Tuesday update

The Battle of the Birds 2019 is in the history books. The St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Memphis Redbirds, their Triple-A affiliate, by a score of 6 to 3, last night at AutoZone Park. The Cards haven’t made the MLB playoffs the past three years and it’s possible Redbirds call-ups will return them to the post-season.

A few blocks away, the Grizzlies upset the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder, 115 to 103. The Commercial Appeal has a look at what the Grizzlies need to do for the remainder of the 2018-19 season if they want to CONVEY THAT PICK to Boston in this year’s draft. The article was written before last night’s game. Following the win over OKC, the Grizzlies are only half a game out of ninth worst, the ideal place to be going into the draft lottery.

Hozier takes the stage at the Orpheum tonight at 8. Tickets are $49.50-$59.50. Special guest Jade Bird will open.

The Grecian Gourmet will celebrate its first birthday Saturday, April 13 with a Greek buffet dinner 6 to 9 PM. There will also be Greek music and Greek dancing. Beer and wine will be available. Tickets are $25 in advance or $35 at the door. Call 901-249-6626 or email greciangourmet@gmail.com for tickets.

Three-year civic engagement process Re-Imagining the Civic Commons, is winding down, having funded changes in the city landscapes of Chicago, Detroit, Philadephia, Akron, and here in Memphis along the riverfront (the Fourth Bluff). Leaders of the project will meet in Memphis March 27-29 to discuss next steps.

The Commercial Appeal has an excellent article about Cristina McCarter’s City Tasting Tours. The tours are a good way to not only sample food from some of Memphis’ best chefs, but also to learn the history of the neighborhoods in which the restaurants are located. The CA is partnering with City Tasting Tours for a special one-time event 4-6 PM Saturday, April 20. McCarter and the CA’s Jennifer Chandler will guide guests through the South Main Arts District, sampling dishes from Pontotoc Lounge, The South Main Market food hall, and Rizzo’s. Visit the City Tasting Tours website to RSVP.

Retired Supreme Court Justice Janice Holder will mediate talks between Memphis River Parks Partnership and Memphis in May on the redesign of Tom Lee Park. Holder is an excellent choice, having mediated talks on parking at the Memphis Zoo a couple years back.

Random thing that popped into my head last night: Thibault, a character who appeared in the Peanuts comic strip for several years. When I was little I collected compilations of Peanuts strips, and had over 20 books by the time I was 5. My mom encouraged this, figuring whatever I was reading at that age couldn’t be bad, as long as I was reading.

Memphis in May tweeted course maps for the upcoming Great American River Run half-marathon and 5K.

Fans of the Blind Bear, get by there in the next day or three, because something really cool is happening. They are re-doing the floor underneath the bar, and have made a temporary bar area where the main poker table had previously been. When Jeannette told me that was going to happen, I thought, “Yeah I can’t see how that will ever work,” but it looks superb! You can still sit at the main bar while renovations are being done, and all three poker tables are intact. There’s poker tonight (free to play) starting at 7:30  (poker operates on Charles Time, so probably more like 7:50). You can get in through an hour and 15 minutes after poker starts.

Spindini is now open for lunch 11-2 Wednesday through Sunday… with the exception of March 30, when they will be hosting a private event. Wednesday through Friday, they will take to-go, Uber Eats, and Door Dash orders, with Saturday and Sunday being full service.

This Friday will be a SoulRight Trolley Night on South Main, with most of the galleries and boutiques in the area staying open until 9 or later. The emerging stars of Consortium MMT will perform on the Loading Dock Stage outside the 409 South Main food hall, with performances beginning at 6. SMA members can enjoy complimentary burgers, dogs, and beverages at 523 S. Main between Primas Bakery and Peddler Bike Shop.

The Paul Boggs Band will bring Seattle-based bluegrass to South Main for Trolley Night on Friday. They will perform at the Century House at 151 Vance.

Wayne Russell, musician/painter, will exhibit “Hypnotic Cotton” at Edge Gallery, 509 S. Main, for Trolley Night. If you can’t make it Friday, the exhibit will be there through the end of March.

Primas Bakery+Boutique will celebrate Trolley Night with special guests Mobius Theory and Wanderlvst901.

Memphis Made Brewing Co. is coming to Loflin Yard for this Saturday afternoon’s crawfish boil.

The Daily Memphian’s Jennifer Biggs picked a great location for her $10 deal this week: RAWK’n Grub. For years, this was a food truck that operated around Memphis, until finding a permanent home last year in the Citgo at Summer and Highland. Chef Steph Cook is a super good guy and the food can’t be beat. Most of the menu has a musical theme, including the Patty LaMelte patty melt, Swiss You Were Here sliders, and Phish tacos. Definitely check it out next time you find yourself in that part of town. The food is so good, you’ll forget you’re in a gas station.

This evening there will be a workout on the rooftop of Old Dominick Distillery. Check in prior to 6 PM. HIIT workout with Keshia Williams of Tabata Tuesdays 6:00-6:45, and yoga by Amy of Sumits Yoga 6:45-7:30. Following yoga, cool down with an Old Dominick cocktail.

The Brass Door will be showing the USMNT vs. Chile soccer match tonight at 7.

Yesterday I was at happy hour at the Silly Goose, and the bartender told me that the new pizza oven would be installed soon. Maybe I should take a poll: Which do you think will get done first?

  • Silly Goose pizza oven
  • Silder Out, the new Slider Inn location at Mulberry and Talbot

Not a Downtown thing but I want to mention it anyway: Pulse, the Pink Floyd tribute band, plays Minglewood Hall this Saturday. A former co-worker of mine is in the band and I’ve been to see them. Really good! If bluesmen Pinkney Anderson and Floyd Council were still alive, I bet they’d be at the show.

Tails & Ales, hosted by Memphis Animal Services, happens at Crosstown Brewing Co. Sunday, April 7 from 1 to 4 PM. Donate a bag of dog treats to MAS and get $2 off your first pour. This event will happen during the weekly Bluegrass Brunch with crawfish by Memphis Mudbugs. Live music by the Late Greats. MAS will have adoptable dogs there, and they will have quite the special going on. Adoption fee of only $20 (cash only please) that day covers spay/neuter, microchip, vaccines, heartworm test (and treatment if needed), collar, leash, and a customized ID tag (available at the shelter).

High Ground News has a good post on how Smart City technology is being used to improve transportation and mobility here in Memphis.

Yesterday I posted that Hungry Hungry Hippos would be the championship round between the top two scoring teams at The Bar Olympics to be held at the Hi-Tone Sunday, June 23. Do you own the game? Might want to post on social media that you do. You might be able to rent it out to teams looking to practice!

Moody Ques teammates: Check your email, please! You’ll have information on a “Meat” & Greet happening at a Downtown venue on Saturday, April 13, a good way to get to know your teammates before the hustle & bustle of BBQ Fest. If you didn’t get the email, send a message to moodyques@gmail.com and we’ll get it to you. Also, if there are any prospective members out there who want to take the Moody Ques for a test drive before joining, the 13th is your chance to do it. Email moodyques@gmail.com and let us know you’d like to come.

Also, we had a few people who can’t return to the team for 2019 due to scheduling conflicts – so we’re going to have a few spots open. I will have a recruitment post on the Moody Ques website (and perhaps a less sanitized version of the post here) later this week.

Yesterday the public relations department was tasked with picking out the colors for our 2019 team rubber wristbands, keeping in mind that the theme this year is Memphis.

No.

The book I’ve been recommending, The Gaslighting Effect by Reva Steenbergen, is once again available for download on Amazon and the Kindle app. It’s $9.99, or free if you sign up for Kindle Unlimited. Learn how to protect yourself from really horrible people putting on an attractive, charming front while projecting their horribleness onto others.

Another long post in the books… and I’m still not done, because I’ve got to get started on that BBQ team recruitment post. Back tomorrow with more news.