The event formerly known as the Southern Hot Wing Festival will have a new name and an expanded vision for 2020. They are re-branding the festival as the World Championship Hot Wing Contest & Festival, to be held at Tiger Lane Saturday, April 25. They justify the upgrade to world championship level by noting that Memphis has more hot wing restaurants per capita than any city in the U.S.. Also, they feel it will be good to have a second world championship cooking contest here in Memphis, mirroring BBQ Fest. The competition will expand to more than 100 teams and over $10,000 in cash prizes.
I had the pleasure of meeting Paul Gagliano, the festival’s chairman and founder, at the New Wing Order tasting last year, and he couldn’t have been a nicer guy and he strives to bring a quality competition to his city. Memphians, please come out and support the newly named festival.
(NOTE to the festival webmaster: The name needs to be changed in the title tag)
So, we can add Wing Fest to the list of outdoor events getting a new name in 2020. Let’s see what else is going on…
Well, for one thing, a change in the weather will be going on today. If you’re not the type who keeps regular tabs on the forecast, a jacket would be a good idea for today and possibly an umbrella as well. A cold front will move through, dropping rain on Memphis today and tomorrow, and this morning will be our last taste of the 60s for at least a week.
Statistical analysis site FiveThirtyEight has launched its 2019-20 NBA predictions, which are updated after each game. As of this morning, they project the Houston Rockets the most likely to win the 2020 NBA title, with a 28% probability. The L.A. Clippers are next at 20%, followed by the Philadelphia 76ers at 15%. The L.A. Lakers, the most-bet team in Vegas to win the championship, are only 7th most likely to become champions, with a 4% probability. If that percentage is accurate, you’d need odds of 24-1 to get a fair bet on the Lakers’ title hopes (4% translates to a 1-in-25 shot of winning the title). I just about guarantee you no one who bet on the Lakers got 24-1 or higher.
The Grizzlies, third from the bottom of the list, came in at 3% to make the playoffs (they were 4% before last night’s loss to the Lakers). Needless to say, they’re < 1% to win the title.
The CA has a comparison of Ja Morant’s first three NBA games to the first three games of the rookie seasons of point-guards who have gone on to enjoy success in the league. Some of the comparisons include Trae Young, Damian Lilliard, Steph Curry, Russell Westbrook… and yes, Mike Conley.
Another apartment has opened up in the Mongominiums, the units owned by Prince Mongo on the west side of South Main near the Butler Ave. trolley stop. This one is 3 BR/3BA, all utilities included, remodeled kitchen with two stove/ovens, Jacuzzi in each bathroom with oversized showers. $1950 a month. The number to call if interested is 901-550-4555. Be sure to tell Mongo I sent you. The price, especially considering utilities and appliances are included, is nearly impossible to beat in South Main.
MATA has announced that trolley service will begin one hour than usual this Saturday, at 7 AM, in order to get people to Beale Street on time for the beginning of College GameDay.
In addition, the Green Beetle has announced they will open early, at 9 AM, for those who want a spot to go before or after they make the trek over to GameDay.
Loflin Yard is having a GameDay after-party from 9:01 AM to 2 PM Saturday with specials on Fireball and Bud Light.
Any other bars or restaurants opening early/doing something special for GameDay? Let a brotha know and I’ll include it in a future post! paul@paulryburn.com or tag me on Facebook.
However, one programming note: There may not be a blog post this Saturday, or if there is one it will be abbreviated to only time-sensitive information with everything else held up until Sunday. For those not familiar with ESPN College GameDay, it’s a show that runs 8 to 11 on Saturday mornings, getting football fans fired up about the day’s games to follow. This is an experience I may never get to have again and I want to be a part of it. I’m not promising I’ll be there right at 8 when the cameras start rolling but I’d like to be there at least by 9:30. I plan to wear my Tiger blue and hang out until 10:50 or so then make the walk over to Bardog for business as usual.
I wonder if bars will sell Big Ass Beers that early? Then again, I don’t know if I want one. Last time I was in the King’s Palace Tap Room, they had jacked the price of a big PBR all the way to $8.75. That’s a Value Drinking Index (number of ounces * percent ABV / price) of about 18, which is good compared to most craft beer prices but downright lousy compared to the price points you find for PBR off Beale.
Hell must have frozen over, because for once I agree with something state legislators are proposing. Representatives want to eliminate the fall back from Daylight Saving Time to Standard Time, making Daylight Time the standard all year around. If that bill passes, the absolute earliest a sunset will occur in Memphis would be 5:47 PM, in mid-December. It won’t happen in time for this year’s fall back at 3 AM Sunday, but this could be Tennessee’s last time to see Standard Time. If it happens, good riddance.
Felicia Suzanne’s will have a special Halloween Tacos & Tunes on the patio tomorrow night, Thursday, October 31 starting at 7 PM. $2 Lake’s Catfish tacos and Claybrook farms beef tacos, drink specials, and live music. There will be a costume contest with Best Costume and Best Dog Costume winning gift cards to the restaurant.
Downtown should be hopping tonight for the Elton John concert. Allow a little extra time for traffic and parking.
As your #1 source of news and information about The Edge District, it is my pleasure to inform you there will be music trivia tonight at KickSpins, one of the stores in the BOXLOT retail space next to the former Kudzu’s. You’ll be guessing music samples played by emcee Mighty Quinn. Start time is 6 PM and this will be a weekly Wednesday event.
The National Civil Rights Museum Freedom Awards for 2019 will be presented today at the Orpheum in a ceremony starting at 7:30 PM. This year’s recipients are John Legend, Hafsat Abiola, and Gloria Steinem. This year’s ceremony will honor The Green Book, the 1930s-50s guide for African-Americans letting them know where they would be welcome to stop as they traveled.
By the way, tomorrow night’s Orpheum conversation between Gloria Steinem and Tami Sawyer has been canceled. However, Steinem will appear tomorrow at noon at the Orpheum to sign copies of her new book, and ticket holders will get priority in line.
Off to work. I’m still really enjoying the job and am getting to work on some very interesting systems. Although the position is at a law firm, I am putting a good bit of my IT knowledge to use as well. Back tomorrow with more news.