Friday update

Yesterday Memphis in May announced its 2019 honored country, and it’s not a country at all… it’s Memphis. Next year is Memphis’ 200th birthday and it’s the perfect time to honor our fair city. What a great decision.

Memphis in May had record revenue this year. That is great to read!

Peabody Deli & Desserts has mojito ice cream for a limited time. Must be 21 to indulge.

Belle Tavern will open at 2 today for the Manchester United game.

A couple of days ago I was up at Bardog, and Bloomers showed me one of the prizes that will be in this year’s raffle at Monroe Avenue Fest: PBR cornhole boards. Sweet! “We should auction off dates with people,” Bloom joked. Too bad we didn’t think of that in 2014, because I most definitely had a groupie who was following me around to bars around the time of Monroe Fest that year.

Swamp stomp blues come to the Brass Door tonight with the return of Iron Mike Norton. 7 PM show.

The Daily News has a good piece on the Hive Collective pop-up retail shop and co-working space that will occupy 100 S. Main for the next month.

Wiseacre has announced its Oktoberfest celebration for Saturday, September 29th. Gourmade food truck, Mighty Souls Brass Band, Memphis Beer Choir, Rogue Chefs will all be there. Beer specials and costume contests to be announced.

Music Export Memphis is looking for musicians to perform at venues around the region in a series of concerts in fall of 2018. The goal is to expose residents of other cities to all that Memphis has to offer musically.

Just City Memphis’ Plunge to Expunge returns August 30 at Memphis Made. Dunk local celebrities to raise money to expunge criminal records to give people a second chance.

Do you have the voice? The University of Memphis marketing team is looking for public address announcers for each of its eight major sports.

Southern California native Elvis Tribute Artist Jacob Roman and 2009 Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest winner Bill Cherry will remember the King at noon today at the Halloran Centre. This is the first of five Elvis tribute shows at the Centre over the next five days.

Steel Magnolias plays the Orpheum tonight as part of the Summer Movie Series. The movie begins at 7, with the lobby open at 6 for movie-themed fun and drinks.

This November will mark the 10th year of Downtown Dining Week. Visit the website to see how your restaurant can get involved. This is a big chance to introduce people who might not even be aware of your restaurant to what you have to offer.

If you graduated from the University of Memphis in the past year (December 2017 or later) with a graduate, professional, or doctoral degree, you are eligible for two free football tickets for the 2018 Tigers season. The athletics department will send out an email soon to those eligible.

Congratulations to my former neighbor across the hall and former Downtown Memphis Commission president Paul Morris on being named part of county mayor-elect Lee Harris’ transition team. Also on the team: former Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins.

If you missed the episode of Classic Memphis Wrestling dedicated to Brian Christopher Lawler, the video is now online.

Bill Stanek, Merit Koch, Sarah Williams and BJ Banks will perform tonight at Songwriter Night 94 at South Main Sounds, 550 S. Main.

Sorry for the lack of news in yesterday’s post. I was just down in the dumps a bit and needed to vent. Special thanks to a friend who was a very good listener yesterday.

Well blast… I have been waiting on the weekly Memphis Farmers Market email so I can fill you in on happenings there, but it hasn’t shown up yet and I have a time-sensitive item in this post (the Elvis thing at Halloran Centre at noon) so I can’t wait any longer. The Market runs every Saturday 8 to 1 at Front and G.E. Patterson. Produce, meat, live music, food trucks, and beer by TapBox. I haven’t made it there the past couple of weeks but will probably go tomorrow.

Back tomorrow with more news.