“A quesadilla without cheese, that’s like, an egg roll”

That’s the kind of intellectual banter you’re missing if you’re not at the bar at the Blind Bear on Wednesday evening.

It’s also the annual AutoZone convention this week, and I was talking to a headquarters employee who has to give a brief speech today. I dared him to refer to his office as “corporate headquarters” in the speech instead of the “store support center.” He declined. Apparently that would be like the Doors being told they can’t sing “girl we couldn’t get much higher” on the Ed Sullivan Show and then doing it anyway.

More details about memorial plans for legendary Memphis wrestling announcer Lance Russell have been announced. His memorial service at Memorial Park on Poplar will be 11 to 1 Saturday and the public is invited. The time of Saturday at 11 AM was chosen because that’s when Lance was on TV calling matches for many, many years. It seemed appropriate for him to be with his fans at that time one last time, his family said.

Following the memorial service, there will be a memorial for Lance at Jerry Lawler’s Bar & Grill on Beale Street Saturday from 3 to 6 PM. The public is invited to that as well, and many Memphis wrestling stars will be there to pay their respects to the announcer who many feel is the greatest of all time.

Travel alert: Beginning Monday, October 9 at 9 AM and lasting for about a week, A.W. Willis Ave. will be closed between Front Street and Island Drive for railroad track repairs. During that time, Mud Island residents will need to use N. Mud Island Rd. for access.

Celtic Woman will return to the Orpheum with a show on April 28, 2018. Tickets will go on sale Friday, October 13.

Game Night returns to Memphis Made Brewing Co. on Sunday, October 22.

Memphis’ best beer festival, Cooper-Young Beerfest, returns on Saturday, October 14 from 1 to 5 PM in the Midtown Autowerks parking lot at 795 South Cooper. Why is this beer fest the best? Each brewery is required to send a rep from the brewery, rather than just have the distributor send someone. This ensures that you get to talk to the very people who made the beer you’re drinking, and there is an awesome education tent. Tickets are capped to ensure that you have time to enjoy your beer while talking to the brewers. CY Beerfest only accepts breweries (31 total this year) that are within a day’s drive of Memphis, so if you like what you taste you can road-trip for more. All of these things make the experience enjoyable for the brewers as well as the people attending. Buy tickets here with every cent of the proceeds benefiting the Cooper-Young Community Association. As I have said many times, if you attend one beer fest a year in Memphis, make it this one. This isn’t about getting your photo in a society magazine. This is about the beer, as it should be.

Time to go to work. Possibly back at lunchtime with a second post.