Atomic Rose, the nightclub in the former Purple Haze spot on Second, will host the official after-party October 30 following the Elton John concert at FedExForum. Bring your Elton John ticket stub for free admission, and bring your parking garage stub for a free well drink. (What about us Downtowners who walk to FedExForum? We like free drinks too!) They’ll have a 70s dance party, and a happy hour from 6 to 9 PM with beers half price and $2 off any drink.
There will be a 1st birthday party for River Garden Park at the park on Saturday, November 9 from 3:30-7:30 PM. They are celebrating “A Year in a Day,” bringing back some of the best events held there during the past year. The schedule will be
- 3:30 PM: YOGA! Charlie Baxter Hayden will lead a class. Also at this time there will be flag-painting in the pavilion.
- 4:30 PM: Firepits and s’mores
- 5:00 PM: Toast, birthday cake, and remarks
- 5:30 PM: Seda Latin Dance salsa
- 7:00 PM: Mighty Lights viewing
- All day: Kayaking in the harbor with free kayak rentals, as well as free rides from Explore Bike Share stations
The park is located at Riverside and Jefferson, just south of the entrance to Bass Pro. Given that there will be firepits and s’mores, and given the way Memphis weather rarely cooperates with outdoor festivals, I bet the high that day will be 84.
The annual trashion show by Memphis City Beautiful is this afternoon 5:30-8:30 at 670 S. Fourth. For the low price of only $45 you can look at people dressed up in garbage. Or you can pay $65 VIP for champagne and premium seating so you can get an even better look at the people dressed in garbage. I Google Mapped the location and it is the southeast corner of Fourth and Georgia. If you ride there in a vehicle, make sure the doors are locked. If you walk, bike, or scooter there, carrying a gun would not be a bad idea.
The Daily Memphian has a photo gallery of Race for the Cure Downtown yesterday. The runners didn’t let a little rain (or a lot of rain) stop them.
I have a request for anyone going to the WWE Friday Night Smackdown show at FedExForum on January 3. Any time a heel gets in the ring and starts to cut a promo on the microphone, say, “WHAT????” as often and as loudly as possible. The audience “WHAT????” response started nearly 20 years ago when “Stone Cold” Steve Austin turned heel, and has continued to this day. As you know, Smackdown recently moved to the Fox network. Fox executives have asked that fans stop with “WHAT????” because the execs find it disrespectful. So, say it loud and say it proud as a big f-you to corporate America.
(NOTE: If you’re reading this from a phone, might want to wait until you get to a computer to follow that link at the end of the last paragraph. Ringside News posts some great stuff, but that site will eat your phone battery life like you wouldn’t believe.)
Lyft has launched a very cool program, the Job Access Program, in 35 cities across the United States. It offers free or discounted rides to and from
- Job interviews
- Job training programs
- Work, for the first 3 weeks until the first paycheck comes in and the employees have money to begin arranging their own transportation
The only thing is, I can’t find the list of cities! If Memphis is not one of the 35 cities, I would encourage Mayor Strickland’s office to get in touch with Lyft as soon as possible about bringing the program here. This would be a game-changer for many in our community.
City Market now has a Bitcoin ATM, although it’s currently out of order.
Speaking of City Market… WTF did I eat last night?
I was looking in the market’s grab & go, and I saw two fried patties and a cup of dipping sauce in one of the plastic cases. “Shami Kabob,” the label read. I didn’t know what that was, but I love Indian food, so I decided to take chance.
The two patties resembled salmon croquettes, so I was expecting something similar. I was wrong! The patties (well, the one I ate most of before throwing it away) had the taste and consistency of liver pate. I’ve never tasted any kind of Indian food like that before. Kinda wish I was still working in IT so I could show my co-workers this photo and ask them what that was.
The official Facebook listing is up for the Stumbling Santa Pub Crawl Saturday, December 7. There are now a couple of different Christmas-themed pub crawls but Stumbling Santa is the Downtown original and the real deal. Everyone meets up at the Flying Saucer at 7 and then they stumble to various bars in the Downtown core and on Beale Street. There ate two key things to know: First of all, you need to dress up as Santa, or alternately you can be Mrs. Claus, a reindeer, an elf, a Christmas tree, Frosty the Snowman… you get the idea. Second and most important, bring a toy for Porter-Leath to give a child for Christmas. They need donations of over 5000 toys to make sure every child gets one. Here’s a list of toy suggestions. There’s nothing quite like seeing 1200-1500 Santas march around Downtown. If you have other plans that night, I’m sure you could make arrangements to drop a toy off at the Saucer a day or two in advance.
Speaking of dressing up for Christmas… I usually don’t do the “ugly sweater” attire thing (maybe because I’m not a big fan of sweaters in general) but I would wear this sweatshirt.
The night after they throw their big Elton John after-party, Atomic Rose will throw an ’80s Horror Night party on Halloween. Be prepared to be scared and dress as a villain or victim to enter their costume contest. Crowd response determines the winner and first place gets $500, second place gets $100, and third gets a $50 bar tab. Happy hour will be back 6-9 with half-price beer and $2 off drinks.
I need to ask my friend who works there if that 6-9 happy hour is an every Wednesday and Thursday thing… if it is I may have to pay that place a visit.
The Nuh-Uh Girl’s tour of Europe continues. After doing Oktoberfest in Munich, she has moved on to points south and west. Let’s check in and see how she’s doing.
So in Italy, they charge me at least 3€ to even sit down at a restaurant (“service and bread”). In France, I order wine, and they bring me free snacks. #jaimelefrance
Even when traveling overseas, she never changes. La nourriture gratuite? Je me demande si la Nuh-Uh Fille va arriver.
The Daily Memphian has a look at public relations icon Harold Burson‘s recent appearance at the Halloran Centre. Burson went over some PR nightmare situations he saw throughout his career, including one of his own making at Ole Miss in the 1930s as well as the New Coke fiasco of 1985.
Regina’s Cajun Kitchen at 60 N. Main has their Holiday Cooking Guide on sale online for $18.99. It contains their family recipes that have been passed down for generations, and of course it includes the recipe for their famous gumbo.
Job news: Automatic Slim’s is hiring all positions. Apply between 2 and 5 PM Monday-Friday.
RAWK’n Grub inside Growlers on Poplar in Midtown is announcing new hours: They will now open for lunch at 11 AM and serve food into the late night until 2 AM. Their food is raved about on Memphis Sandwich Clique and there is a reason why. If you can’t make it to Growlers, they’re on Uber Eats and DoorDash.
Yup that exists: Finger covers that keep your fingers clean while eating messy foods
It’s Pie-Tober at the Downtown Makeda’s Cookies location (488 S. Second) today. You can take home a pie made with Makeda’s cookie crusts.
The Grizzlies host the Brooklyn Nets this afternoon at 5 at FedExForum. All fans in attendance get a 2019-20 Grizzlies schedule magnet.
By the way… if you are a Grizzlies fan and are not reading Grizzly Bear Blues regularly, you are missing out on some quality journalism.
Time to head out for D-RANKS and maybe a pizza with B-RAD at the Silly Goose. Back tomorrow with more news, although it may be a short post because I have to go in to work a little early.