Month: August 2018

Tuesday update

If you haven’t voted in the Memphis Flyer’s Best of Memphis 2018 poll, better get to it. Tomorrow is the last day for voting.

The Vault is having a collaboration night with Wok’n in Memphis food truck this evening.

The Pocket, a new luxury bar and cigar lounge at 115 Union, is set to open its doors to the public tomorrow. Starting September 14 it will be a members-only venue, so if you go in there and like what you experience, you can sign up.

Holly has reasons to celebrate 901 Day at Exposure at AutoZone Park. This year, however, 901 Day can’t be celebrated on 9/01 at the park, because they’re having the soccer exhibition match that day. So it will happen on August 30. Over 100 organizations will be there handing out information: everything from arts & culture, community organizations, fitness and sports organizations, organizations with volunteer opportunities, and social and entertainment organizations. If you have yet to find where you fit in as a Memphian, this is a day for you.

In addition to the organizations at 901 Day at Exposure, there will be a celebrity kickball game, Grizzlies-related entertainment, the Beale Street Flippers, food, frozen pops, and much more.

The Peabody was recently named the Best Historic Hotel in USA Today’s 10Best Reader’s Choice poll.

Roy Orbison returns to the stage at the Orpheum on October 23. Wait, isn’t he dead? Well, yes he is, but his return is made possible by a Hologram Concert Tour. Tickets go on sale this Friday at 10 AM.

Get ready for another alley party in Barboro Alley on Thursday, September 20, featuring DJ Capital A and DJ Superman. Free admission and Amurica photo booth pictures. Food by Belle Tavern, Aldo’s Pizza Pies, MEMPopS, and Local. Beers, games, and more.

The nonconference schedule for the Memphis Tigers men’s basketball team has been released. It’s certainly better than last year, with LSU, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, and Tennessee in the mix, plus possibly some other big names if Memphis advances in the AdvoCare Invitational.

Another WWE show is coming to the Memphis metro. NXT, the developmental territory for WWE, will have a show at the Landers Center on October 12, with tickets going on sale at Ticketmaster this Friday. Current WWE Universal champion Roman Reigns is a NXT alumnus, as are his brothers in The Shield and many more stars on the Raw and Smackdown rosters. Great chance to see the stars of tomorrow in a more intimate venue than FedExForum.

Writers at the Roof, a songwriter night hosted by Mark Parsell, happens tonight at Tin Roof 8 to midnight.

This is interesting: How to control a conversation, according to a dominatrix

That’s it for now. Time to watch tutorials for a development environment I haven’t used in a few years to get back up to speed, then after that I will get out. I heard I missed a good time at the cornhole tournament at Max’s Sports Bar last Tuesday, so this evening I will head down there and grab a spot on the back patio where I can watch. Back tomorrow with more news.

Monday update

It was another successful year at the Monroe Avenue Fest. Great music, some super raffle prizes, good food, lots of craft beer (thanks to Eagle Distributing for their sponsorship). I don’t have an exact dollar total for the amount raised for St. Jude but I will try to get that number and post it when it is available. Fundraising is still going on for a couple of months (and you can still donate online) so the total won’t be available for a while yet. Congratulations to Bardog on its 10th birthday and to Aldo, Melissa and everyone involved in the planning on an awesome event that makes Downtown a fun place to live.

Longtime bartender Panda is leaving for Colorado next week. I said goodbye by dunking her twice in the tank. James, you still owe me a ball. I’ll collect on that at the 2019 party.

Breakaway-Bardog 5K results are up. Hmmm, very interesting… the AGES of the runners are listed. If you know someone who ran the race and are curious about how old they are, you can search for their name and look it up. Hope no one who ran the race yesterday has been lying about their age!

Excited about the new USL soccer team in Memphis? Maybe you should join @BluffCityMafia. They’re not soccer hooligans, but they are people who plan to root for our city’s team in the most loud and obnoxious way possible.

Medium has a good article about the Memphis River Parks Partnership’s grand reopening of the Mississippi River Museum.

Wondering what’s on the menu of the Wok’n in Memphis pop-up brunch that happens at the Silly Goose every Sunday 11 AM-3 PM? I snapped a photo of the menu yesterday (click for a larger size).

Not sure if it changes from week to week, but this will at least give you an idea what to expect. Don’t forget that there’s music by DJ Maverick at brunch too.

November 10 has been announced at the Howl at the Moon fundraiser for Streetdog Foundation. I have been several years and it is a fantastic party.

The ever-popular beginner sushi class run by Birmingham Sushi returns to the Memphis Made taproom on Sunday, September 9 from 3 to 5 PM. These classes fill up fast, so if you want to take the class I recommend you sign up ASAP.

The MBJ has an article about the future plans of Hive Collective, the pop-up co-working an retail space at 100 S. Main.

Remember my “love my life but at the same time deeply depressed” post from a couple of weeks ago? I experienced that again yesterday. This time, though, it wasn’t career-related, but with regard to the social circles in which I run.

I had multiple people – including Aldo himself – come up to me and thank me for all I do for the alley party and Downtown in general, both through my blog and through just being a good listener and good friend. Thank you. Those words mean the world to me. My friend Neal said the other day, other cities don’t have what we have Downtown with this large and wonderful group of friends, and that is absolutely true. I am lucky and honored and privileged to be a part of this. In that sense, I love every day of my life.

There was also a group of people there, supposedly long-time friends, who couldn’t even be bothered to come up and say hello. They have heard and apparently believed things that have been said about me that are not true, without ever coming to me and asking my side of the story. They’ve had 3 years to do this but apparently can’t be bothered. As someone I confide in regularly told me, “At some point you have to question whether those people are really your friends.” I am deeply disappointed and hurt by those people.

(By the way – two from that group have come to me and talked about it. It means a lot to me that you did, and I want you to know you’re not included in the paragraph above.)

That’s it for now. I’m going to get back to my non-blog writing project and then get out mid-afternoon. Back tomorrow with more news.

Saturday update

This is not going to be a terribly long post. I’m working on a writing project and have been paying less attention to Downtown news than usual.

Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella plays the Orpheum today at 2 PM as part of the Summer Movie Series. Doors open at 1 with a drink special and movie-themed quotes.

The other day I was talking to my friend Dennis, and he showed me coupon books you can buy from the Memphis Union Mission. When someone approaches you, saying they are homeless and need help, you can offer them a coupon, entitling them to four free nights at the Mission, plus meals. By doing that instead of giving them money, you know that you are truly helping them and not paying for their next liquor bottle or crack rock.

I was in the Blind Bear last night and Mary had the 1994 Page/Plant remake of Led Zeppelin’s “Since I’ve Been Lovin’ You” playing. It made me realize, this coming Monday, August 20, is Robert Plant’s 70th birthday. Plant loves Memphis and is a frequent visitor. He is known to go clothes shopping at Winfield’s at Main and Madison.

You are so Memphis if…

One of the last postgame fireworks displays of the season happens tonight at AutoZone Park. First pitch is at 6:35, with select $2 beers in the Plaza prior to the game.

Here’s your daily reminder to go to Monroe Avenue Fest tomorrow from noon to 6 to have a fun Sunday while helping the kids of St. Jude.

Outta here for now. May skip a day tomorrow, but back no later than Monday.

Friday update

Monroe Avenue Fest now has its own Twitter handle. Follow the festival at @MonroeAveFest for the latest news.

Y’all, I’m going to say it one more time. This is seriously one of the most fun festivals of the year, with an entire block of Monroe Avenue (Front to Main) blocked off. Plus, it raises tens of thousands of dollars for the kids of St. Jude. There’s no shortage of things to do. There’s local food by the Slider Rider food truck, craft beer (and they have PBR too), a dunk tank, a raffle with some fabulous prizes donated by local businesses, live music all afternoon, giant beer pong, a VIP area with food and beer, Grandma’s meatball eating contest, and bartender Colin getting tattooed for St. Jude. It’s noon to 6 this Sunday. Prior to the festival is the Breakaway-Bardog 5K and after-party.

MATA is hiring trolley drivers. There will be a job fair next Thursday at the trolley barn at 545 N. Main.

The Memphis Redbirds are closing in on a playoff berth and tickets are now on sale. They have packages where you buy a ticket to Game 3 of the first or second rounds, a ticket which includes a cookout, and as part of that package you get free tickets to Game 4 (if necessary) and Game 5 (if necessary).

A security consultant made recommendations for improving safety on Beale Street, including reinstating the Beale Street Bucks cover charge on Saturday nights. Petty crime dropped 30 percent when the Beale Street Bucks program was in place.

Interesting random thing I read yesterday: How to make Taco Bell salt with leftover sauce packets

Celebrate the two acts that transformed rock and roll more than anyone else in history as Elvis meets The Beatles tonight at the New Daisy.

PRIMAS Bakery and Boutique has its grand opening tonight 5-8 at 523 S. Main.

Time to hit Publish and head to Bardog. I always like to be there the Friday before Monroe Avenue Fest and watch them do the last-minute planning. Bardog is family.

Back tomorrow with more news.

Thursday update

Did you know that the Orpheum is turning 90 years old this year? There’s going to be a gala called Soiree in the Spotlight to celebrate on November 10. The evening will start off with hors d’oeuvres in the Halloran Centre, then over to the grand old theatre for an evening of delicious food, a silent auction, an open bar, and dancing.

Veteran soccer coach Tim Mulqueen has been named head coach of the USL Memphis soccer franchise. Mulqueen is close with USL Memphis advisor and soccer superstar Tim Howard, and is credited with giving Howard his start in soccer at age 12.

Coach Mulqueen will throw the first pitch at Saturday night’s Redbirds game, and there will be a special ticket that includes a meet-and-greet before the game. After the game there will be fireworks.

Evan Farris and Company jam on the back deck tonight at the Dirty Crow Inn, 8 to 11 PM.

2000 movie Love and Basketball plays at the Orpheum tomorrow night as part of the summer movie series. There will be a special visit by the Memphis Grizzlies Grannies and Grandpas dance team prior to the game at 6 PM. The movie is rated PG-13 for language and sexuality.

Calvary Episcopal is hosting A Night with the Memphis Ukulele Band on Friday, September 7. Seating is limited and suggested donation is $10.

Want to add a snuggly ball of fur to your household? Meet Sabrina.

Adorable, isn’t she?

Choose901 is having a Toast the 901 event at Old Dominick on August 31. Bars, food trucks, games, music, dancing, and at midnight, a toast to the arrival of 9/01 Day.

There will be a Beale Street Art Crawl, free and open to the public, on Saturday, October 20.

This Gulf Redfish from Paulette’s on Mud Island flashed across my feed yesterday. Looks yummy.

Google comes to Memphis tomorrow at the main library. There will be seminars on the Google tools you can use to help your business. There will also be one-on-one coaching sessions for which you can sign up. Very cool!

Grizzlies announcer Pete Pranica has been asked to go to Mumbai to coach the local announcers. They have a game of the week there and do voice-overs. Sounds like the NBA wants the Indian announcers to learn from the very best of the best!

I watched the Miami Marlins-Atlanta Braves game last night and saw the first pitch. There is no doubt Marlins pitcher Jose Urena beaned Braves batter Ronald Acuna Jr. on purpose. I hope Urena gets handed a suspension. That kind of thing is not what baseball is all about.

ArtsMemphis has an opening for Director of Marketing & Donor Engagement.

If you want to play for the Memphis Hustle, there will be open local tryouts next month.

That’s it for this post. Sorry for being late getting it up, but I had some things on my mind and decided to do some writing. I may skip a day tomorrow because I like to be at Bardog the Friday before the alley party.

Wednesday update

The USL Memphis franchise will announce its first-ever head coach this afternoon at 2 on Facebook Live. Things are getting exciting as professional soccer comes to AutoZone Park in 2019.

Appropriately for Elvis Week, the Graceland Ninjaz headline the season finale of the Peabody rooftop parties this Thursday. $15 cover, $30 VIP. Admission includes a buffet of island jerk chicken, Cuban sandwiches, and grilled pineapple. VIP has a second buffet of whole roasted mojo pig, black beans and rice, and mini rum cakes.

Halloween Headbangers’ Ball!

A new convention center hotel is planned to be built next to City Hall. 26 stories, 550 rooms, 55,000 SF of meeting space, a restaurant, a cafe, and three bars will be in the hotel.

Memphis magazine is running a fiction contest, but if you enter you’re going to have to be succinct… you’re limited to 750 words.

People have been arrested for driving ATVs on the streets of Downtown Memphis. ATVs are not legal on public roads.

Bardog has added a Madonna’s greatest hits CD to their jukebox. For easy reference, it is CD number 30. In other Bardog jukebox news, Rico has been busting out some dance moves to the Bee Gees.

The Gray Canary, the new restaurant in Old Dominick Distillery, will kick off their Sunday Suppers this Sunday from 3 to 9. Prix fixe dinner menu, new bar menu, and new featured cocktails.

The Trader Joe’s out in Germantown will finally open next month.

That’s all for now. Back tomorrow.

Tuesday update

After this past weekend, I’m starting to wonder if the Earnestine & Hazel’s ghost is for real. This past Saturday I was in there and Clarence gave me $5 to play songs on the jukebox. It played all the songs I selected, but it also played two I didn’t, interspersed within the songs I played. What the…???

I had one of the best lunches I have had in a long time yesterday.

This was one of the lunch specials at Bardog yesterday. It was cheese tortellini with shrimp in Alfredo sauce. So good! When you go in Bardog, make sure to look at the board above the kitchen to see the specials. There are soups, a Daily Dog, mussels (usually), two to three entree specials, and desserts which lately have been cakes by Two Girls and a Whip.

In other Bardog news, shirts are in for this Sunday’s Breakaway-Bardog 5K and Monroe Avenue Fest.

Best Memphis Burger Fest may not be dead after all. Seth posted that last month, a group had contacted him about purchasing the rights to the name and to run the festival. He does not know their exact plans but believes they are going to hit the ground running.

Elmwood Cemetery will have an encore presentation of The History of Death this Sunday at 2 PM. This will be a 45 minute presentation on funerals, folklore, and how we memorialize our loved ones, and beer, wine, and snacks will be served. This event will be indoor and air conditioned, and pre-registration is recommended.

Memphis now has a rage room where you can go smash stuff.

Downtown Yoga will be offering a Healthy Hips workshop with Tedrah Smothers this Saturday from 2 to 4:30. The workshop will help you find freedom in your hips.

More yoga news: Bendy Brewski Yoga comes to Crosstown Brewing Co.’s taproom this Saturday at 10:30 AM. This is a 45 minute, all-levels class followed by beer and socializing with your fellow yogis. $15 for the class plus a beer. YOGA!

The Metal Museum will be offering “taster” classes on September 1. These classes, $50 each, will be 90 minute introductions to blacksmithing, mig welding, casting, and enameling. Register here.

A Bass Pro scuba diver hosts a live fish feeding every day at 10 AM and 3 PM.

There’s a special all-inclusive ticket tomorrow night at the Redbirds. For $20 you can walk up to any concession stand in the park and get free hot dogs, burger baskets, chips and cheese, popcorn, and fountain sodas.

Friday at the Redbirds will be Grit & Grind Night where the Redbirds celebrate the Memphis Grizzlies. Grizz, the Grizz Girls, Grizzline, and the Claw Crew will be there, and the Redbirds players will wear special jerseys that will be auctioned off for charity. There’s a special ticket for this game that gets you not only a seat at it, but a Terrace IV seat for opening night for the Grizzlies’ season.

High Ground News has an interesting piece on the tunnels of Gayoso Bayou.

Tomorrow from 2 to 4 PM, Hal and Julie Lansky will sign copies of their book Come On In, Young Man!, a children’s book about the relationship between Elvis Presley and Hal’s father/Julie’s grandfather Bernard Lansky, Clothier to the King. The signing will be at the Lansky Bros. store at Second and Beale in the Hard Rock Cafe building.

Elvis tribute artist Ted Torres Martin will perform ’68 Miles to Vegas today at 3 at the Halloran Centre.

I don’t normally post Cordova news here, but my BBQ teammate Chad is hosting a new trivia night at Fox and Hound on Wednesdays starting tomorrow. It’ll start at 7:00 and end around 9:30. Best damn Wednesday night trivia in Cordova, so come on out and play!

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

Sunday update

Got a tip about Central BBQ wings yesterday that I thought I would pass on. “The bones in most hot wings are rock hard,” the guy sitting next to me told me, “but because Central smokes theirs, the bones tend to be a bit squishy about 75% of the time. So what you do is, you bite the tip of the bone off and suck the marrow out. It’s so good.”

Important note for those of you who drive the streets of South Main: South Main will be closed from Butler to G.E. Patterson tomorrow, Monday, August 13, from about 7 AM to 7 PM. MLGW is trying to track down a leak in that area. Trolley service will also be shut down on that stretch of Main.

Aldo, the proprietor of Bardog, Slider Inn, and Aldo’s Pizza Pies, and his partners are preparing to open Slider Out at 363 Mulberry. The building last housed a garage. Like Slider Inn, Slider Out will have ample patio seating.

The alley outside the Rendezvous will get some improvements soon, including re-paving, public art, and string lights. The goal is to make the heavily-traveled alley an inviting and safe place for locals and tourists.

The Broom Closet at 546 S. Main will be offering herbal healing consultations on Saturday, August 22.

Elvis Week continues at the Halloran Centre today with Elvis: Ultimate Gospel by tribute artist David Lee. Elvis had often said that gospel was his favorite type of music to sing.

A tattoo shop is coming to The Edge District. Brian Venable, guitarist of Lucero, will open Bluff City Tattoo in October at 667 Monroe. This will be not far from the building at 597 Madison the band bought for its headquarters a few years ago.

Time to crowdsource the name of a song… I was at Bardog a few days ago and a song came on the jukebox that went something like “oooowie ka ka sha sha choo choo yeah.” I thought to myself, the last time I heard that song, I was eating cheese dip at Taco Bell on Cantrell Road in Little Rock in 1981. I should have pulled up Shazam on my phone, but I didn’t. Anyone know the name of that song and the artist who performs it. Bonus points if you know the CD and track numbers on Bardog’s jukebox.

Miranda Sings comes to the Orpheum today. Miranda is the character of actor, comedian, vocalist and author Colleen Ballinger.

Here’s a link to add the Grizzlies schedule to your calendar.

NEEDTOBREATHE plays Mud Island tonight at 7 PM.

That’s all for now. Back tomorrow with more news.