. Sounds like a pretty good Sunday!

There is no place I would be but with my team that day, but the 28th will be bittersweet for me for a couple of reasons. First of all, it will be the first time in nine years that I have missed a Bardog alley party. But if YOU go, be sure to drop some money in the bucket to support my neighbor Kitty Wompas who is shaving her head to raise $20,000 for St. Jude. Secondly, it will be the first time since B-RAD took over Sundays 20 months ago that I will miss Hungover Like a Bear brunch at the Blind Bear. The streak comes to an end…

High Cotton is doing a Mango Pineapple Belgian IPA as its beer special in the taproom today.

Daniel is always coming up with new innovations to make the Silly Goose even better, so I have a request. Can you find some kind of white-noise machine that drowns out conversations about Pokemon? I am so tired of hearing about that stupid game. Last night I checked in at the Goose and commented, “This conversation about Pokemon is brought to you by the letters S, T, F, and U.”

There’s blues, swing, rock and funk at King’s Palace Tap Room on Beale tonight as Metropolitan Avenue takes the stage. They’ll be playing from 8 to midnight.

Time to get outside! The Farmers Market is first on my list today, followed by the usual Bardog visit at 11, rest of the day TBD. The rain has swept out of the area and I hope it took all the Pokemon with it.

 

Camo caps, chocolate peanut butter beer, tax-free weekend and more Friday news

If you don’t have plans for this evening, it would not be a bad night to watch some baseball and get some free stuff. The Redbirds close out a homestand tonight with a game against the Oklahoma City Dodgers, with the first pitch at 7:05 and the gates open at 6. The first 1500 fans in the gate receive a replica of the St. Louis Cardinals’ 1926 World Series ring. Also, there is a special ticket you can buy ($18 field box, $21 dugout) that comes with a camo Redbirds cap. There will be a block party in the plaza before the game, and if the Redbirds score 6 you will get a promo code to use for 50% off a pizza at Papa John’s tomorrow.

Craft beer alert: High Cotton has announced that they are doing a Reese’s meets Scottish Ale chocolate peanut butter beer in their taproom today.

The El Mero Taco food truck tweeted that it will be outside Stock & Belle at 387 S. Main this evening for South Main Trolley Night. They have shrimp tacos on the menu all week.

It’s Tax Free Weekend in Tennessee. Clothing $100 or less, school supplies $100 or less, and computers $1500 or less can be bought sales tax-free through Sunday.

I completely agree with the Commercial Appeal’s endorsement of Rep. Steve Cohen for another term. He has worked well with those across the aisle in an era in which bipartisanship has become less and less common. Furthermore, he has successfully directed funding to his district for projects that have benefited all of his constituents. Given his integrity and experience, I cannot think of a better person to represent the Ninth District.

Baobab Filmhouse opens a week from today at 652 Marshall out in The Edge District. The theater will show films that show the true reality of the black experience.

GLO Airlines will be a Scoops Parlor tonight for South Main Trolley Night. They will give away swag and there will be a raffle for tickets to New Orleans.

That’s it for now. Will look at the weather later today to decide if a South Main Trolley Night trip is in the cards for me.

 

Thursday update #2

A golf-themed entertainment center may be coming to Downtown. Memphis is attempting to lure TopGolf to the tourism district in the area around Bass Pro Shop at the Pyramid and St. Jude. Landing TopGolf would add 400-500 jobs Downtown.

Many of you remember watching Sesame Street every day in your childhood. I did too. In a surprising move, the show laid off 40+ year cast members Gordon, Luis, and Bob this week. WWE Hall of Famer The Iron Sheik was one of many who disagreed:

My visit to the Court Square food truck rodeo this week led to my discovery of a food truck I did not know about: Rice Burner. They serve mobile Japanese cuisine with Southern Style. Their Down South fried rice is one of their biggest hits.

The Art of Living-Memphis is our city’s branch of one of the world’s largest volunteer-based nonprofits dedicated to creating a stress-free, violence-free society. This Sunday, July 31, the Memphis chapter will host free yoga at Tom Lee Park at 7 AM. Beginners and advanced practitioners alike are welcome. If you didn’t make it to Tom Lee this year for BBQ Fest, you still have a chance to come on down to the park for some yoga!

The Memphis Flyer reports that there is a new grant program to fund ideas for the activation of public space in the Medical Center District. $1000, $2500, and $5000 grants will be awarded beginning Monday. If I have any readers who live in The Edge District, the Medical Center District’s boundaries include your ‘hood too, stretching all the way west to Fourth on Madison, Monroe, and Union. More information and grant application here.

Recipe time: Cinnamon-banana cupcakes baked with Fireball

The donut shop at 8 S. Main is now selling a hot dog combo, where you can get a hot dog with chips and a drink for $3.95. Why drive all the way to Union and Pauline for a hot dog from Burger King, when you can now get one right here on the Main Street Mall?

Arsenal vs the MLS All-Stars will be shown tonight at the Brass Door at 6:30. Although Seamus will be at the game watching it live, you can still come watch it at the bar. Happy Hour throughout the game, and $3 Jameson shots (see Clay I spelled it right that time) every time Arsenal scores.

That’s this afternoon’s news. Heading to happy hour.

Pokemon GO announcement + Thursday news

Readers, I have an important announcement concerning Pokemon Go this morning that I went out and found just for you.

Here are instructions on how to give up on Pokemon Go and cancel your account.

It sounds nearly as complex as canceling your Comcast account, surprising when you consider it’s just an app on a phone. You have to respond to an email, and after that it still might be a week or two before your account is deleted. Still, though, now is not the time to procrastinate; the sooner you start the process, the sooner you will be free from the world of trainers and gyms and XP and Pikachus.

On to the news… Let’s Roll into Watermelons at the theme at the Memphis Farmers Market this Saturday. It’s the Market’s annual watermelon roll for the kids. Kids 8 and under can sign up at the Market’s information table at the front of the pavilion, with the first heat 9 AM and second heat at 9:30. Winner gets to keep their watermelon for free! There will be a food demo by the UT Extension of Agriculture at 10, 10:30, and 11, with cantaloupe salad being the dish this week. The Master Gardeners are back this week to answer your questions from 10 to noon. Stretch your boundaries with a free class from Downtown Yoga from 10 to 11 (bring mat and water). Live music by S. Smith 8 to 10:30 and Triumph of the Wild 11 to 12:30. The Market happens every Saturday from 7 AM to 1 PM, under the pavilion at Front and G.E. Patterson. Don’t forget to check out the food trucks in the back!

My friends SNOZberry play Club 152 tomorrow night, Friday the 29th, from 7 to 10. This is the first time SNOZberry has played the club in several years and I know they would like to see all their fans.

KIX on Beale featuring Josh Abbott, scheduled for tonight, has been canceled. They plan to reschedule.

Justin Timberlake has thrown his weight behind the Memphis to the Big 12 movement.

The Memphis Made taproom will only be open 1-4 this Saturday. After that they will close for a private wedding reception.

The Smithsonian is looking to hire a person to taste and research beer to document the history of craft beer in America. Pay is $64,000 a year. Several people have suggested I apply, but let’s face it, I would mostly document PBR. Paging G-Rock, this might be a dream job for you, and you certainly are overqualified if anything.

U-Haul has bought a building at 137 West Illinois and is converting it into U-Haul Moving & Storage of South Bluffs.

Best Memphis Burger Fest is one month from today, Sunday, August 28 at Tiger Lane. The Moody Ques will be competing for the second year in a row. I hear that our friend Katie from DC is coming to visit that weekend, so we’ll save a veggie burger for her. Not only does our team make the best burgers, but we have the best vegetarians as well! Vegetarians love the Moody Ques!

Don’t forget that there are spots open to the World Food Championships for the top-performing teams at Burger Fest. To use a poker term, we are looking at Burger Fest as a satellite. We had a cooks’ meeting last Sunday and are in it to win it this year. How awesome would it be if the Moody Ques, Squeal Street, and the Fabulous Burger Boys emerged as the WFC qualifiers…

There’s a new mural at South Main and MLK Avenue. It’s six stories high. Holly has its story.

There are some front office positions open at Opera Memphis.

The Memphis Flyer has an article about Ghost River’s soon-to-open taproom. With the taproom, Loflin Yard, and The Dirty Crow Inn, the far south end of Downtown has really blossomed with entertainment options this year.

I think I’m gonna start putting an umlaut over Trümp when I write about him, to remind myself and my readers that we will be part of the Trümpreich next year if we don’t vote well this fall. (In other news, this blog may come to an end in March 2017 when I am assigned to a re-education camp.)

Working from home today, so I walked over to the Food Truck Rodeo at Court Square. Superman Roll from Sushi Jimmi for lunch!

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Shrimp tempura, spicy crawfish, fried white fish, crab stick, masago, green onions, spicy mayo and eel sauce ($10). Best lunch I’ve had on a workday in a long time!

Time to get back to work. I’ll be out at the Silly Goose after work, probably doing House Fireball shots in order to be able to deal with the Pokemon players in there. Back later today or tomorrow with more news.

 

 

Wed update #2

Potential sell-out alert: The 1994 movie Clerks will be shown at the Halloran Centre Friday night as part of the Orpheum’s Summer Movie Series. The movie series has moved to the Halloran Centre for a couple of months while the Orpheum gets renovations, but Halloran’s auditorium is smaller (I think capacity is 361). This is a very popular movie, and in a space that small it is likely to sell out. If you want to go, I suggest you purchase your tickets in advance. Tickets are $8 for adults/$6 children. This movie is rated R and I have seen it myself, and would not recommend taking kids under 13 to see it. Fabulous cult classic movie for adults though.

The movie starts at 7, but come early to take a quiz to see which Clerks character you are, and for the chance to win an Indie Memphis prize. Drink specials and selfie station prior to the movie.

Explore Memphis, the new bike share program coming to the city, will have a demo from 4 to 7 PM at Union and Main today.

Ghost Town Blues Band headlines the Thursday Peabody rooftop party tomorrow night. $10 to get in, first 200 ladies free, doors open at 6, entertainment starts at 7. Admission includes a buffet of assorted pintxos and…

Wait. You’re thinking “WTF is a pintxo?”, aren’t you? Google to the rescue. It’s a Spanish thing, a small snack that is skewered on a cocktail stick.

… and if you’re in VIP, you get a second buffet of traditional paella, tortillas espanola, and chorizo stuffed mushrooms. Raspberry margaritas and Firefly moonshine peach sangria are the drink specials, with an additional drink special of pineapple passion punch in VIP.

WWE Monday Night RAW has been announced for FedExForum Monday, September 19. I may have to go to that one. Would love to see Enzo Amore and Big Cass in person. Finn Balor too. Also Sasha Banks.

Loflin Yard has released their music lineup for this week: Paul “Snowflake” Taylor Thursday, The Joe Restivo 4 Friday, John Paul Keith Saturday, and Jeremy Pinnell and the 55s on Sunday.

For those of you who fly Southwest, there’s a deal for a discounted gift card for the airline right now.

That’s it for now, time to grab some lunch. Back tomorrow.

Wednesday morning update

This Friday coming up, July 29, is the last Friday of the month and you know what that means… it will be time for another South Main Trolley Night. Many of the shops and galleries in the South Main Arts District will stay open late so you can shop and mingle with your neighbors. The theme this month is “Christmas in July,” so put on your Santa hat and tinsel and come on down. There will be a Santa in the South Main Association area next to Bluff City Coffee. You can take your photo with him, and he will be taking pre-orders for holiday gifts from South Main shops. Free koozies for anyone wearing a holiday outfit.

South Main Songwriter Night 33 will happen that evening at 550 S. Main. Come hear music by Steve Schad, Steven Pittman, Roger Wild, Justin Davis, Amaris, and Mary Katherine Wright. Also, set your DVRs: There’s a new TV show! South Main Sounds Live will feature videos of the shows, interviews, and profiles of South Main businesses. The show will air at 1:30 AM on WREG on Sundays.

On Friday night, author Samantha Crespo will be signing the new second edition of her book, 100 Things to Do in Memphis Before You Die outside the songwriter night at 550 S. Main. Learn more about the book and a related contest here.

I have job news, but this is truly a different kind of job and you have to have the right personality. Inland Marine Services is hiring deckhands, cooks, and pilots. You’d be part of a team that helps get boats and barges up and down the Mississippi and other parts of the U.S. river system. The way it works is, you’re “on” (as in, on the boat) for several weeks at a time (I think 4 but don’t hold me to that), and then you come back ashore flush with cash to spend for a couple of weeks off. I have a buddy who does this and loves his job.

The Grizzlies 2016 preseason schedule has been posted:

French restaurant Tart Cafe, located in Midtown at 820 S. Cooper, is planning a Downtown location. The second location will open in One Commerce Square at Main and Monroe.

75% of Gabby Johnson will reunite this Friday to perform at the Tin Roof from 10 PM to 2 AM. Donnie Marrs, Juno Avent, and Joey McBride will perform.

Interested in being a teacher? Hawaii is begging you to move there to fill 1600 vacancies by teachers who will retire this year. If you have a bachelor’s degree and any experience with children at all, your chances are pretty good. You don’t need a teaching certificate. Special ed, science, and math are especially in demand.

One901 has a review of Scoops Parlor, where you can get ice cream and filled crepes on G.E. Patterson Avenue.

Evelyn and Olive will be closed August 23-30 to give their staff a vacation.

That’s it for this morning. Time for work. Possibly back later today with more.

Tuesday update

The Downtown Memphis Commission has announced its first round of grants for events and activation. Recipients include Victorian Village Home Tour, Start Co. “Summer Never Stops,” Beale Street Cigar Fest, Indie Memphis Youth Film Festival, Oktoberfest on the River, 19th Annual Indie Memphis Film Fest, Basketball Jones Art & Theatre Series, and National Black Box Performing Arts Fest/Strange Fruit performance at Cannon Center.

It’s dollar King Cotton hot dog night at the Redbirds, as is every Tuesday evening game. Opponent is the Oklahoma City Dodgers, first pitch 7:05, gates open at 6.

Hot Rods on Beale is back this evening. Check out the cars beginning at 6:00.

From Mashable: How to teach your dog to take selfies and text them to you. I have no doubt I know dog owners crazy enough to attempt this.

Downtown Yoga is having its special Candlelight Flow & Meditation class this evening at 6:45.

I have more information about National Night Out. It will happen Tuesday, August 2 from 6 to 8 at the Central Station (Farmers Market) pavilion. It’s a chance to learn how community-police partnerships can help make neighborhoods safer. Many MPD officers will be on hand, so please come out and thank them for all they do. This year especially, they need to hear your thanks. There will be food donated by local restaurants (don’t forget, get there right at 6 for Jack Pirtle’s chicken!) and live music by Just Around the River Band. Donations toward the Beale Precinct will be accepted. This event is hosted by DNA and SMA with the help of MATA and the Memphis Farmers Market.

Do you have a magnetic personality and enjoy engaging others? You can audition to be part of the Grizzlies Claw Crew on August 21. If selected, you’ll get to travel around the city and the region getting the public engaged with our Memphis Grizzlies. This is a great entry into a sports marketing career.

Left turns are coming to the intersection of Union and McLean in Midtown beginning August 1. The city will introduce a new signal for drivers to ignore as they play Pokemon Go.

You know how I have been predicting that the Rio Olympics are going to be a disaster? Well, here’s a sign o’ the times:

I need to do some research on the Romanian women’s gymnastics squad sometime soon.

Here’s a Bill Murray quote that is especially relevant last week and this week:

So if you lie to the government it’s a felony.
But if they lie to us, it’s politics.

If you missed my weekend posts, scroll back to Saturday for a chart of how much presidential candidates lie… even the most honest ones are only telling the truth about 50% of the time.

I completely agree with this Washington Post editorial about Donald Trump. Longtime readers know I was not a fan of George W. Bush, but I never had a doubt he would uphold the Constitution. Trump won’t necessarily. Here’s a Wikipedia page for those of you who want to know more about what a Trump presidency will be like: cult of personality. (No, not the song).

That’s it for now… maybe a second post later. I will be out at the Blind Bear after work this evening.

Herb-encrusted rack of lamb @ Rizzo’s

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A minor electrical fire closed Rizzo’s for several days last week. Everything was back in shape by Sunday, so Chef Michael Patrick did a rare Sunday opening. It sounded like a good excuse to try something off the new menu, so I headed down there. I got the herb-encrusted rack of lamb, with mango, horseradish demi-glace, and garlic mashed potatoes. How was it? I will borrow a phrase from my friend Jack… it was baaaaaaaad to the bone.

I won’t eat lamb from just any place, because if cooked wrong it can come out gamey. With Chef doing the cooking, though, I knew I had nothing to worry about. It was cooked to perfection. The garlic mashed potatoes were a perfect compliment and went great with the sauce. Absolutely an A+ dinner that I would get again.

Check out Rizzo’s website and take a gander at the new menu. It’s at the corner of South Main and Butler across from the fire station in the arts district. If you haven’t been to Rizzo’s, come find out why many people (including me) have been raving about Michael Patrick’s food for more than a decade.

I’ll try to be back at lunchtime or after work with a news post.

Son of Giant Hole, free food tip and more

If you live in the Downtown core and need to get to Riverside Drive to get to work, I would just avoid using Monroe to get there for the foreseeable future. Back in December, the city dug The Giant Hole between Front and Main and left it covered with metal plates for months. Yesterday they dug Son of Giant Hole.

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There were trucks that said MLGW on them, but I have also heard they are replacing one of Memphis’ oldest telephone exchanges. Personally, I think they just like digging holes.

Okay. I promised you an insider tip this weekend, so let’s get going on that. Tuesday, August 2 there will be an event under the pavilion at the Farmers Market at Front and GE Patterson. It’s National Night Out, an opportunity to thank our police officers, firefighters and other first responders for the work they do. It’s also a chance for the community to meet with our police officers and talk about how we can work together to protect our neighborhoods. There will be food and live music. More details to come but this is always a fun night.

So here’s my insider tip. I have not seen hours for this event published yet, but I will get them for you this week. What you want to do is not be fashionably late to National Night Out. Be there the very minute it starts. Why, you ask? Give me three words.

Jack Pirtle’s chicken.

Okay, indulge me just a little and give me four words.

Free Jack Pirtle’s chicken.

Restaurants from all over Downtown come out and supply food for National Night Out at the pavilion, but Memphians know where the good stuff is. Those two-pieces and chicken tenders and liver dinners will be gone in less than 20 minutes. Better put this one on the calendar, or you will miss out!

I should start a list of “you’re not a true Memphian until you…”  You’re not a true Memphian until you dip a piece of chicken in Jack Pirtle’s gravy.

While we’re on the subject of Jack Pirtle’s… they have a school supply drive barrel at Bluff City Coffee, 505 S. Main, through Wednesday. They are asking the public to fill it up with school supplies for the children of Memphis.

Free yoga returns to the Farmers Market this coming Saturday, July 30. There will be a yoga class by Downtown Yoga at the Market at 10 AM. Sign up here. YOGA!

Have you not got around to watching Star Wars: The Force Awakens yet? Well, you can watch it Tuesday, for free. It’s the finale of Twilight Tuesday at Beale Street Landing, with the movie shown for free on the big screen at 8:30 PM.

Giveaway alert for the kids at the Redbirds this evening: The first 1500 kids age 12 and under at AutoZone Park this evening get a free Rockey Redbird lunchbox. Kids run the bases after the game, and the first 2500 get a free Prarie Farms ice cream treat. Gates at 5, first pitch 6:05.

Memphis Made Brewing Co. is hosting Plunge to Expunge, a fundraiser for JustCity’s Clean Slate Fund, Friday August 12 from 4 to 7 PM. As you can imagine, it is a lot easier to find a job when you don’t have a criminal record… however, those eligible for expungement have to pay a $450 fee to make it happen. It’s not easy to come up with $450 when you don’t have a job. There will be a dunking booth with celebrity dunkees including Al Kapone, Katrina Coleman, Pastor DeAndre Brown, Professor Daniel Kiel, and Andy Cates. Music by Agent C of The Detective Agency.

SNOZberry returns to Beale Street this Friday, July 29, from 7 to 10 PM.

When I go to Grizzlies games, I enjoy seeing Z-bo and TA and Big Spain and all the guys play. I enjoy watching Grizz shoot T-shirts out of a cannon and I enjoy watching the Grizz Girls dance. But the thing I look forward to the most is a performance by the Grizzlies Grannies and Grandpas, their over-50 dance team. These guys and gals are fantastic… and they’re looking for you. Audition to be a part of the Grizzlies Grannies and Grandpas Saturday, August 20. If you want to get a head start, there are some clinics earlier in the month.

Paulette’s has announced its August Wine Dinner by chef Jeremy Jaggers for Tuesday, August 2 at 7 PM. There will be wines from California, Italy, Argentina and Washington. Courses will include a Popcorn Grit Cake, Creole Duck, Crab Stuffed Fliet Mignon, and Lemon Mascarpone Cheesecake. $65 per person plus tax and gratuity.

That’s all for now. Time for D-RANKS with B-RAD at the Blind Bear. Sunday Fun Day!