Before I start with Thursday news, a public service message to my readers on BBQ teams. Next week is a busy week, but don’t let it cause you to forget what is truly important.
On Sunday, May 8, 2016, I sent an email. “Mama, happy Mother’s Day. I am too busy with the BBQ team to call today, but will call sometime this week.” It was Wednesday before I finally got around to calling her. I felt bad, but I rationalized it with, “I’ll do better next year.”
The next year, I didn’t have anyone to call.
I know Sunday is load-in day for a lot of BBQ Fest teams, but still… take the time to take your mom out to lunch if she lives in town. If she doesn’t, at least call her and talk as long as she wants to talk. The scaffolding and the Visqueen and the refrigerators will still be there when you get done.
Frankie Hollie and the Noise, at the intersection of country and rock, headline the Peabody rooftop party tonight (which will probably be moved indoors). Cover is $10, $20 for VIP. Admission gets you a buffet of tomato bruschetta and assorted hors d’oeuvres. If you’re in VIP you get an additional buffet of shrimp and oyster po’ boys, jamabalaya, and Mother’s Day cookies.
The Redbirds take the field tonight at 7:05 in their Memphis Chicks throwbacks. There will be $2 beers and $1 Polk’s hot dogs.
If you know any veterans in need of assistance, please tell them about Veterans Stand Down Saturday, May 18 9-3 at the Pipkin Building adjacent to the Liberty Bowl. Services offered will include
- VA eligibility assistance
- My Healthy Vet registration assistance
- Chaplain services
- Medical screening
- Homeless veteran services
- Housing assistance
- Employment assistance
- VA benefits counseling
- Haircuts and styling
- VET center
- Mental health counseling
- Legal assistance
- Burial registration assistance
- Dental screening
- Women’s services
- Drug and alcohol treatment information
- Entertainment
- Food
Free food? Wonder if the Nuh-Uh Girl will show up.
Historian Jimmy Ogle is back in town with 90 minute walking tours this Saturday and next. He’ll do the manhole cover tour at 1 this Saturday and the Beale Street and Memphis Heritage Trail tour at 3. Next week it’ll be Court Square at 1 and South Main at 3.
The Memphis Local Music Festival returns Saturday. It’ll be at 10 N. Fourth in the field next to Downtown Elementary. Noon to 11 PM.
The Metal Museum will have yoga in the Sculpture Garden tomorrow morning at 9 AM. Cost is only $6 and the museum grounds are beautiful and serene. YOGA!
Don’t forget to be in front of a TV at 7:30 next Tuesday, when the NBA draft lottery will be on ESPN. The Grizzlies have a 12.3% chance of getting a top-two pick and therefore one of the prized talents in this year’s draft, Zion Williamson or Ja Morant. They have a 42% chance of dropping to 9th or lower even though they finished with the 8th worst record. If that happens they will CONVEY THAT PICK to Boston.
The Memphis Flyer has a Best Bet: chicken salad at Front Street Deli.
There’s a Save Tom Lee Park & the Festivals Facebook page for those of you who support that cause.
Insider tip for anyone planning to go to Memphis Brewfest this Saturday at the Liberty Bowl: Buy your ticket at an Aldo business (Bardog, Slider Inn, or either Aldo’s Pizza Pies) and avoid paying the convenience fees.
The Daily Memphian has a look at Tom Lee, the hero whose name is on the park many of us will be tromping around in next week.
The Memphis Flyer has the 1990 Great American Pyramid investor video.
Attention country music fans:
CONCERT ANNOUNCEMENT! Kix on Beale is back for their summer series! Come join us for a free show in Handy Park June 13th with @davidleemurphy and @adamhambrick 🎶 @KIX106 @BumpusHDMem pic.twitter.com/oVxJ6P2Vxn
— Beale Street (@BealeStreetMphs) May 8, 2019
The second round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is coming to Memphis next Wednesday. At 7:00 that evening Memphis 901 FC will play the New York Red Bulls U-23 team at AutoZone Park. Winner will play in the third round on May 29.
A new festival, Memphis MOJO Fest, is coming October 5-6 this year. The festival will celebrate the memory of Memphis musician Omar Higgins who recently passed away.
FreeWorld will celebrate the 89th birthday of its member Dr. Herman Green with a concert at Blues City Cafe’s Band Box on Sunday, May 26. For those of you who have heard FreeWorld but never at Blues City, GO… more than any other place, that is their home where they jam out the most.
Moody Ques: Our Mexican teammate Kao is coming back to BBQ Fest this year, and I think he said a couple of his buddies are jumping over Trump’s wall and coming with him. Hopefully they will bring us some good firearms and narcotics since that’s what all Mexicans do.
JUST KIDDING. I will get a frantic text from a redhead if I don’t mention that I am just kidding.
That’s the news for now. Back tomorrow.