There is a LOT going on today folks! The biggest event of all will happen at the corner of Main and Peabody Place, at the south entrance to the Main Street pedestrian mall, from 5 to 7 this evening. Mayor Jim Strickland will light the Downtown holiday tree. There will also be beer by the Tapbox beer truck, music by the MDs, caroling by Downtown Elementary, face painting, and holiday treats. I WILL BE THERE* and hope you will be too!
(* by THERE I mean at the lighting ceremony or down the street at the Silly Goose drinking PBR. One or the other)
The new Downtown location of Kooky Canuck is set to open today, if all inspections are passed, at 87 S. Second, right down the street from its old location at 97 S. Second. The MBJ has a photo slideshow.
Over at Clayborn Temple from 7 ti 11 tonight, Funksgiving will happen. This is designed to promote the temple by bringing together people of all ethnicities and cultures. There will be old and new school funk by Bluff City Soul Collective and Southern Ave. The Tapbox will be serving beer there as well. Tickets are $8.
Over at the Cannon Center this weekend, there will be three performances of New Ballet Ensemble Nut Remix presented by Nike. The performances are at 7:30 PM tonight and tomorrow and 2:30 PM Sunday. Tickets start at $15.
Down at South Main Sounds at 550 S. Main, it will be Songwriter Night #42 tonight from 7 to 9. Songwriter night veterans Melinda Milligan and Evan Farris will be joined by newcomers Ted Horrell, Gene Lee (my neighbor!), and Chris Curtis. If you’ve never been, this is an intimate venue where you can get up-close and personal with the artists. The seating is comfortable, and merchandise and beverages will be available.
In other news, Loflin Yard is ready for winter. The patio just outside the safe house is enclosed, and gas heaters and fire pits have been scattered around the yard.
Bountiful Blessings is the theme of the last Memphis Farmers Market of the regular season, tomorrow at Front and G.E. Patterson under the pavilion from 7 AM to 1 PM. Adam Levin will provide the live music, For the kids, corn, the vegetable you see again tomorrow, will be a big part of the crafts booth where you can make Thanksgiving decorations 9-11. The Streetdog Foundation will be there adopting pets 9 to noon. It’s the last Lost & Found, so if you’re missing anything from a previous week come get it! There will be a holiday market December 10 and then they will be off until April 1. Needless to say, I WILL BE THERE**.
(** THERE = the Market itself or nearby at E&H or Max’s drinking PBR.)
Great WREG news story on how Chef Gary from DeJaVu gives back to the community.
Purchase of an adjacent site will allow development of One Beale to proceed, providing room for a parking garage.
There’s a scavenger hunt by Urban Adventure Quest this Sunday. Tickets are $44 for teams of 4.
A holiday pop-up shop is coming to Clayborn Temple, across from FedExForum on Hernando, Friday and Saturday, December 2 and 3. Memphis-themed shirts, hats and mugs will be on sale, as well as (appropriate for the holiday) tacky sweaters. Items will be in the $5 to $50 range. They ask that your purchase with credit or debit card. If you use cash, only exact change will be accepted.
High Ground News has an article on EDGE Arts, the new space at 600 Monroe.
It’s my birthday. I’m off work. The bar around the corner opens at 8 AM. You see what’s going to happen here, right? Having lunch at Agave Maria, then Bardog and Silly Goose time, then watching the Christmas tree lighting then a dinner at Golden India in Midtown. I’ve been stalking their menu online and am torn between the vindaloo and the saag. There’s going to be plenty of Fireball and PBR, so tomorrow’s post probably won’t be something you confuse with a Shakespearean soliloquy.