Thursday update

Local Memphis reports there will be a change on Beale this New Year’s. The iconic guitar drop won’t happen this year; instead, a mirror ball will rise. It’s unclear whether the guitar drop is gone only for this one year or for good. Memphis Tourism is doing its darndest to still promote this as a big event, with live music on a stage spanning the street, a video screen at Fourth and Beale, and DJ Tree starting at 11.

Quench, the wine and liquor store across Second from the Peabody, has a special Christmas gift in limited numbers: Giant candy canes filled with airplane bottles of Fireball.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra comes to FedExForum tonight.

Here’s a look at the latest pizza experiment to come out of the wood-fired oven at the Silly Goose:

Calabrese, Fontina, olives, mushrooms, green onions… but what was really different about this pizza was the crust, which was made with PBR. It gave the crust a bolder taste. I don’t think they should mess with their standard crust as their main offering, but this crust would be good as a special now and then. As Jessica pointed out, the crust would also be good with a cheese dipping sauce.

Tonight’s the holiday party at Cordelia’s Market, with plenty of samples from vendors.

Last night the House voted to bring articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump. NBC News makes a point I agree with: Nancy Pelosi and the House Democrats should delay delivering the articles to the Senate until Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans guarantee a fair trial.

That’s it for now. Slow news day. Back tomorrow.

Wednesday update

ESPN handed out its Herbie awards yesterday. The awards, named for analyst Kirk Herbstriet, go to his favorites of the recently-concluded college football regular season. Memphis came away with three awards due to its appearance on College GameDay the day of the SMU game. Most importantly, Memphis won Best Scene, which makes it a strong contender for a future GameDay. Memphis also won Best Hotel (Peabody) and Best Restaurant (Folk’s Folly). Congratulations to all who made Memphis such a welcoming place for the ESPN crew.

I’m not a career coach, but I have some interview advice. Ask to use the restroom, and if you see one of these, walk out. You don’t want to work there.

For those who can’t see Twitter embeds, pictured above is a toilet with a seat that slopes downward at a 13 degree angle, causing leg strain if you sit for more than 5 minutes. It’s just amazing, the ways companies abuse their employees in the name of “improved employee productivity.” The inventor of the cubicle is dead now, but I bet he and Satan are doing a little do-si-do at the thought of how much discomfort these toilets will cause people.

The Memphis Flyer reported some good news yesterday: The Confederate statues, removed from Memphis parks several years ago, are gone from Memphis for good and will never return. The statues have been turned over to the descendants of Nathan Bedford Forrest and the Sons of Confederate Veterans to do with as they wish – but not here.

The Grizzlies travel to Oklahoma City for a game against the Thunder tonight at 7:00. For those of you who like advertising that you drink crappy beer, Max’s Sports Bar will have a Miller Lite swag giveaway this evening during the game. Every Miller Lite you purchase increases your chance to win. Looking at the photo, I see knit caps with beanies on top and Christmas socks among the giveaways.

Bardog Tavern seeks a delivery driver to drop off piping-hot sliders, spaghetti & meatballs, and Amazing Island Clubs to folks in the 38103. Pay is competitive and there’s opportunity to advance in the company, which also includes the Slider Inns, the Aldo’s Pizzas and Momma’s. Driver needs to be of age and have a valid driver’s license. Apply between 2 and 4 PM at Bardog, 73 Monroe Ave.

The extended forecasts are showing highs in the 60s for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Nice! I’ll get to wear shorts and show off my Santa hat/beer mug Christmas socks one more time this season.

Not a terribly long post today but there’s not much news to report this time of year. To those of you who have to pretend you enjoy meeting your co-workers’ spouses and kids at a company holiday party this week, I salute you. If there’s news to report tomorrow, I will be back with it.

Tuesday update

Want to really check out the new Central Station Hotel in style? StyleBlueprint has a Memphis Winter Staycation Giveaway currently going on. In addition to two nights at the hotel and $100 to spend in one of its restaurants, the lucky winner gets a spa package at Rachel’s Salon including two massages, two facials, and two Aveda spa pedicures. They also are throwing in a $500 gift card to Lansky at the Peabody and a $100 gift card to the Majestic. Enter by 11:59 PM Thursday. As part of the rules, you agree to receive emails from the participating businesses, all of which can be unsubscribed.

Rizzo’s by Michael Patrick has a gift card sale tomorrow, Wednesday, December 18, from 11 AM to 3 PM. Get a $50 gift card for $25 or a $100 gift card for $75. Not sure if there’s a limit of one card per person, but I suspect there may be; because, otherwise, you could buy two $50 gift cards and get $100 of spending power for $50 rather than $75.

As your #1 source of news and information about The Edge District, it is my pleasure to inform you that Trolley Stop Market will host a New Year’s Eve party for the kiddos 5:30-8:30 PM on December 31. Pizza, salad, and nonalcoholic beverage included in ticket price, and there will be face painting, crafts, door prizes, and a balloon drop at 8:30. $15 for a kids’ ticket, $20 for adults.

In even more Edge District news, Boxlot will hold a toast to 2019 Saturday from 5 to 6 PM. (The toast will be sparkling cider.) Mobius Pieces will provide the live music, you’ll get to learn about upcoming deals at Boxlot’s various stores, and there will be appetizers from Beale Street Brewing. Boxlot is the shipping container-based shopping center at 607 Monroe, just west of the old Kudzu’s. (Old-timers remember this space as the main Six-1-Six parking lot.) Free appetizers? Wonder if the Nuh-Uh Girl will show up.

Even more Edge news… well, this isn’t an event happening in The Edge, but it involves one of Boxlot’s business. This Friday from 7 to 9, there will be a Soul Apparel Pop-Up at Central Station Hotel’s bar Eight & Sand, featuring the products of Boxlot’s tenant Kickspins. There will be drinks and classic Memphis music to enjoy as you shop.

This was reported last week, but somehow escaped my attention until just now: Kevin Matthews, longtime owner of Cheesecake Corner on G.E. Patterson, is opening a new restaurant near the Tennessee Brewery called Fannie Lou’s Gourmet Chicken and Waffles. The restaurant, in a small space at 500 Tennessee in the former I Love Juice Bar location, will serve chicken & waffles as the name suggests. I wonder if they will open for Sunday brunch, a time at which chicken & waffles are in high demand at other Downtown hotspots.

Susan Ellis from the Memphis Flyer has a look at Flava House Lounge, the new restaurant and hookah bar now open on the Main Street Mall next to Local. Special seasonings and lamp chops are among the offerings that make Flava House’s menu unique to Downtown.

Couple of pieces of Flying Saucer news. First of all, legendary Memphis jam band FreeWorld will perform there Saturday night 8-11 PM. The Saucer is a great venue for FreeWorld; I’ve heard them play there many times.

The Saucer will have a New Year’s Eve Bash December 31 from 9 to 1, with drink and food specials and DJ Superman. From their Facebook page: “Reserve your seats now for our New Years Eve party 12/31. Before there all gone.” Oh, Saucer. Don’t ever change.

Want to add to your art collection? Get ready. Memphis College of Art is about to sell off 500 pieces of artwork.

That’s the news for today. Back tomorrow with more.

Monday update

Well, Saturday had its ups and downs. I posted that the Silly Goose would be a great place to watch the Memphis vs. UT game, away from the crowds of Beale Street. That turned out to be wrong. The Goose was a stop on The 12 Bars of Christmas pub crawl. I knew that would be happening Saturday, but I didn’t realize it started at noon. The bar filled up with randoms and mid-way through the first half, I tabbed out and was off to the Blind Bear, which thankfully wan’t a bar crawl stop.

Some of you may wonder, if I knew about the 12 Bars of Christmas crawl, why didn’t I blog about it? I don’t blog about pub crawls organized by national companies that have no real connection to the neighborhood. The crowds they draw tend to be amateurs who don’t tip the bartenders. I am always happy to support bar crawls arranged by locals.

I didn’t go to the holiday parade, but I saw a few pics one of the South Main coots snapped on Beale Street and it looked busy as always. Good news, though – those who missed Saturday’s parade don’t have to wait until 2020 for another one. The Liberty Bowl parade happens Monday, December 30 at 3 PM on Beale Street, followed by a pep rally. That should be fun – we’ll get to see the Navy marching band in person.

Signature win for Penny and his Tigers and I am so happy for them! This team has a fighting spirit and they never give up. That 51-47 victory was brutal to watch, but a win is a win. This will look good on Memphis’ resume when March rolls around. I suppose I should stop cheering against Tennessee in future games because I want Memphis’ win to remain Quadrant 1.

Saturday night was the Dirty Santa party in South Main. Great people, great times and I was so happy to be a part of it. Here’s a pic of the nuts I brought from The Peanut Shoppe:

I drew a good number in the Dirty Santa gift exchange. I was fifth from last, I think, exactly where you want to be in these kinds of events. Right before my turn, my friend David opened a really nice beer glass set. I was so tempted to steal it. I didn’t, though, because David has been a good friend to me, and because I really don’t drink beer at home. I have a cabinet full of Flying Saucer glasses that never get used; I didn’t see a need to add to the collection.

So I selected an unopened gift. It was heavy and cylindrical. Several bottles of wine had been opened already. I don’t drink a whole lot of wine but I would definitely take a free bottle. I opened it and found…

A forty of Colt 45.

The present I bought was It’s Good to Be the King… Sometimes, the autobiography of Jerry Lawler. See, I told you my gift had a Memphis connection.

Sunday I went to Brad’s bar at the Silly Goose, and our friend Kelly brought cookies for us.

Perjorie had never seen an elf before and thought that was a troll on the box. The cookies were really good! The chocolate marshmallow was my favorite. Later that evening, I think someone stole one of the cookies out of my box while I was in the restroom at the Blind Bear. Not that it’s a big deal but if they had just asked, “Hey Paul, can I have a cookie?” I would have given them one.

A fun weekend that got me in the spirit of the season, and it continues today with what is being described as “our low-key holiday celebration” at work. They have a stellar track record on office lunches, so I’m looking forward to today.

Bredrock Eats & Sweets has a holiday menu of items you can order ahead (by Thursday) and pick up Monday, December 23. The menu has everything from sliced turkey and brisket to side dishes to cookies and pecan pie and even breakfast kits.

The Silly Goose is changing up their holiday party a bit this year. Instead of a drunken Thursday night soiree where Pervert Santa tries to get women to sit on his lap, they’re doing a fundraiser for Youth Vilages next Sunday, December 22 6-9 PM. $50 gets you all the pizza you can eat, and all the beer and wine you can drink.

On Wednesday, January 15, The Broom Closet at 546 S. Main hosts a ghost hunting workshop. Stephen Guenther, founder of Historical Haunts, will give the presentation, an enhanced version of the ones he gives at conventions. $10 per person (amazingly, they didn’t call it an “energy exchange” this time).

The Broom Closet takes its show on the road Thursday, January 9, traveling to Crosstown for Taproom Tarot. Get your cards read and find out what 2020 has in store for you while drinking delicious craft beer. Readings are $15 for 15 minutes.

This Wednesday’s British Bingo at Belle Tavern will be Tacky Sweater Bingo. Wear a tacky holiday sweater and get an extra card. $100 in Belle gift cards will be handed out over six rounds. Never played British Bingo before? Don’t worry, Dave will explain how it works and it’s easy to learn.

Highly acclaimed musical Hello, Dolly! returns to the Orpheum for 8 shows tomorrow through Sunday.

The Grizzlies host the Miami Heat tonight at 7 at FedExForum.

That’s the news. Five days of work then I’m off all next week. Back tomorrow with more news.

 

Saturday update

No post yesterday because I just didn’t have any news to share with you! I’m struggling to find news for today too. However, I have over 3 hours to kill until Bardog opens, so maybe I’ll just ramble.

Yesterday the University of Memphis announced that interim head coach/former associate head coach Ryan Silverfield had been named the permanent head coach of the Cotton Bowl-bound Memphis Tigers football team. I wasn’t sure hiring from within was the right idea, but after reading about the hire (especially this Geoff Calkins article) I am convinced the university hired the best person for the job. Two reasons:

  1. Memphis has a track record of success hiring up-and-coming coordinators or associate coaches who have never been head coaches themselves – see Justin Fuente and Mike Norvell. I believe that’s what Memphis did for the third time in a row. It’s just that this time, when they went out and found an associate coach at one of the best football programs in the country, that program happened to be Memphis.
  2. Calkins points out that what matters the most to Silverfield is the relationships he has built here. He had chances to leave, but he never considered it because he loves the people here. That resonates with me – the reason I’ve never had any desire to move away from Downtown, the reason I’ve written my blog for 15 years, is because I love the people I’ve surrounded myself with.

Congratulation Coach Silverfield and best of luck. Go get us a Cotton Bowl victory to start off your head coaching career with a bang!

Now I want to talk about two of the people who make Downtown so special to me. Thursday I went to The Peanut Shoppe and told Rida I needed a nut mix for the Dirty Santa party I am attending tonight. “Can you come back in an hour?” Rida asked. ” I am about to make up a new, fresh batch so you will have the freshest nuts for your party.”

“How about I come back tomorrow?” I asked. “I work right across the street. I can come here after work.”

“Perfect,” Rida said. “I will have a fresh batch waiting on you.” He told me he had been up until 11 the night before preparing everything because he wanted his customers to have the best possible product for their holiday events.

I came back yesterday, and his daughter, Nura, was working. “I’m by myself today,” she told me. “My dad was here until 9 last night.” She helped me pick out a decorative tin and measured out the nuts. Great customer service, great shopping experience, and now I have something I’m proud to bring to a pot luck. I’m not just the guy who brings Pancho’s cheese dip and chips – not that there’s anything wrong with that, and in fact I hope somebody does in fact bring them.

I may not talk about The Peanut Shoppe as much as I do places like Bardog and the Blind Bear and the Silly Goose, but I want to make it very clear that these are very much people that have made my neighborhood my home for so many years. In fact, on the Saturday morning that I gave permission for the doctors to take my mom off life support, they were the first people I told.

If you live or work Downtown, please support them for your holiday nut and candy needs. The construction at 18 S. Main has blocked visibility of their business and that is hurting them. If you can’t make it Downtown or live outside of Memphis, you can order online through their website.

This is the decorative tin from The Peanut Shoppe. I can’t open it and show you the nuts inside because Nura shrink-wrapped it for maximum freshness. I’ll try to get a pic tonight. As for my gift for the Dirty Santa swap, obviously I can’t tell you what it is, since some of the attendees read my blog. I will say that it wasn’t made in Memphis but it has a strong Memphis connection.

Oh yeah, there are probably some of you who have never heard of a Dirty Santa party so I guess I better explain. Each person brings a wrapped gift. Everyone draws a number. Number 1 opens a gift first. Then number 2 can either open a gift, or take number 1’s opened gift and number 1 gets to open another gift. Number 3 can either open a gift or take one of the two opened ones, and so on. Often there is a limit on how many times a particular gift can be stolen. If such a limit exists, it’s most advantageous to pick middle-late; if there is no limit, of course, the person who picks last has the advantage. Also there is usually a limit on how much can be spent on a gift; for us it was $25.

So I’m still conflicted as to what to do this afternoon. Two options:

Go to the Beale Street Christmas parade at 3: If I do this, I will watch it at the King’s Palace Cafe Tap Room. They never seem to staff the place properly for parades, one overworked bartender handling both the customers at the bar and at the window. It can take as much as 20 minutes to get a beer. Last time I went there they had raised their price from $5 to $8.75 for a Big Ass PBR. That’s a Value Drinking Index of only 18, good if you’re drinking a craft beer but pretty horrible for PBR. They’ll have the game on TV but not with sound and unless the game goes into overtime, the game will end while the parade is going on.

Watch the Memphis vs. UT game (2 PM) at the Silly Goose: Unlike the Tap Room, the Goose won’t be slammed, so one bartender will be able to handle it. Plus, the bartender will be Jessica, the regular happy hour bartender Wednesday-Friday, so you know the service will be outstanding. PBR there is $3 for a 16-ounce can, a Value Drinking Index of 27 which is in the range I like to see. Jessica has told me she will put the sound on. There won’t be any old coots there, not even old coots who like to send bartenders half their age creepy text messages as well as multiple Instagram follow requests just hours apart

(For those new to my blog: Value Drinking Index = number of ounces X percent alcohol by volume / price)

Re-reading the paragraphs above, it seems like the Goose will be the easy choice, but really I’m just about 50-50. It will be a game-time decision, literally (I can hear one of the old coots saying, “Literally. Drink.” in my head). Another option is to watch the first half at the Goose, then walk over to the Tap Room during the halftime break – so if you walk in the Tap Room at 2:30 and don’t find me in there, don’t be so sure you won’t see me.

Oh, while we’re on the subject of Saturday plans, let’s look ahead to next Saturday. I WILL BE AT BARDOG next Saturday at 11; in fact, I’ll be standing outside at 10:55, waiting for them to open the door. Furthermore, I am declaring next Saturday a NO FILTER DAY. If you were around during BBQ Fest ’16, you know what my no filter days are like. I almost never drink at home but next Saturday I may start pre-gaming around 10 AM just to make sure I am in that holiday spirit.

Hey, I found an actual news item to talk about! The 2020 Roots & Blues Showcase comes to Atomic Rose Club and Grill January 29-31. This will be the weekend of the International Blues Challenge and Atomic Rose is a short walk from Beale. Click the link to see a list of who will play.

The Grizzlies lost last night, but Jaren dropped 43 while being guarded by The Greek Freak. This year is more about player development than it is contending for a playoff berth, so I’m perfectly happy with the outcome.

The Democrats need to pay close attention to what happened in the UK election this week. The Conservatives nominated Boris Johnson for prime minister. Johnson is a brash buffoon with bad hair who anyone with a pulse should be able to beat in an election. Labour, however, managed to put up one of the few people who couldn’t beat Johnson, Jeremy Corbyn. Corbyn is considered farther to the left on many political issues than Bernie Sanders, he’s been wishy-washy on Brexit, and he couldn’t put down the anti-Semitic grumblings within his own party. Voters commented that Boris scared them, but Corbyn scared them more.

Of course, the Dems did the same thing in 2016. They faced a Republican opponent with no political experience, who lied on a daily basis and had all kinds of gaffes and scandals. Anyone should’ve been able to beat Donald Trump in a general election. But the Dems went and found someone who was so incredibly unlikable – Hillary – that the election tilted toward Trump (with an assist from Russia).

They need to learn from their mistakes. Yes, I want a president who will do something about climate change. Yes, I want a president who is tough on Russia. Yes, I want a president who will nominate Supreme Court justices that will protect Roe vs. Wade. Yes, I think it’s time for a woman or person of color to occupy the Oval Office. But, more so than any of that, we need a candidate who likable to the general public – not just Democrats – to ensure that Trump is booted out of the White House on January 20,2021 (and then, I bet, indictments will be unsealed).

If the Democrats nominate a candidate who gravitates hard to the far left, like Bernie or Elizabeth Warren, I fear it will cost them the election. Out of the field, I still like Kamala Harris the best, but I wonder if Joe Biden is the best chance to ensure America dumps Trump. I would especially like it if Biden promised the following:

  1. If he wins the presidency, he will only serve one term;
  2. If he is nominated, he will pick a vice-presidential nominee who is under 60. I was going to say Gen X or millennial, but that would disqualify Kamala Harris by a little over 2 months;
  3. If he is nominated, his running mate will be a woman, or a person of color, or both.

What the Dems don’t need are factions who say “we do it my way or I’ll stay home on election day.”

That’s enough rambling for now. Back tomorrow if I find any news to report.

 

Thursday update

If the selection of fresh meats, fruits, and vegetables, pre-prepared foods, and crafts by local makers are not enough reasons to get you to come out to the Holiday Market at the Memphis Farmers Market this Saturday, I have one more. The 2 Buck Grilled Cheese Truck will be there. As the name implies, they have $2 grilled cheese, as well as $3 grilled cheese with various meats, and hot dogs. The Market is this Saturday from 9 AM to 1 PM under the pavilion at Front and G.E. Patterson.

While we’re on the subject of farmers markets: “Old Coots” gang sets up table at farmers market to give life advice. I know a group of people who could do that at the farmers market in South Main. Don’t know that I’d recommend taking their life advice though.

The sign is up outside Bluefin!

I showed that pic to a friend, who asked, “Isn’t that the chicken they sell at gas stations?” Well, now it’s the chicken they sell at gas stations and upscale Asian fusion restaurants.

If you’re looking for a place to watch the Memphis vs. Tennessee basketball game Saturday, happy hour bartender Jessica at the Silly Goose told me she will work day shift Saturday and will put the sound on for the game. Great environment for game watching, great wood fired pizza, and you won’t find any old coots in there.

Congratulations to Downtown’s own Mark Parsell, who was named president of the Memphis Songwriters Association yesterday. Mark organizes the South Main Sounds Friday night performances and books entertainment for the Memphis Farmers Market.

Companies have been in the news lately for giving employees unusually generous Christmas bonuses. That is not a new thing, either. Starting in 1881, Frederick Pabst would give his employees bonuses of $500 to $1000, which equates to $11,000 to $22,000 in today’s dollars. When you drink PBR, you’re consuming the product of a company that treats its people right.

Loflin Yard will have a free s’mores celebration the evening of Friday, December 27 to celebrate National S’mores Day.

The Downtown family has gained two new members!

Meet Santa the Christmas troll and Cupid the Valentine’s troll. They were given to my by one of my neighbors last night.

Max’s Sports Bar is doing a toy drive for the Porter-Leath toy truck. Bring a new, unwrapped toy and they will cheers you with a free beer!

Two matches have been announced for WWE Smackdown, broadcasting from FedExForum Friday, January 3: Daniel Bryan vs. The Fiend and Roman Reigns vs. King Corbin. The Fiend pulled Daniel Bryan under the ring two weeks ago and ripped out clumps of his hair. As always, the matches are subject to change due to illness, travel difficulties, or Vinnie Mac ripping up the script hours before the show and ordering the writers to start over.

If you’re going to the Grizzlies game vs. the Bucks tomorrow evening, get there early. If you’re one of the first 5000 you get Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. socks.

That’s the news for today. Back tomorrow.

 

Wednesday update: Please support Alcenia’s

Soul food restaurant Alcenia’s needs your help. Due to convention center construction, access to the restaurant is blocked in all but one direction, owner B.J. Chester-Tamayo posted. Access to the restaurant from Front Street and from northbound on Main are completely blocked, she said. Those are the directions most of the tourists will come from, and it is killing her business. She has been told the closures will continue into 2020.

You can get there by taking Jackson (first street north of I-40) west-bound from either Second or B.B. King Blvd. Please, if you get a chance, go by there and support this longtime Downtown business. Redevelopment plans indicate The Pinch will enter a boom period in a few years, and it would be a shame if one of the neighborhood’s pioneering restaurants of modern times didn’t survive to take part in that prosperity.

Sage will have a watch party for Saturday’s 2 PM Memphis Tigers vs. Tennessee basketball game. Ken Mack will be the special host and the musical experience will be curated by Big Sue and DJ Alpha Whiskey.

A must-read: New Florida State head coach Mike Norvell’s thank you letter to Memphis

Memphis 901 FC has announced its second of three Fan Forums, this one coming to Cooper-Young. It will be at Celtic Crossing on Thursday, December 19, with program starting at 7:30 PM. Tim Howard, Craig Unger, and Tim Mulqueen will be there to answer questions and lay out the team’s plans for 2020.

Nice to see Memphis in this graphic:

The Memphis Symphony Orchestra brings Magic of Memphis Holiday Spectacular to the Cannon Center the evening of Saturday, December 21 and the afternoon of Sunday, December 22.

You can pick up a Christmas Every Day/Mongo for Mayor ’86 button on eBay.

The reign of the King could come to an end. Jerry Lawler will put his career on the line next month as he faces Arkansas Heavyweight Champion Matt Riviera in a title vs. career match. If he wins, Lawler will not be the oldest wrestler to ever hold a championship; Pat Patterson had a very brief run with the WWE 24/7 Championship recently, and The Fabulous Moolah held the WWE Women’s Championship in her 70s.

Momma’s, “the diner & dive off I-55,” is now hiring all positions: managers, bartenders, servers, cooks, and dishwashers. This is one of the Aldo family of restaurants, a great company to work for. Apply in person at 855 Kentucky (at the corner of Crump) between 2 and 4 in the afternoon.

Ballet Memphis’ Nutcracker begins a 4-day run at the Orpheum tomorrow.

The Blue Suede Brigade will offer a free tour of Beale Street at 11:45 AM today. Learn about the street all the way from its 1841 beginning to plans for the future.

That’s it for today. Back tomorrow with more.

Tuesday update

Let me start off this post with a look at the MemphisWeather.net forecast for today, and then I will explain why this is highly relevant to Downtowners.

Rain mixing with light sleet/snow, then a chance of early afternoon light snow; minor accum. possible. High 36, low 27.

Early afternoon light snow: Remember, everyone, there’s $2 Fireball at Bardog when it’s snowing.

At another restaurant in the Aldo family, Aldo’s Pizza Pies Downtown, Pizza with Santa will happen Saturday from 5 to 7. There will be crafts, cookies, and photos with Fabled Santa. In return for the hospitality, they ask that you bring an unwrapped gift for Boys & Girls Club of Greater Memphis.

On Thursday, December 19. Miss Cordelia’s has its annual Holiday Party from 6 to 9 PM. Hot chocolate bar, local food samplings, beer, cheese, and wine. They will accept Toys for Tots donations during the party.

I don’t know if I have any readers who are vegetarians, but on the off-chance that I do, they should check out this Food & Wine article: 9 foods you thought were vegetarian but actually aren’t.  Since beer – some beers – are on this list, I went and did a little research. PBR is vegetarian.

WREG reports that a Nigerian citizen who had been living in Ghana has been extradited to the U.S. and will stand trial in Memphis for wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit identity theft. The defendant has been accused of being involved in scams including romance, fake checks, gold buying and more. I’m glad to hear this guy is off the Internet.

Atomic Rose has announced their New Year’s Blow Out.  Chicago video DJ Ricky Sixx will provide the music. Go-go dancers and custom mixed videos will help you roar into the twenties. $10 cover, first 25 get in free. The club opens at 6 with happy hour specials until 9, and then the party starts.

The remodeling of the Renasant Convention Center is more than halfway done, and the center should be open by fall 2020, reports WMC Action News 5. The convention center’s new title sponsor was announced last month.

There will be a cocktail dinner featuring Tattersall Distilling tonight at Bar Ware. 4 course dinner by Chef Kevin Quinell, each paired with a Tatersall cocktail.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! Back tomorrow with more news.

 

Monday update

It’s official! Memphis plays Penn State in the Cotton Bowl at noon on Saturday, December 28. Let’s go Tigers! A 13-1 finish and a defeat of a Big Ten powerhouse would be a nice way to wrap up the season.

As for the Liberty Bowl, they did well too. The projected matchup I saw was Iowa State vs. FIU, and I thought, “Ugh, boring.” But instead, the Liberty Bowl pleasantly surprised us with a Kansas State vs. Navy matchup. Inviting an AAC school who is one of the Tigers’ favorite opponents was a smart move. For once we get to cheer for Navy in the Liberty Bowl.

The Sun Bowl is now the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl. My God.

If I had told you at the beginning of the season that Memphis would end up in a more prestigious bowl game than Alabama, would you have believed me?

You can have a buffet lunch with Daily Memphian writer Jennifer Biggs at 3rd and Court diner this Friday. Cost is $25.85 and you can come anytime between 11:00 and 2:30. There will be Memphis music spun by DJ Jared Boyd.

Cafe Keough at 12 S. Main is hiring full-time and part-time baristas.

Tyler Perry’s “Madea Farewell Play Tour” makes its return to FedExForum on Friday, February 7.

Congratulations to St. Jude on hitting its fundraising goal of $12 million for Saturday’s Memphis marathon.

As your number-one source of news and information about The Edge District, it’s my pleasure to link you to this MBJ article about the possible sale of the Memphis Cycle & Supply Co. building at Monroe and Laudersale to a Chattanooga developer.

Well damn… Willie Nelson has quit smoking weed.

The Cousins Maine Lobster food truck will be at the Memphis Farmers Market’s holiday market this Saturday. Of course, with Slider Inn only a short walk away, Cousins is no longer your only option for a lobster roll.

LSU head coach Ed Orgeron advised his good friend Lane Kiffin not to take the Ole Miss head coaching job. It’s said that Orgeron told Kiffin a certain “fit” was required at Ole Miss, and he didn’t think Kiffin had that fit. I completely agree. Kiffin is the kind of coach who needs to work for a school that will let him be himself. That’s not Ole Miss.

The Daily Memphian sat down and talked with developer Tom Intrator, who has major plans for the Pinch District, the Downtown core, and South Main.

A few weeks ago I wrote that some people were planning to open a bar called Board to Beers that would be Memphis’ first board game bar. They now have a Kickstarter in place, raising funds so they can move into their building in January. They also have planned a pop-up board game night at Memphis Botanic Garden this Friday 6-10. $5 cover charge for the pop-up night. Local beer and food from 9 Dough 1 will be available. This is an all-ages event, and they welcome requests for particular games and you can also bring your own.

I got invited to a Dirty Santa party this coming Saturday, and in a followup post in the Facebook event listing, they said it’s a pot luck. Pot lucks are always challenging for me, because I don’t cook. So I started thinking to myself, what could I buy at City Market or Walgreens to take down there? Then I remembered something… I live right down the street from The Peanut Shoppe! So I’m going to go in there and get an assortment of Christmas nuts and chocolates, and that’ll be my contribution for the pot luck. Now I have to figure out what my Dirty Santa gift will be. Anyway, if you’re shopping for holiday gifts and treats, don’t forget the Peanut Shoppe, as I almost did!

Time for work. Back tomorrow with more news.

 

Sunday update

For the first time in history, the Memphis Tigers football team are champions of the American Athletic Conference, having handed Cincinnati a second straight loss, 29-24. The Tigers will most certainly finish in the rankings as the highest Group of 5 team and will receive an invite to the Cotton Bowl.

The CFP committee will announces its final rankings, and the top four teams, today around 11:15. At 2 the selections for the non-playoff New Year’s Six bowls (including Cotton) will be announced, followed by the matchups for the rest of the bowls. The CFP rankings will be streamed live on the ESPN app.

Mike Norvell is headed out to Florida State, exactly the kind of program I predicted he’d be drawn to. The Seminoles have a rich football tradition but have not been a top-tier team the past few years, partly due to the dominance of Clemson. Norvell is the man who can guide FSU back to the top of the ACC.

Lane Kiffin to Ole Miss? I like Kif but he’s not going to be successful in a conference where you have to play Alabama, Auburn, and LSU every year. Kiffin was the favorite at Arkansas but he chose Ole Miss instead. I hope this doesn’t lead to Arkansas hiring Butch Jones.

Let’s get on to the news: Kansas City becomes the first major city to make public transportation free. Memphis, if you want to become a world-class city, this is the way.

Well crap… the Memphis vs. Tennessee basketball game is at 2 next Saturday. That conflicts with the Beale Street Christmas parade. Going to have to figure that one out.

WREG reports that a man was detained after driving a car through St. Jude Marathon barricades. What is wrong with people?

The Peabody is serving up some holiday drinks at both the lobby bar and the Corner Bar. Choices include a Snowflake Martini, The Grinch, Milk & Cookies, and a Winter Bourbon Smash.

Back tomorrow or Tuesday with more news.