Saturday update

Martin Lawrence brings his comedy event, the LIT AF tour, to FedExForum this evening. Lawrence will be your host presenting a lineup of comedians including JB Smoove, Jay Pharoah, Bruce Bruce, and Adele Givens.

In other FedExForum news, it’s been announced that Floyd “Money” Mayweather will be in town for the Big Payback fight there on July 21.

Furthermore, Nicki Minaj and Future will co-headline FedExForum on October 23. Tickets are now on sale.

The 37th annual Outdoors Inc. Canoe and Kayak Race happens at Greenbelt Park and Mississippi River Park today from 10 AM to 2 PM.

Michael Donahue has three Best Bets for grilled cheese that are all located Downtown. Two of them, Cafe Keough and Lisa’s Lunchbox, seem like naturals for the designation. However, like Donahue, I never would have thought of going to the Rendezvous for a grilled cheese sandwich. It was originally created for kids, but adults can order it too.

Former Cardinal Jason Motte, owner of a 2011 World Series ring with the team, has taken a job at the University of Memphis as director of player development. The University now has two employees walking around with world championship rings on their fingers, Mike Miller being the other. I am so excited to see what is happening at the university that awarded me my Master’s degree and employed me for five years as an instructor. There’s a culture of striving for excellence there now that didn’t exist, except in small pockets, when I was there.

Inside Memphis Business has a profile on the couple behind Jack Pirtle’s Chicken. Cordell and Tawanda Pirtle are two of the nicest people I have ever met and do a lot to give back to their community. If you want to shop local, go get you a 2-piece and dip that chicken in Pirtle’s famous gravy.

I’ve seen on social media that you’re not allowed to ride those Bird electric scooters on sidewalks. You have to ride on the streets. I can see that working Downtown, but those things are in Midtown too. Can’t imagine riding down Poplar or Union on one of those scooters. Downtown stakeholders who I highly respect are questioning whether this was fully thought through. We shall see.

The Memphis Medical District Collaborative has launched Hire Local 901, a place to connect people and jobs in and around the Medical District. Seeking a job? Let your neighbors know. Have a position to fill? Find someone who can walk or bike to work.

Lunch pic from yesterday:

This is the kimchi soba noodles from Urban Fusion & Asian Bistro out on Exeter Road in Germantown. The noodles are stir fried with zucchini, mushrooms, bok choy, onion, and of course kimchi and beef. I love the flavor and the spice of kimchi and it made this dish a superb one. You can get this dish with udon noodles instead of soba if you prefer. Although I got the beef, you can also get chicken, shrimp, scallop, or seafood kimchi noodles. The seafood noodles come with mussels, shrimp, scallops, and squid. One day when I have a really productive day at work I will reward myself with the seafood noodles.

They asked if I wanted spice level 1, 2, or 3. I got 2 and it was spicy but I’m sure I could have comfortably handled level 3. My advice: If you don’t like spicy, get level 1 (but then, why would you order kimchi anyway?) If you’re okay with spice, get level 2. If you love spicy food, go for 3.

After work I headed down to my “home away from home on the south side,” Max’s Sports Bar, where I tried their new Banana Hammock slush.

A Banana Hammock is made of alcohol, ice, a little splash of banana flavor, and some yellow food coloring. Available for a limited time at Max’s, so get it while it’s cold!

I’ve come to a decision: I do happy hour in the Downtown core Monday-Thursday. I feel like I haven’t spent enough time in South Main this year, so from now on, I am making South Main my permanent Friday happy hour location. Max’s, Earnestine & Hazel’s, The Vault, Pontotoc Lounge, however my mood strikes me.

One of my favorite follows on Twitter, Kremlin Trolls Counterintelligence, had some words that made me happy last night:

Farmers Market is first on my list for today. Trying to decide if I’m going to walk over to the literary arts festival in The Edge later today. On one hand, I do have the bona fides as an award-winning writer to be there, and I am your number one source of news and information about The Edge. On the other hand, I don’t write fiction or poetry, which I have a feeling will be the major genres covered, and it’s unclear whether there will be anyone selling PBR at the festival. I guess I’ll make it a game-time decision. Back tomorrow with more news.