Memphis Madness, introducing the 2017-18 Memphis Tigers basketball teams, is tonight at FedExForum. There’s a meet-the-players autograph session at 6, followed by team introduction and a scrimmage at 7. There will be a dunk competition, former Tigers men’s and women’s players, and performances by Memphis Pom Squad, Mighty Sound of the South, iHeartMemphis, and Gabrielle Nicole. The event is family-friendly. Tickets are $5, with free admission to kids under 12 and U of M students.
This weekend, Old Dominick Distillery and Dream Bars are teaming up to transform the distillery into witchy digs straight out of Salem. Tonight at 7 there will be Hocus Pocus Trivia.
Mark the calendar for next Thursday. YOGA!
Mark your calendars for our Yoga + Beer Benefit (for @GrizzliesPrep) next Thursday (Oct 19) evening! $15 = one hour class + 10oz brew. pic.twitter.com/kf3m7ta9Y2
— Ghost River Brewing (@GhostRiverBrew) October 12, 2017
Pontotoc opens next week at 314 S. Main in the former Cafe Pontotoc space. It will be run by Daniel Masters of the Silly Goose. There will be jazz music and initially it will only be open for dinner, adding breakfast, lunch, and brunch later.
The Brass Door is hiring servers and bartenders who can bring warm hospitality in an Irish setting. They are taking applications today, tomorrow, and Saturday 11 AM-3 PM. The Brass Door is at 152 Madison between Second and Third. They ask that you apply in person rather than call. The Brass Door has brought the folks who run the Majestic in as consultants for the Irish pub’s re-opening.
Local artist Kong Wee Pang has been selected to lead a lighting and mural installation on the I-40 underpass at the Cook Convention Center.
Grizzlies owner Robert Pera has indicated that he expects Tony Allen’s #9 jersey to be hanging in the rafters at FedExForum next to Zach Randolph’s #50 one day. That is an idea I can totally get behind.
Any of my readers been to Esperanza Bonanza in Marion, Arkansas, particularly the BBQ competition? We’re looking for a spring regional in which to compete. I posted this question to Facebook and Heath from Victory Lane BBQ responded that it is a good one. That tells me two things: 1) It must indeed be a good competition if Victory Lane enters; 2) Our chances of becoming grand champion out in Marion are likely about 0.01% if Victory Lane enters. 
Trump dumped: Donald Trump’s planned visit to England next year has been downgraded and will no longer be a State Visit. That means there will be no pomp & circumstance, no state dinner, no military parades, he won’t spend the night in Buckingham Palace, and he very likely won’t meet the Queen. By contrast, the Queen had lunch on her 90th birthday with President Barack Obama.
That’s it for now. I’ll be out at Silly Goose happy hour after work. Back tomorrow.