Memphis 901 FC, the city’s long-awaited pro soccer club, kicks off against the Tampa Bay Rowdies tonight at AutoZone Park at 6. Good luck to 901 FC not only in this match, but for the success as a franchise as a whole. You know, I was seriously considering joining the Bluff City Mafia, the boisterous supporters who make life hell for the opposing team. However, when I got sick in late October/early November, my legs were seriously weakened for about three weeks. Although they’ve mostly recovered, I still don’t know if I’d make it through 90 minutes of singing and jumping, and besides, I cannot risk re-aggravating the injury this close to BBQ Fest. I’m with you in spirit, though, and if memberships are still available after the third week of May I will reconsider.
Don’t forget, if you can’t make it to AutoZone Park for this historic event, it will be broadcast locally on CW30.
I respect the folks at the Downtown Memphis Commission and admire all that they do, but this time I gotta call them out. Take a look at their event calendar and notice the list of events for today. There’s a GLARING OMISSION, wouldn’t you say???
We are one week away from the Beale Street St. Patrick’s Day parade on Saturday, March 16. One big thing to note about the parade this year: It will be at noon rather than the traditional start time of 3 or 4 PM. “Why’d they do that? Seems like a bad idea,” you might ask. Well, it’s actually a very good idea. If the Memphis Tigers make it to the AAC semifinals, their game will be at 2:00 that day at FedExForum. The time change keeps fans from having to choose between the parade and basketball. Although it’s tradition to wear green to a St. Pat’s parade, I doubt anyone will fault you if you choose to wear Tiger blue instead.
As usual, I will be at the King’s Palace Tap Room to watch the parade. Here’s an idea: A few people have told me they can’t make the celebration of Danny’s life in Horn Lake the following day. If anyone who can’t make it Sunday wants to join me at the Tap Room raising a pint – er, a Big Ass Beer – in Danny’s memory, bring it on.
The party continues in South Main. Earnestine & Hazel’s will open at noon for St. Patrick’s shenanigans, and leprechauns and shamrocks are not the only special things about this weekend. It’s the 27th anniversary of Nate working the upstairs bar at E&H. To celebrate, Nate is having a St. Patrick’s Day party. He’ll be upstairs tending bar from 6 PM onward, and get a beer and wish Nate a happy anniversary. If you like live music, they’ll have Albert King Jr. downstairs 9 to 1, and Tiffany Harmon upstairs 9 to 12.
You know, after a period of uncertainty, I am really happy to see things going in a good direction for Earnestine & Hazel’s. I need to get up there and introduce myself to the owner sometime soon. Her dad was a good man and I’d like to know her too.
Back to the parade a minute, for one more note: The past couple of times I’ve been to Max’s Sports Bar, I’ve heard an event being planned. The last time this event happened, in 2016, my blog, Facebook, and YouTube were big sources of promotion. I know the event organizers also tend to watch parades at the King’s Palace Tap Room; they are welcome to approach me there next Saturday to discuss whether I might be able to do anything to promote their 2019 event. One thing: They need to approach me directly, not indirectly through one of my BBQ teammates.
Nice win by the Grizzlies last night over the Utah Jazz. Memphis improves to 27-40. The Grizz still have the sixth-worst record in the league, but looking at Tankathon, they’re now within striking distance of catching the 30-38 New Orleans Pelicans so they can CONVEY THAT PICK.
Drunk Chess comes to Loflin Yard on Thursday, March 14. It’s free to play with purchase of food or drink. There are three rounds: What’s a rook?, Searching for Bobby Fischer, and Kasparov and Deep Blue Would Be Proud – in other words, easy, intermediate, and hard. I could probably play sober chess against anyone in the tournament field and still lose. It’s one of those games I never allowed myself to take up as a kid because I knew it would consume me. I never took up bridge when I worked for the bridge league for the same reason.
Oooh! Drunk Bridge! There’s an idea for the marketing department if any of them still read my blog. That would certainly attract new players to the game.
High Ground News has an update on South City. Affordable housing is going into the area, just blocks away from the South Main/G.E. Patterson area where development is exploding. This could be a good thing for the South City community because it will create jobs residents can walk to. However, the groceries and amenities in the South Main redevelopment may be beyond South City residents’ price point, and the intent is still for South City to be a self-sustaining community, eventually with its own grocery store that caters to those with lower incomes.
Tonight is Senior Night for the Memphis Tigers as they play their final regular-season game, against Tulsa at FedExForum at 8:30. The game will be broadcast on ESPNU.
Oh by the way, Senior Night? Yeah that’s not on the DMC’s event calendar either. You gotta get out there and surf social media and news sources and learn about these events yourself. You can’t rely solely on website user submissions or else it looks like there’s nothing to do in this town but play trivia (see: Tuesday, March 12).
Low Cut Connie and The Klitz plays 1884 Lounge in Midtown tonight. Never heard of this band in my life but based on the name alone, I am recommending them.
The Memphis Boat Expo and the Good Life Expo is happening this weekend at the Cook Convention Center.
The Rusty Pieces play the Blind Bear tonight at 10.
Set your clocks forward an hour before you go to bed. Peace out. Back tomorrow.