Friends, I have sad news to report. A Memphis landmark is no more.
380 Beale, former home of The Plush Club and Club Crave, is being demolished this week to make room for a five-story hotel to be called The Inn on Beale Street. Although the building may be gone, we can fondly remember every shooting, every stabbing, every disorderly conduct arrest that happened on or near the property. Know how Hotel Indigo has a jukebox in the lobby to stay true to the city’s roots? Perhaps The Inn on Beale can display Glocks and tires with 26 inch spinner rims in its lobby.
Weezer and Pixies come to FedExForum tonight. Special guest Basement will open the show, which begins at 7 PM.
Crosstown Brewing Co. is hosting Shangri-La Saturday with Stephen Chopek tomorrow from 4 to 7. Chopek is a singer-songwriter who relocated to Memphis from his home in New Jersey five years ago, and is noted for his sense of spontaneity.
Interesting Memphis fact I didn’t know:
Earlier this week, Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” was added to the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry. What does this have to do with The Peabody? Diamond wrote the iconic song while sitting in the Grand Lobby waiting for Elvis to finish his recording session. #TBT pic.twitter.com/YxQ4ObbGaq
— The Peabody Memphis (@PeabodyMemphis) March 21, 2019
Yesterday I returned to the Thursday lunch Court Square food truck rodeo. Now that we are into spring, the number of trucks is starting to pick up once again. I had the Meat Lover’s Pizza from the Grisanti 9Dough1 food truck.
I noticed the Grub food truck had Korean BBQ beef burritos and quesadillas, and I made a mental note to put that on my to-do list.
Michael Donahue has a Memphis magazine story about a classic dessert: K-Pie at Paulette’s over on Mud Island. Its full name is Kahlua Mocha Parfait Pie and it has stood the test of time, having appeared on the menu for more than 40 years.
AutoZone Park released a list of improvements that have happened over the winter months. The videoboard is now fully HD, and sound system amplifiers have been upgraded. Netting will protect additional guests from line-drive foul balls this year, and the netting can be lowered for Memphis 901 FC soccer matches. New locker rooms were built for 901 FC and the visiting soccer team, so that they don’t have to share space with the Redbirds. In addition, office space was upgraded to accommodate 25 additional employees.
The new adult sports league kicks off today at Carolina Watershed and Loflin Yard. Bocce, horseshoes, cornhole, flip cup, beer pong, hammerschlagen, dodgeball, badminton, and kickball are among the sports being offered.
Songwriter Night is back at South Main Sounds, 550 S. Main, this evening from 7 to 9. Patrick Seiler, Chris Cockrell, Mike Robertson, and Steve Meyer will perform.
As part of the North American Bridge Championships in town, the popular Learn Bridge in a Day? class will be offered Saturday from 1 to 6 in the Heritage Room at the Sheraton (formerly the Marriott). This class is appropriate for newcomers who know nothing about the game but want to learn, as well as for those who have been away from the game for some time and want to brush up on their play. The instructor, Patty Tucker, is considered one of the very best at introducing new people to the game.
As your #1 source of news and information about The Edge District, it’s my pleasure to tell you about a workshop on ranked voting at Wonder/Cowork/Create at 340 Monroe today at noon. Learn about ranked choice voting in Memphis and get a feel for how the process works. A pizza lunch and drinks will be provided.
Those of you with kids, mark your calendars: The Easter Bunny is coming to Bass Pro at the Pyramid April 13-21.
Memphis Made Brewing Co. is hosting World Water Day in its taproom this evening, with a portion of proceeds going to the Wolf River Conservancy.
Normally I wouldn’t bother blogging this next item, woman arrested for stealing back repossessed car, because it’s not something my readers would care about… except this one detail disturbed me. She was paying over $500 a month for a 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix. WTF? That is an enormous monthly payment on a car that old. “Well-qualified lessees” can drive a Cadillac CTS off a dealership lot for less than a monthly payment than that, if they show up at the right time of the year. To me this story is more about those in the most desperate need of transportation being preyed upon, than it is about a woman committing a crime.
I filled out my bracket yesterday morning on NCAA Bracket Challenge. I picked Michigan State, Michigan, Virginia, and North Carolina to go to the Final Four, with Michigan State beating Virginia 77-76 for the championship. I started off on the wrong foot yesterday, my first two picks to play (Yale and Louisville) falling. I got 10 of yesterday’s 16 games right. The good news is that I only had one of the 6 teams that lost, Belmont, advancing to the Sweet Sixteen, so my bracket isn’t in horrible shape yet.
First Sunday I get when it isn’t a) 50 degrees or less outside or b) raining I want to get down to watch the Turtle Races at Loflin Yard. Looks like it won’t be this Sunday though; the MemphisWeather.net forecast says “good chance of showers and a few t’storms,” putting the rain chance at 60%. Ugh.
Clear skies today, though, and I think a trip to Max’s Sports Bar is in order. The Tigers tip off against Creighton in the NIT second round at 7:30. Back tomorrow with more news.