Mexican restaurant coming, Kooky moving, Farm Fest and more (Thur update #2)

The Downtown core will get a new Mexican restaurant around February of next year. After its lease expires October 31, Kooky Canuck will move down the street to 87 S. Second. That will allow a regional Mexican chain, Las Margaritas, to move into the current Kooky location at 97 S. Second. It will offer authentic Mexican cuisine in a hacienda-style atmosphere. I found the website for the West Memphis Las Margaritas if you want to get an idea what the place will be like.

Be sure to check out the featured article in this week’s Memphis Flyer, Downtown Boomtown. It explores the massive amount of development Downtown has seen under Paul Morris who used to run DMC through 2015, and under Terrence Patterson who runs DMC now.

From Forbes: You may have trouble finding pumpkin beer this fall. The problem dates back to the pumpkin shortage of 2015. Breweries that didn’t get their orders for puree in early may have trouble finding it now.

dutchDutch, the rescue dog I have been blogging about lately, got to leave the Memphis Animal Shelter yesterday and spent his first night in his forever home. I got to meet him briefly, and although he looks emaciated now, once he gets his heartworm treatment taken care of and once he gets about a month of good meals in him, he is going to be quite a dog. Dutch’s new owner reports that he is smart and does well on a leash, although he is shy about eating in front of people and prefers that they leave the room once they put his bowl down. People have really stepped up and have raised more than half the $1100 he will need for his heartworm treatment. You still have time to go to Dutch’s GoFundMe page and pitch in.

Things will be peachy keen at the Memphis Farmers Market this Saturday. It’s National Peach Month, and the Farmers Market has suggestions on picking the perfect peach. They say to look for one that’s golden to yellow with splashes of red sunsets, and they advise using your whole hand as opposed to just your fingers to check for ripeness, because peaches bruise easily. The UT Extension Institute of Agriculture will demonstrate how to make tomato bruschetta at 10, 10:30, and 11. Live music by Bailey Bigger 8:30-10 and Dave Madison 11-12:30. Don’t forget to dine at South of Beale between 7 and 10 tonight; proceeds will go to the Farmers Market. The market is open every Saturday from 7 AM to 1 PM under the pavilion at Front and G.E. Patterson.

SAVE THE DATE! Memphis Farmers Market’s Farm Fest comes to Loflin Yard Sunday, September 25 from 5 to 8 PM. Star & Micey will provide the live music, and there will be plenty of amazing local foods as well as local beer and wines. There will be both regular and silent auctions. This should be a lot of fun and I am always looking for an excuse to hang out at Loflin Yard! Tickets are $50 at the gate, but can be purchased in advance for $40 through September 24. Vendors and volunteers can get a discounted $25 ticket, and there’s a no alcohol ticket for $20.

If you’re a runner, check out this list of upcoming races Downtown.

The semifinals of the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist contest happen tonight at the Orpheum at 7 PM. Tickets are $32, a $75-145 two-day pass to the semis and the finals (on Saturday). Tonight 20 of the best Elvis tribute artists in the world will bring hours of his music to the historic theatre.

The first episode of South Main Sounds Live is now on YouTube.

Tin Roof will have samplings of Goose Island IPA every Friday at 5:45 PM through September 2.

While we’re on the subject of geese, I will be out at the Silly Goose after work, although I will be drinking a PBR rather than a Goose Island beer. Could be another post later today.