Back around the first of June, I reported that I had been told the people opening Slider Out at Talbot and Mulberry (with patio backing up to Main Street) were shooting for a grand opening date of July 15. How many of you read that and thought, “Yeah that’ll never happen”? (raises own hand)
So, yesterday an employee of the Aldo family of restaurants gave me a new target date for the new restaurant. Although, now I’m not even sure what the name is anymore. About half the time I still hear Slider Out, and about half the time I hear either “the new Slider Inn” or “the second Slider Inn.”
Anyway, whatever it’s to be called, the employee said the new target date is “About 6 weeks from now… October probably.” But, wait, six weeks from yesterday is not… never mind. My personal prediction as to when it will open, and this is based solely on intuition rather than inside knowledge of building plans: Day after Thanksgiving. That would be a fantastic day to open, really. Most people will be off work and looking for something fun to do. Also, there will be a lot of great college football on that day and a lot of people who want to go to a place less crowded than Max’s Sports Bar will walk over there.
(Although, in the long run, I think Slider Out/Inn 2 will increase business at both bars, rather than detracting from either. I see “let’s watch the game at Max’s then head over to Slider Inn” becoming the South Main equivalent to the core’s “let’s do happy hour at the Silly Goose then go over to Blind Bear.”)
I’m trying to figure out where Slider Inn 2/Out will fit into my weekly schedule. Possibly Sunday afternoons. Maybe lead off at Blind Bear or Pontotoc for brunch, whichever appeals more to me that week, then head down to Slider 1:00, 1:30ish. I bet I could possibly bring along other brunch regulars to the new place.
While we’re on the subject of South Main, I’ll pass on a recommendation I got recently. I’ve been told that the Green Beetle makes the best turkey burger Downtown. That is an impressive recommendation, given that there are at least three other restaurants down here that make outstanding turkey burgers: Huey’s, Flying Saucer, and Silly Goose. I have not had the Beetle’s version of that burger and will have to get down there and try one soon.
Yesterday I got asked “What events are coming up at FedExForum this month?” Off the top of my head, I didn’t know. Let’s have a look:
- Comedian Jim Gaffigan on his “Secrets and Pies” tour Saturday, August 17. He is really good. Check out some of his material on YouTube if you’re not familiar.
- If you’re into 45-year-old teen idols, the Backstreet Boys come to the Forum Tuesday, August 27 for their “DNA World Tour.” That should make for some interesting people watching. Their biggest fans when they were in their prime are now hauling kids around in minivans these days.
- Exposure Memphis comes to the Forum Thursday, August 29. I must admit I have no idea what that is, so I’ll take the lazy route and cut and paste from the event page: “New Memphis is bringing Exposure Memphis presented by Independent Bank to FedExForum Thursday, August 29 at 6 p.m. Come engage with more than 150+ organizations, sample Memphis staples and revel in the magic of Memphis as we celebrate the city’s 200th birthday.”
You know, I like this and think I will incorporate it into the blog. On the first of every month I will try to remember to do a roundup of what is happening at FedExForum (other than Grizzlies and Tigers, which I will cover individually as they come up). Sometimes those events slip by me.
If you like pickle backs to chase your shots, canned pickle juice is now a thing.
STORM THE MISSISSIPPI IT CAN’T DROWN ALL OF US is an event happening Friday, September 20 at 9 PM. From the event description: “INVITE EVERYONE. if we all naruto run at the same time we should be able to run across the river i think probably idk” Okay. Let me make a suggestion here. If you ride one of the Bird scooters into the river rather than run, you will be making less surface contact with the wheels than you would with your feet. Therefore, it seems you would be more likely to make it to Arkansas if you rode. Good luck to all of you. This is an event I can support because it will raise the average IQ in the city of Memphis.
From time to time I need to post this reminder: I am happy to accept friend requests on Facebook from people who read this blog who I have not met in person. However, if we have 5 or fewer friends in common, please message me first, and tell me that you read my blog, and if you’ve ever interacted with me, tell me that too. I tend to decline friend requests with 0-few friends in common to avoid scammers. Several of my friends have been hacked lately because they weren’t careful about accepting requests.
The 2nd annual River City Jazz and Music Festival will happen at the Cannon Center on Labor Day at 5 PM. This is put on by Fresh Ideas Entertainment and will feature Boney James, Regina Belle, Avery Sunshine, Glenn Jones, Paul “Snowflake” Taylor, Julian Vaughn, and PC Band. The event will begin with a cocktail hour in the lobby.
Food truck New Wing Order will celebrate its first birthday at Memphis Made Brewing Co. on Saturday, September 21. Full menu plus surprises and giveaways. Weather should be perfect for that one! Unless summer sticks around and it’s still 97 out, which sure as hell has happened the past few years.
I was told yesterday by a woman who used to have hair extensions that they cost her $500 plus $200 to put in. Daaaamn I knew they were not cheap, but I didn’t know they were that much. I know women who got hair extensions at least 3 times in one year. They’re basically supplying their stylist a down payment on a new car, doing that. Maybe I need to get a cosmetology license.
Clay’s Smoked Tuna has announced that starting Monday, their smoked tuna salad and smoked buffalo chicken dip will be available for purchase at Cordelia’s Market on the island.
As your number-one source of news and information about The Edge District, it is my pleasure to tell you that Evelyn & Olive, the Jamaican restaurant in the 600 block of Madison, is hiring! They need grill, line, and prep cooks. You get Sundays and Mondays off, store discounts, and it’s an opportunity to add to your skill set by learning Jamaican food. Send resume to darrin.evelynolive@yahoo.com if interested. So much going on in The Edge these days! Jamaican me crazy!
I tried the black bean patty sub at Lenny’s last night. I’ve had good luck with other black bean patties and hoped Lenny’s would be good too. My verdict: Meh. It wasn’t terrible but it wasn’t great either. Even asking for “all the peppers” (bell, banana, jalapeno) didn’t add a lot of flavor. I’ll stick with Huey’s when I want a black bean burger, and since I’m not a vegetarian I’ll add bacon.
Memphis restaurant owners and managers, if you ever run sandwiches as daily specials you really need to be on the Memphis Sandwich Clique Facebook group. They are shooting for 5000 members by the end of next week and will likely get there. It’s a fantastic opportunity to get a lot of eyeballs on your offerings. Make sure you post a photo of the sandwich, list what is in it, and if you’re sharing a post from your own page make sure the name of the restaurant is in your post. There’s some debate as to whether hamburgers and hot dogs are sandwiches (personally, I think they are) but posts about them are generally allowed as long as they come from local businesses. There is an approval process once you request to join. It doesn’t take a very long time to be approved, but don’t expect to jump on that group and have your sandwich visible to its members 2 minutes later.
Over the years I have posted about products like PBR Hard Coffee and that venison sandwich at Arby’s that were only available in test markets, leaving my readers thinking, “I wish I could get that in Memphis.” Well, good news… Memphis is finally a test market for a product. Taco Bell is testing buffalo chicken nacho fries only in Memphis. You can eat this combo as fries, or you can have it rolled up in a burrito, either for $2.99. This product will only be here until mid-August, so hurry in if you want to try.
Just don’t post the buffalo chicken nacho fries to Memphis Sandwich Clique. That would likely get you banned.
Full Moon Kayaking returns to the Wolf River Harbor Thursday night, August 15. Meet at River Garden, 51 N. Riverside. DJ Ben Murray will play as you paddle around the harbor. Kayaks are available for free use on a first-come, first-serve basis or you can bring your own.
There will be a Friends trivia bar crawl this afternoon at four bars on Beale. Registration is at Jerry Lee Lewis’ Cafe 4 to 6 PM and the other three bars are Handy Cafe, Coyote Ugly, and Lew’s Blue Note Bar & Grill. You can play at the bars in any order you want. Play in teams of up to 8 people. There will be 25 questions at each bar, with the Geller Cup to the winning team and prizes for the 2nd and 3rd place teams. Drink specials at every venue. There will be raffles for tickets to future events, a costume contest, a photographer on site, and an after-party.
There’s also a Hidden Cash event today. Not sure if this will be Downtown, but these events are more often than not, so people can walk, trolley or (ugh) Bird. They post clues, you find cash. Do me a favor: If you attend this event, hit me up with a message and let me know whether or not it’s legit. I know nothing about the company putting it on as of yet.
Time for me to head to Bardog for Saturday Fun Day. Back tomorrow with more news.