Just wanted to give one last reminder that the Bluff City Mafia, the supporters’ group for soccer in Memphis, is having their One Month Away party (one month away from Memphis 901 FC’s first regular season home game) today at Brass Door beginning at 4 PM. You’ll be able to talk to them about what it means to be part of Bluff City Mafia, and if it sounds good you can join for $25. Membership gets you a scarf, a sticker, preferred seating in the supporters’ section, and other perks to be revealed throughout the season.
The Handy Band will start playing a regular Monday night gig at Blind Bear at 7:30 PM. The 7-piece ensemble has been practicing at the Bear, and I have to admit that at first I wasn’t sure what style of music they were aiming for. Now, however, it all makes sense – they’re playing the early blues by somgwriters like W.C. Handy, and the music of the 1910s and Roaring Twenties. So, what they play might be the music you would have heard if you’d walked down Beale Street 100 years ago. That’s very cool!
Hatiloo Theater’s I, Too, Am America will play the Halloran Centre this morning at 10 AM. The lives of black historical figures such as Ida B. Wells and Sojourner Truth will be recounted, and scenes from the Montgomery Bus Boycott and other events of the Civil Rights Movement will be acted out.
Next door at the Orpheum, Dancing with the Stars: Live! will be on stage this evening.
The Orpheum will host two week-long theater intensive camps July 29-August 2. There will be a musical class where participants will receive instruction from Broadway professionals. There will also be a technical and design class where participants will get to learn from some of the best technical theater minds in Memphis.
New Downtown website design & digital marketing firm LAB Design Creative has a good article about color psychology in branding.
Everyone be on the lookout for Grizzy, a 7-year-old dog who escaped from Downtown doggy daycare Mutt Island. Grizzy is new to the area and may not know how to find his way back home. Despite the business’s name, Mutt Island is actually out in The Edge, at 320 Monroe, so folks in that neighborhood especially need to me on alert. Perhaps if there are any dog lovers who maintain a Facebook page about the Edge neighborhood, they could post a link to the story.
Earnestine & Hazel’s will open at 11 AM tomorrow for those who want to pre-game for the Memphis Tigers vs. UConn game at FedExForum at 1.
Memphis in May has concerns about the redesign of Tom Lee Park and whether it will reduce capacity for Music Fest and BBQ Fest. Not only would the festival lose revenue if the capacity were reduced, but Memphis could lose hotel stays and other tourism dollars. The Memphis River Parks Partnership says capacity will not be reduced for Music Fest, and BBQ Fest will accommodate the same number of team booths if not more. The festivals may have to be relocated in 2020 due to park construction and alternate locations Downtown (good, not Tiger Lane!) are being looked into.
Ghost River Brewery is having its Valentine’s Market in the taproom with several vendors selling their wares today from noon to 4.
That’s it for now. We have a BBQ planning meeting tomorrow, so I am headed to Bardog for a pre-planning session with president John D and senior deputy director of public relations Perjorie T. Roll. Perjorie and I came across an interesting opportunity last night that I want to present to the team. Back tomorrow with more news.