Wed update #2: Trolley Night and more news

Friday night of this week is the last Friday of the month, and you know what that means… it’ll be South Main Trolley Night with most shops in the neighborhood open until 9 or later. The South Main Association will be having their Oktoberfest celebration with food and beer in their usual spot next to Bluff City Coffee. If you’re a member, the celebration is free… even if you’re not a member, the $10 they are charging for all-you-can-drink beer is a very reasonable price point compared to other Oktoberfest celebrations. Come on out and join your neighbors!

If you want to check out some live music that night, it will be Trolley Night Shakedown at 550 S. Main from 7 to 9. Singer-songwriters Sean Apple, Maria Spence, Guy Venable, and Massimo Bevilacqua will perform.

Also that evening, Bailey Bigger will play outside Guiding Point Financial at 465 S. Main. Karen Brown will play the MLK 50 concert at the National Civil Rights Museum Amphitheater. Opera Memphis will conclude its 30 Days of Opera celebration with performances on South Main.

From AP: A lot of other nervous people are waiting for the other shoe to drop as an investigation into corruption in college basketball continues. Already, four college basketball assistant coaches have been named, along with a shoe company, financial advisers, agents, and the Universities of Louisville and Miami. Let me make this clear – this is not the NCAA investigating and handing down slap-on-the-wrist sanctions. This is the FBI investigating and people will likely be going to prison. The underlying issue here is systemic exploitation of student-athletes that the NCAA never had the authority or the balls to prevent.

Sports writers report that Rick Pitino was fired as Louisville’s men’s head basketball coach this morning (or, put on administrative leave, meaning effectively fired). Buh-bye, Rick! Also, AD Tom Jurich was fired (or placed on leave, but again, effectively fired) after refusing to fire Pitino. Hmmm, I would not be surprised to see another head coach at Louisville (whose last name rhymes with Pitino) implicated in this before all is said and done.

Josh Pastner and Tubby Smith may not have taken Memphis to any Final Fours the past 8 years, but you can damn sure bet they have steered the university away from getting caught up in this mess.

The City of Memphis is offering Manhood University for six Saturdays this fall.

The America, a cruise ship operated by American Cruise Lines, will be docked at Greenbelt Park from 8:30 AM to 6 PM tomorrow.

Bluff City Soap will be the featured vendor at Small Shop Saturday at the Ghost River taproom this Saturday. This is a chance for you to get to know one of our local makers while drinking great craft beer. Bluff City Soap makes all-natural soaps that contain no animal products or detergents. Their soaps are safe for your skin and contain ingredients that you can actually pronounce.

The City of Memphis is looking to hire a Recreation Program Manager – Parks & Neighborhoods.

That’s it for now. Back tomorrow with more.